Burlington harriers compete in Riverton

Burlington’s cross country team ran at the Berry Bryant-Kyle Johnson Memorial on Thursday. “This was held at the 1838 Rendezvous site. It’s fun to run on a course with some fun history,” said Coach Ryan Olson. “It’s a pretty course, going around a big pond, and it’s nice and flat, making for some good performances. The weather changed quite a lot during the day, so some ran in the sun, others in wind and the rest under some nice clouds, but I feel we got stronger as a team.” 

Freshmen Kellen Winters and Kelli McNiven continue to have some of the fastest times in the state with Winters’ time ranking him in the top 10 on the boys’ side and McNiven in the top 20 on the girls’ side. “I also thought Ben Mendenhall ran hard. As our only healthy senior right now, he’s provided some nice leadership for the team. He always makes a point of encouraging every runner, from our middle school girls to our varsity athletes. I also like how hard James McNiven is running. If we’re going to challenge for the state title, he’ll be a key part of it.” 

On the middle school side, Olson had high praise for more of his athletes. “I was really impressed with sixth grader Hailee McNiven. She had the goal to stick with her older sister, which pushed her to a personal best. Jaxon Buck and Spencer Hamilton both placed in the top 10 in a really competitive field.

“We’re really in the heart of the season right now and the kids are showing up to every workout and pushing themselves.”

Middle and high school team members will be in Lander Thursday with middle school races starting at 11 a.m. and high school races starting at 12:30 p.m. 

BERRY BRYANT/KYLE JOHNSON MEMORIAL RESULTS 

VARSITY GIRLS

 3, Kelli McNiven, 20:08.90. 

VARSITY BOYS 

1, Kellen Winters, 16:42.53. 3, Connor Hoyt, 17:37.98. 6, Bradford Davidson, 18:25.01. 13, James McNiven, 18:56.60. 37, Ben Mendenhall, 22:46.47. 

JV GIRLS 

5, Adelle Olson, 26:12.42. 9, Raygen Andrew, 28:41.14. 17, Sydney Jacobson, 38:05.21. 

JV BOYS 

10, Hyrum McNiven, 21:04.39. 29, Bryant Casey, 23:52.08. 32, Brian O’Barr, 24:55.59. 44, Jackson Olson, 34:33.30.