BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Hoisington's school record-holder Brody Rossman nearly delivered the Cardinals' first boys 3A state cross country championship at Lawrence's Rim Rock Farms.
State runner-up Rossman (16:12.91) was passed in the home stretch by Riley County's Jeter Adams (15:58.8) and finished ahead of Wichita Trinity's Alex Kirk (16:16.59) in a 3-way showdown at the 3A state cross country meet.
The 3-time state qualifier was well prepared for the challenging Rim Rock course.
"Rim Rock is one of the toughest courses in Kansas with sharp uphill and downhill spots," Rossman said. "Rim Rock can break runners down to see who's the strongest. I love the challenge. Having the leg strength to run the hills is my biggest asset."
A moderate pace started with a 5:20 mile that kept runners bunched. Mile 2 dropped a few runners off the pace.
Like most high-level state races, the final stretch was exciting.
"Mile 3, there was separation. I battled it out." Rossman said. "I passed the Trinity guys on the hill and kicked in from 600 yards out. The Riley County runner passed me with 200 yards to go."
Time-wise, Rossman ran faster at his Sterling school record time (15:46.0). But Rossman considered it Saturday was his best career race considering the quality of Rim Rock's course.
"That was Jeter's best race," Rossman said. "I give him credit. It was my best race all season too. We were two runners who had their best races of their careers.
"I did everything I could control to try and win a state title. That's the key thing. Beating the Wichita Trinity runners was big for me."
Rossman joined Zac Andereck (2000) as the second Cardinal runner to earn a runner-up boys state cross country medal. Andereck, who also finished third at state, competed for a 3A state runner-up Hoisington team.
Andereck rescued his parents Becky and Dean from their collapsed home due to a Hoisington tornado April 21, 2001, five weeks before he competed at the 2001 state track meet.
Rossman's success convinced Butler County Community College to offer him a cross country/track scholarship next year.
"I signed with Butler two days ago," he said. "They're a junior college men's cross country powerhouse. I'm underdeveloped as a distance runner because I hadn't run track until last year."
Rossman has goals of posting times of 4:17 in the 1,600 meters and 9:20 in the 3,200 meters.
"The jump I've seen in cross country this year should translate to a strong track season next spring," Rossman said.
