Recently, the De Soto High School boys’ cross country team was ranked second in the state of Kansas for Class 4A based on a recent poll by the Kansas Coaches Association.

At the Bonner Springs meet on Sept. 15, the boys’ varsity team came in first and freshman Luis Murillo finished second with a time of 16:16.

“We had our freshman [Murillo] come in and pull second. It was exciting to watch him race because, I think it was his first race of the season and he’s already pulling a 16:16,” said senior varsity runner Angel Vasquez.

At the most recent meet at the Rimrock course on Sept. 22, Vasquez finished ninth improving his time for the course from around a 16:30 to 15:44.

After finding out the boys’ team was ranked second next to the defending State champions, Wamego, Head Coach Chris McAfee said that the boys’ hard work, talent and bond together is what got them to be where they are now. Vasquez agrees that the team’s hard work is what got them there.

“It was the intense summer training and all the training that we’ve done so far has gotten us up to where we are now,” Vasquez said. “All that hard work, every day.”

The boys’ varsity team is made up of Vasquez, Murillo, seniors Diego Sanchez, Jacob Scott and Chad Ollendick, junior Teddy Koehler and sophomore Nathan Zwahlen and freshman Max Taulbee. The next Cross Country meet is Saturday Sept. 29, for the KC Metro Championships at Raymore Peculiar, Mo.