MHS - Cross Country / July 18, 2020 By Kasey McDowell
The 2008-09 Mulvane Cross Country season was another magical season as the team won most of the meets throughout the season, dominated the regional meet at Parsons the previous week, and then took the field by storm again at the state meet in Wamego.
The Mulvane team finished with six state medalists for the second year in a row, a feat normally unheard of in Cross Country, especially two years in a row. Senior David Roberts led the field for Mulvane finishing in 4th place with a time of 16:40.07. Roberts was the individual state champion the previous year and placed in every race his senior year. Junior Nikki Trooien-Smith finished in 8th place with a 16:50.61 followed by Nick Lockwood in 12th place with a 17:06.01, Evan Landes in 13th place with a 17:06.61, Wyatt James in 14th place with a 17:09.53, and Josh Hansen in 17th place with a 17:18.39.
"It's pretty incredible to put six runners in the top 20 like we did last year but it's even more incredible to put six in the top 17 like we did last year," said Coach Landes after the state meet. "These guys have worked very hard for this and have come through. When they step to the starting line, they are ready to compete, and that comes from preparation," said Landes.
"These guys have created history for themselves. It's the only team in Mulvane High School to win two state championships, let alone back-to-back. It's a special feeling," said Landes.
"Last year, we didn't know how we stacked up but we went into state (this year) knowing we were the team to beat and these guys stepped up to the starting line and performed. 
The first mile we don't get out too quickly, but Saturday we were pretty quick. We stayed calm throughout the race and it wasn't until about the two-mile mark where I started to realize the guys were running the way they have all year long. We just wear people out because we are so strong in the middle of the races," said Landes.
4A State Meet Results
1. Mulvane - 43 points
2. Wamego - 63
3. Baldwin - 105
4. Paola - 132
5. De Soto - 153
6. Hiawatha - 162
7. Iola - 179
8. Carbondale-Santa Fe Trail - 194
9. Pratt - 219
10. Towanda-Circle - 222
11. Ulysses - 282
12. Wichita Independent - 355
4A State Medalists
4th: David Roberts (16:40.78)
8th: Nikki Trooien-Smith (16:50.61)
12th: Nick Lockwood (17:06.01)
13th: Evan Landes (17:06.61)
14th: Wyatt James (17:09.53)
17th: Josh Hansen (17:18.39)
Other MHS Finishes
67th: Jake James (18:32)
