Grandview High School - Bulldog Yearbook (Grandview, MO)

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Cross Country'- Buddy running , junior Bev Malson and sophomore Anita Lally pass a Chrisman runner at Districts. -Photo by Michelle Campbell Stretching before the Belton-Center tri-meet, Kathy Struik, junior, prepares to run the 3.1 mile course. -Photo by Lisa Curry Congratulating the midget superstar, freshman Renee Bunk, Kathy Struik, junior admires Bonk's sixth place award at Districts. -Photo by Michelle Campbell. 261 Cross Country QKOJ Relaxing after his race, Dale Higgins, senior, takes a break under a vacant Swope Park tree. -Photo by Pam Sherrer

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W B October 31, 1981. They arrived ner- vous, tense, spirits dampened by cold, rainy weather. Bundled in sweats of every color, they stretched, ran a quick Warm-up, and finally located their positions on the starting line. They anxiously waited for the District Cross Country race to begin. As the gun fired and the 170 area girls sprinted through Swope Park's ever-familiar 3.1 mile course, they ex- perienced a mixture of emotions. For the top thirty, it was just a beginning as they qualified for state competition. But, for junior Kathy Struik, it was a disappointing end to an otherwise out- standing season. Struik finished 38th. Sure, it was disappointing, but it would be stupid of me to say I expect- ed to go to state. I knew it was going to be close, she said. Her clear blue eyes grew thoughtful. I tried my hardest, she said softly. She thought about it a moment. And l guess that's the best I can do. Her face lit up with a better mem- ory. Struik's five medals and All-Con- ference patch adorning her letter jack- et prove she is a runner to be reckoned with. I had a slow beginning, but l medaled in every meet except the first. My times gradually got better, Struik said. ' However, Struik wasn't the only Grandview runner to barely miss advancing to state. A week earlier in If I am running this hard and always missing it, there must be something wrong with me. -Chris Croft, junior the Boys' District meet, junior Chris Croft missed qualifying for regionals by six places and sophomore Quint Rohloff, by seven. But Croft's season started out rocky. In the first two medal meets, Croft missed receiving a medal by one place each time. The first time it happened, it upset me a lot mentally, but I got over it, he said. But the second time it hap- pened, my mental aspects just dropped off completely. I thought if I am run- ning this hard and always missing it, there must be something wrong with me. And for a while, it seemed as though there were something wrong with Croft. I-le fell from first runner to third. In explanation Croft said, I respect Quint. He broke the sophomore record and had a much better sophomore sea- son than I had. But, I was afraid of falling to seventh runner.', A glint of determination crossed his face. I realized I had to get back up to where I was and should be, Croft said. IContinued next pagej Fighting to finish high in the District rankings, Grandview' cross country runners worked as individuals to achieve their goals. -Photos by Michelle Campbell and Pam Sherrer too CIO B 3 R. QR If r f,f5 ..::5S. , xv 1

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to fcont.l And he did. Likewise, team members excelled as individual runners, despite a losing sea- son. Grandview's results weren't too rosy compared to other teams. Howev- er, timewise compared to their own previous times, everybody did a com- mendable job. They all PR'ed lpersonal recordl a cou- ple of times, Bob Smith, coach, said. But Smith was quick to add that they com- pete against the best in the city all the time- even in dual meets. Call to hurt Renee Bonk, Grandview East Junior High freshman. Her conference victory combined with a PR of 20:12 earned her the varsity record and a position on the Kansas City Star Honor Roll. Nobody expected a little 5-foot kid to be able to go out there and win, Bonk said. So what makes Bonk so good? She's just a very competi- UThey tive person, Smith said. compete She's got against the best in the city all the time. -Bob Smith, coach And with only three seniors, Grandview was a relatively young team. This hurt. Running varsity put a lot of pressure on the younger guys like Rohloff and sophomore David Hoffman, who had to compete against older, more experienced runners. But, on the other hand, it makes the future look brighter, Smith said. This varsity pressure did not seem Girls Varsity Park Hill Liberty Southeast Excelsior Springs Ruskin Conference Lee Summit District 'denotes no team score . , . INVITATIONAL Pl-ACE Belton-Center Triangular 3 ' 15 ' 10 25 ' 18 3 ' 8 18 that some- thing you wish all your athletes had. And with that some- thing Bonk set the scene for her final race of the season-the state meet at Jefferson City. As they drew closer to the finish line, the 184 best Missouri runners ex- perienced a feeling of pride beyond words. Just qualifying for state was an accomplishment. But for Bonk it was an outstanding end to an even more outstanding sea- son. She finished 11th in state and num- ber one in Kansas City. -Text by Lisa Curry QKOD Cross Country I 27