ShawneeDispatch.com

It was fitting that Kelsey O'Hara ended her season with a medal around her neck.

After all, O'Hara was the Kaw Valley League champion and finished fourth at regionals. A medal at state was all she needed to prove that she was one of the best runners in Kansas.

The Lady Jags junior did just that, finishing in 20th place, with a time of 16:29. By doing so, O'Hara earned all-state honors and picked up a medal in the state race for the second time in her career. She finished fourth her freshman season against a lighter field.

"5A got quite a bit tougher with Aquinas and Emporia," MVHS coach Mark Chipman said.

Aquinas swept the meet, winning both the boys and girls state title. Emporia took second on the boys' side and third in the girls' competition.

The addition of those two schools bumped the Jaguars back a few places from their best finish, when the Jags finished fifth during O'Hara's freshman season. Saturday Mill Valley was able to crack in the top 10, finishing ninth.

"We had a good effort by everyone," Chipman said. "I was hoping that we could get top six, but the way it turned out I'm not really sure we could have done any better than that."

The Mill Valley boys did not qualify as a team for state but three runners did qualify to run at Rim Rock on Saturday. Sophomore Oliver Parsons and freshman Tyler Gude made their debuts at state. Parsons led the Jags, finishing 50th with a time of 18:11, and Gude finished 63rd, in 18:30, ahead of all of the freshmen in the field but four.

Sophomore Eric Jochens (19:27) was the lone Jaguar making his second appearance at state, but he did not fare as well as he did his freshman season, finishing 87th this year.

Several first-time girls left their mark on Rim Rock Saturday. Freshman Chelsea Pfannenstiel was the second Mill Valley runner across the line for the second straight week. She finished 40th with a time of 16:58 in her state debut.

Sophomore Natasha Culp (17:40) and freshman Ariel May (18:33) didn't seem to be bothered by the pressure of their first state races. Both runners ran personal best times.

Sarah Broadbear recorded the Lady Jags' third fastest time at state, finishing the race in 17:14.

Sarah Shaw (18:33) and Brigitte Clark (20:17) rounded out the MVHS times.

The best thing that may have come from Saturday's race for Mill Valley is that Chipman has a chance to bring all 10 runners back next season, along with some of their teammates.

Chipman said his runners got to taste state this season and with everyone back for 2007, they will be that much stronger and hungrier when they return to Rim Rock next year.

As for O'Hara, her senior season will give her a chance to end her career the way she started it -- with another medal for her trophy case.