SE: A Look at the 2018 K-State Cross Country Teams
Aug 29, 2018 | Cross Country, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Last season, the K-State men's cross country team recorded the program's best finish ever at the Big 12 Championship. While that team included six seniors, K-State head cross country coach Ryun Godfrey expressed confidence in the future of the next wave of Wildcat runners, especially the freshmen.
The K-State men's team will bring seven freshmen to its season-opening meet, the JK Gold Classic, on Saturday in Augusta. Godfrey said it could be the start of something special for this group.
"In a couple of years, these freshmen are going to be good," Godfrey said. "It's a difficult jump from 5,000 (meters) to 10,000 — you're doubling your distance — but my guess is at least three of (our) top five this season will be freshmen, maybe four."
Joe Gorthy, the team's lone senior, set personal-bests in K-State's last two races of the 2017 season that saw the team finish fourth at the conference meet. Godfrey said Gorthy, a Stilwell native, should consistently be in the top two or three for K-State this season. His head coach noted that, with the way the freshmen have been training, it will not be easy, however.
"They just show up and they just get it done. They haven't looked at some of the upperclassmen, like, 'I think you're supposed be in front of me in workouts,'" Godfrey said. "They just kind of go after it, which I like to see. They're not too worried about stepping on anyone else's toes. That's actually a good quality to have."
Jackson Schroeder, a redshirt freshman, and his younger brother, Cooper Schroeder, are among the talented freshmen core. Both Manhattan natives, Godfrey said, should contribute this season.
Other freshmen Godfrey named included Charlie Parrish, out of Freeburg, Illinois, Kerby Depenbusch, from Great Bend, and Beloit native David Lutgen.
"They are going to set the tone for the next couple of years. They live together and they work really hard. So far, I'm pretty happy with this group," Godfrey said. "I'm sure there will be some humbling experiences this fall because you're competing in the Big 12 and there's obviously some real talent out there that they're going to have to compete against."
Godfrey Excited for Trio of Wildcat Women XC Runners
Senior Emma Wren, junior Sydney Collins and sophomore Cara Melgares all took big steps forward last season, in cross country and on the track. Godfrey said he anticipates their progress carrying over into this fall.
"All three of those girls are going to be pretty solid for us," the fifth-year head coach said.
All three Wildcats have grown in different ways, too.
Last season, Wren began to overcome race-inducing anxiety that had previously crippled her chances of getting anywhere near her potential. She finished in K-State's top three in the team's last four meets in 2017, which included a personal-best time at the Big 12 Championship. She went on to have the best season on the track of her career. Wren scored at the conference indoor meet and helped K-State's 1,600-meter relay team win against some prestigious competition at the Drake Relays.
"Losing Kayla (Doll) hurts a little bit but Emma's had a really good summer. She looks really good," Godfrey said of his only senior. "She's really grown a lot. She's more on the attack mode now. Rather than worrying about what might happen or what might not happen, she's more of, 'Let's just be in the present and be tough. Don't worry about what's going to happen next.'"
Collins, from Canada, came to K-State predominantly focused on her track events, the 800 and 1,500. In the two years since, Godfrey said Collins has bought into "the fact that she can run really well at the longer distances." Last cross country season, Collins led K-State in two races. She also finished fifth in the 1,500 at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship in the spring.
"Having her score last year at Big 12s was a big turning point for her," Godfrey said. "I think that was a big confidence boost for the whole group."
Melgares had anything but a typical freshman season. The Manhattan native finished in K-State's top three in the final three races of the 2017 cross country season. She then scored in both the indoor and outdoor conference track and field meets, qualifying for the USA Junior Championships in the process.
"Cara just has some grit. She's grown up in a family where everyone's used to working hard and training hard and knows all about the grind of training. She doesn't shy away from anything," Godfrey said of Melgares, who finished fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the USA Junior Championships in June. "She's one of those athletes that can have a good race and feel good about things but never be totally satisfied, which is kind of a good quality. That's her mindset."
