Traditionally the largest and strongest conference in Kansas, the Sunflower League consists of twelve schools in the Lawrence, Leavenworth and suburban Kansas City area. This year's meet included state ranked #1 SM Northwest (also NTN Heartland Region #5), #3 Free State Lawrence, #6 Olathe South and #7 SM East on the boys side and #2 Olathe East, #4 SM Northwest, #5 SM South, and #7 Lawrence on the girls side.

Rimrock Farm was sun-drenched with temps in the 40's as the girls race went off. Kristin Wolkey (Shawnee Mission North) stretched out to an large lead in the first mile, which she held to a 15:19 4k win. Kelly Renfro (Lawrence 15:32) and Rebeka Stowe (Olathe Northwest 15:43) offered early challenges, but were gapped for good by Wolkey over the final 1 1/2 miles of hills.

The team race was as exciting as had been previewed. SM South, Olathe East and Shawnee Mission Northwest all packed their top fives within ten yards of each other at the mile mark, with Lawrence and Free State also figuring in runners. Over the next mile and half, surge followed counter surge as each school attacked and then counter-attacked. As the runners came over the Jim Ryun Skyline, SM Northwest made a final charge, winning the team title with 70 points, with SM South second with 75 and Olathe East third with 76. Lawrence 89 and Free State (99) also closed well in the team race.

The boys race was as one-team dominated as the girls had been mixed. Essentially it consisted of Tucker Weems (16:05) establishing an early lead, and SM Northwest getting itself in dominating position. Free State gave a brave chase, but in the end Weems individual victory over Free State's Danny Schneider (16:24) keyed a dominating win. Brett Imgrund (16:35), and Matt Morton (16:39) finished 3-4 for SMNW, which won with 26 points.

Free State was second with 69 points, while SM West had a comethrough race to finish third with 122 points, and certainly deserve state ranking consideration.
Rimrock Farm course owner Bob Timmons deserves mention, as he was out early working on the course, which hosted it's third conference meet in three days with almost no effect seen on footing or course wear. The Sunflower league meet hosted over 500 runners in six races.
Thanks also to Community America, which sponsored the meet and provided numbers and medals.

Varsity Boys team scores: 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 26, 2. Free State-Lawrence 69, 3. Shawnee Mission West 122, 4. Olathe South 154, 5. Olathe North 163, 6. Shawnee Mission East 166, 7. Shawnee Mission South 182, 8. Lawrence 190, 9. Olathe East 190, 10. Shawnee Mission North 202, 11. Leavenworth 295, 12. Olathe Northwest 305

Varsity Girls team scores: 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 70, 2. Shawnee Mission South 75, 3. Olathe East 76, 4. Lawrence 89, 5. Free State-Lawrence 99, 6. Shawnee Mission North 175, 7. Shawnee Mission West 194, 8. Shawnee Mission East 195, 9. Olathe South 247, 10. Leavenworth 247, 11. Olathe North 251, 12. Olathe Northwest INC

Varsity Boys Top 20
1. Tucker Weems, SMNW 16:05
2. Danny Schneider, FS 16:24
3. Bret Imgrund, SMNW 16:35
4. Matt Morton, SMNW 16;39
5. David Zac, SMW 16:45
6. Mike Partridge, OS 16:53
7. Will Tramp, SMN 16:54
8. Jonathan Daniels, SMNW 16:57
9. Drew Beggs, SMS 1659
10. Josh Weems, SMNW 16:59
11. Spencer Martin, FS 17:04
12. Matt Seifert, ON 17:11
13. Aaron Trent, FS 17;13
14. Dau Jok, ON 17:17
15. Alex Rock, FS 17:22
16. Taylor Lareau, SMW 17:24
17. Trent Banks, SMNW 17:25
18. Luke Wetzel, OE 17:25
19. Rick Stahl, SMNW 17:25
20. Tommy Hastings, Leav 17:29

