Sunday, November 07, 1999
Inspired Brossart runners win state
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The trophy case can wait. The hardware from Bishop Brossart's Class A state cross country title Saturday resides in a hospital room.
The Mustangs took the trophy straight from Kentucky Horse Park to St. Luke Hospital East, leaving it with sophomore runner Paul Markus. Markus suffered a ruptured appendix last week and underwent surgery Tuesday.
“It has been scary, but this sure gave us another reason to run today,” senior Jarrod Schmidt said. “It feels great to go back and have that (trophy) for him.”
Brossart easily outdistanced runner-up St. Henry 87-132. The title was its second in three years, accomplished largely with a five-man senior core which also managed a runner-up showing last year.
Saturday was celebrated with a raucous shaving cream fight, then a celebratory cellular phone call to Markus. The team had also visited him Wednesday.
“He's talking, though he still has a tube down his throat,” coach Ray Kues said. “But he was glad to hear about us winning. We said a prayer for him before we ran today.”
Markus had been Brossart's fifth finisher at regionals, but the Mustangs' depth was evident as they cruised without him. Schmidt finished third in 16:53.7, sophomore Tim Kaiser took ninth (17:21.3) and senior Marc Teismann was 18th (17:45.9).
Brossart won 10 of 13 meets this fall and was never beaten by a Class A team.
“We'll lose a special group (of seniors), but we think we can keep this success going,” Kues said.
Bellevue junior Matt Mayer finished sixth in 17:13.4, and St. Henry junior Ryan McLane placed eighth in 17:17.7.
Class AA
A new recruit nearly spelled a state championship for Highlands. Senior Colin Muehlenkamp finished fourth (16:43.2) in his first cross country season to lead the Bluebirds' charge, but Warren East edged them 127-132.
“We had three finishers in front of their first runner, but their pack hurt us,” Highlands coach Dan Baker said. “This will give us incentive for next year.”
It was Highlands' highest finish since winning the AA crown in 1985.
Muehlenkamp ran his personal-best time, helping him soothe the pain of not participating in a different state championship event Saturday. He's an all-region midfielder on the soccer team which was ranked third in the state but lost in regionals to Covington Catholic.
“This serves as a little bit of redemption,” he said. “It was such a hard ending to the soccer season.”
Class AA
Scott senior Andy Seitz has won three state swimming championships and will be a scholarship swimmer in college. That doesn't mean it's his favorite sport.
“I'm going to miss cross country,” Seitz said after placing eighth (16:35.7). “It's my favorite, because of the team unity.”
The Eagles bleached their hair as a sign of solidarity, but they were overmatched by downstate powers. Scott finished 13th; Ryle was the top local team in 12th.
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