BonnerSprings.com

After years of playing host to its home cross country meet midweek, Bonner Springs High School coach Bill Downing decided to move the Bonner Springs Invitational to the weekend 2008.

"We moved the race to Saturday this year to hopefully attract more schools, and I think we have done that," Downing said. "We take a lot of pride in this event. We've had a lot of good people putting in some hard work on this the past two to three weeks."

The hard work showed with the nearly flawless execution of the event by the athletics staff at Bonner on a warm, clear day at Wyandotte County Park. The runners weren't bad, either.

Nineteen high schools, 11 middle schools and more than 800 runners participated in races, and the BSHS runners came away with numerous solid performances.

De Soto swept the team titles. The Bonner Springs boys finished seventh and the girls were 12th.

Sophomore Ellie Sheridan of De Soto paced the girls with a time of 15:20. Many spectators saw her at the finish line and proclaimed out loud that she didn't even look tired because she was not even breathing hard.

"It was an OK race for me," Sheridan said. "It was a pretty easy course and I just got out front early and kept it up."

Bonner Springs junior Tessa Seaton paced the girls' team, finishing 65th with a time of 19:41 for the 4K course. Erin Mills finished only two spots behind her in 19:44. Freshman Scintila Capalla finished 74th with a time of 20:25.

"I had a hard time breathing today with the grass and my allergies, but other than that I think it went fine," Seaton said. "I personally think this is a tough course, but it really makes the next ones seem easier."

Lansing's Brandon Craig won the boy's race with a time of 16:38. Finishing second was BSHS junior Brooks Ballou with a time of 17:14 - eight seconds ahead of De Soto's Austin Hinchey. Ballou put separation between himself and Hinchey in the last 500 kilometers by sprinting to the finish.

"It was a good race; it was exciting," Ballou said. "I was thinking 'just finish second, don't let third pass you.' I knew from experience (last year) that was a spot to surge and I don't think he (Hinchey) expected me to do it at that time. It is something Coach Downing has told me to do."

Ballou has a victory and a second place finish in his first two meets this year. He shaved 30 seconds off his time from last year at the Bonner Springs Invitational.

Isaac Mills also medaled for BSHS by finishing 19th in 18:22. Bryce Peterson finished 33rd with a time of 19:17.