Varsity Girls Top 20
1. Kristin Wolkey, SMN 15:18
2. Kelly Renfro, Law 15:32
3. Rebeka Stowe, ONW 15:43
4. Kristen Gillespie, SMS 15:59
5. Heather Klotz, Leav 16:05
6. Amanda Miller, OE 16:10
7. Alysha Valencia, FS 16:20
8. Mandy Puhak, OE 16:23
9. Haley Beggs, SMS 16:24
10. Becca Ingraham, SMNW 16:28
11. Megan Johnson, Law 16:32
12. Alison Yoder, FS 16:33
13. Ali Norlen, OS 16:36
14. Andrea Showalter, SMNW 16:37
15. Andie Jordan, SMNW 16:38
16. Valierie Lynde, SMS 16:39
17. Rachel Thornburg, SMNW 16;39
18. Riley Wertenberger, OE 16:39
19. Sarah Harbert, SMNW 16:41
20. Robyn Lee, FS 16:42

JV Boys Team Scores 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 17, 2. Free State-Lawrence 77, 3. Shawnee Mission South 108, 4. Lawrence 128, 5. Shawnee Mission West 136, 6. Olathe East 138, 7. Shawnee Mission East 158, 8. Shawnee Mission North 169, 9. Olathe South 220, 10. Leavenworth 300, 11. Olathe Northwest 301, 12. Olathe North INC

JV Boys Top 10
1. Will O' Donnell SMNW 17:55
2. Jason Sorn SMNW 18:31
3. Michael Hauber SMNW 18:32
4. Kyle Riemer SMWN 18:41
5. Ryan Heiling SMS 18:46
6. Kyle Boan OE 18:47
7. David Burchfield, SMNW 18:54
8. Daniel Zehr LAW 18:55
9. Karl MacDonald FS 18:57
10. Drew Harwell SMW 19:04

JV Girls Team Scores: 1. Olathe East 23, 2. Shawnee Mission Northwest 33, 3. Shawnee Mission East 86, 4. Shawnee Mission South 126, 5. Free State-Lawrence 142, 6. Shawnee Mission North 170, 7. Leavenworth 173, 8. Olathe South 184, 9. Olathe Northwest INC, 9. Olathe North INC, 9. Shawnee Mission West INC, 9. Lawrence INC

JV Girls Top 10
1. Elise Eldridge ONW 17:18
2. Chelsea Eldridge ONW 17:32
3. Lindsay Roberst SMW 17:42
4. Natalie King OE 17:45
5. Maggie Walters SMNW 17;46
6. Alison Knowll SMNW 17:46
7. Valerie Thomas OE 17:47
8. Alex Miller OE 17:48
9. Lisa Grundy OE 17;48
10. Kaela Thomas OE 17:48

C Team Boys Team Scores 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 35, 2. Shawnee Mission East 69, 3. Free State-Lawrence 93, 4. Shawnee Mission South 95, 5. Lawrence 96, 6. Shawnee Mission West 158, 7. Shawnee Mission North 195, 8. Olathe East 198, 9. Olathe South INC, 9. Olathe North INC, 9. Olathe Northwest INC, 9. Leavenworth INC

C Team Boys Top 10
1. Chaz Hill SMNW 19:02
2. Brian Leatherwood FS 19:06
3 Sam Reisz SME 19:16
4. Brian Lum SMNW 19:22
5. Jeff Standing LAW 19:39
6. John Carter SMS 19:41
7. Kevin Kincade SMNW 19:46
8. Quinn Stauffer SME 19:54
9. Dylan Smith LAW 19:55
10. Ian Stanford SME 20:00

C Team Girls Scores: 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 26, 2. Shawnee Mission East 56, 3. Olathe East 78, 4. Lawrence 113, 5. Shawnee Mission South 121, 6. Shawnee Mission North 149, 7. Shawnee Mission West INC, 7. Olathe South INC, 7. Olathe North INC, 7. Olathe Northwest INC 7. Leavenworth INC, 7. Free State-Lawrence INC

C Team Girls Top 10
1. Stephanie Stone SMNW 18:21
2. Betsy Morris SME 18:34
3. Tiffany Baker SMNW 18:38
4. Catherine Couquillette SMNW 19:43
5. Frances Lafferty SME 18:55
6. Erin Snell OE 19:01
7. Courtney Davidson LAW 19:02
8. Hannah Locklear SMNW 19:11
9. Sarah Keearnes OE 19:13
10. Jill Torress SMNW 19:30