Last season, the K-State men's cross country team recorded the program's best finish ever at the Big 12 Championship. While that team included six seniors, K-State head cross country coach Ryun Godfrey expressed confidence in the future of the next wave of Wildcat runners, especially the freshmen.
The K-State men's team will bring seven freshmen to its season-opening meet, the JK Gold Classic, on Saturday in Augusta. Godfrey said it could be the start of something special for this group.
"In a couple of years, these freshmen are going to be good," Godfrey said. "It's a difficult jump from 5,000 (meters) to 10,000 — you're doubling your distance — but my guess is at least three of (our) top five this season will be freshmen, maybe four."
Joe Gorthy, the team's lone senior, set personal-bests in K-State's last two races of the 2017 season that saw the team finish fourth at the conference meet. Godfrey said Gorthy, a Stilwell native, should consistently be in the top two or three for K-State this season. His head coach noted that, with the way the freshmen have been training, it will not be easy, however.
"They just show up and they just get it done. They haven't looked at some of the upperclassmen, like, 'I think you're supposed be in front of me in workouts,'" Godfrey said. "They just kind of go after it, which I like to see. They're not too worried about stepping on anyone else's toes. That's actually a good quality to have."
Jackson Schroeder, a redshirt freshman, and his younger brother, Cooper Schroeder, are among the talented freshmen core. Both Manhattan natives, Godfrey said, should contribute this season.
Other freshmen Godfrey named included Charlie Parrish, out of Freeburg, Illinois, Kerby Depenbusch, from Great Bend, and Beloit native David Lutgen.
"They are going to set the tone for the next couple of years. They live together and they work really hard. So far, I'm pretty happy with this group," Godfrey said. "I'm sure there will be some humbling experiences this fall because you're competing in the Big 12 and there's obviously some real talent out there that they're going to have to compete against."
Godfrey Excited for Trio of Wildcat Women XC Runners
Senior Emma Wren, junior Sydney Collins and sophomore Cara Melgares all took big steps forward last season, in cross country and on the track. Godfrey said he anticipates their progress carrying over into this fall.
"All three of those girls are going to be pretty solid for us," the fifth-year head coach said.
All three Wildcats have grown in different ways, too.
Last season, Wren began to overcome race-inducing anxiety that had previously crippled her chances of getting anywhere near her potential. She finished in K-State's top three in the team's last four meets in 2017, which included a personal-best time at the Big 12 Championship. She went on to have the best season on the track of her career. Wren scored at the conference indoor meet and helped K-State's 1,600-meter relay team win against some prestigious competition at the Drake Relays.
"Losing Kayla (Doll) hurts a little bit but Emma's had a really good summer. She looks really good," Godfrey said of his only senior. "She's really grown a lot. She's more on the attack mode now. Rather than worrying about what might happen or what might not happen, she's more of, 'Let's just be in the present and be tough. Don't worry about what's going to happen next.'"
Collins, from Canada, came to K-State predominantly focused on her track events, the 800 and 1,500. In the two years since, Godfrey said Collins has bought into "the fact that she can run really well at the longer distances." Last cross country season, Collins led K-State in two races. She also finished fifth in the 1,500 at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship in the spring.
"Having her score last year at Big 12s was a big turning point for her," Godfrey said. "I think that was a big confidence boost for the whole group."
Melgares had anything but a typical freshman season. The Manhattan native finished in K-State's top three in the final three races of the 2017 cross country season. She then scored in both the indoor and outdoor conference track and field meets, qualifying for the USA Junior Championships in the process.
"Cara just has some grit. She's grown up in a family where everyone's used to working hard and training hard and knows all about the grind of training. She doesn't shy away from anything," Godfrey said of Melgares, who finished fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the USA Junior Championships in June. "She's one of those athletes that can have a good race and feel good about things but never be totally satisfied, which is kind of a good quality. That's her mindset."
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