While J’Lyn Knutson got most of the spotlight for the Melcher-Dallas Cross Country Program, the Saints were trying to develop a boys squad this season. Coach Amy Stuart tells KNIA Sports she started out with three boys and ended the year with just one. She says Owne Suntken did a good job of sticking it out. She adds now the trick is to do some in school recruiting and convince other boys to give cross country a try.

Stuart:
“We’ll see if we can talk any other boys into it. Football is fun with teammates around you versus cross country with no teammates around you, so we’ll see if any boys are interested in running next year.”

Last fall Emery Sage qualified for the State Meet but left a large void due to graduation last spring. Stuart says Knutson’s influence and success hopefully will get more Saints’ athletes out for cross country in the future.