GARNETT — A few of the Ottawa High School boys cross-country runners were not born the last time the Cyclones qualified for state as a team.

The other members were not out of diapers yet. It was 1996.

GARNETT — A few of the Ottawa High School boys cross-country runners were not born the last time the Cyclones qualified for state as a team.

The other members were not out of diapers yet. It was 1996.

Ottawa ended its long drought Saturday by taking second at the 4A regional in Garnett. The Cyclones placed four in the top 21 to finish behind state powerhouse Baldwin.

“I’ve known for some weeks we were improving, but I didn’t want to put any pressure on the guys,” veteran Ottawa coach Chris Kornhaus said. “They had to go out and get it done to prove to themselves they belonged.”

Ottawa was coming off a solid performance, placing fourth in the Frontier League meet. But the team felt it could have been better.

“I think they were disappointed last week but knew that they could run better and finish higher,” Kornhaus said. “Before Saturday’s race we talked about being ‘all in’ and taking another step forward. During the race, you could see the determination on their faces.  

“When I saw the results, my first thought was ‘finally.’”

Ottawa sophomore Sam White said the Cyclone runners were ready mentally and physically for the regional meet.

Part of the boys’ motivation is the tradition of the girls program, which has won seven state championships.

Now the boys get to compete for one themselves. The 4A boys race is set for 11 a.m. Saturday in Wamego.

Junior Daniel White paced the Ottawa boys in eighth. Freshman Brandon Yates took 16th. Sam White was 19th and Brandon Nanninga was 21st.

The Anderson County girls qualified as a team by taking third with 103 points. Amanda Moody led the Bulldogs in fourth place. Freshman Isabel Sibley was 19th.

Ottawa’s top finisher was sophomore Sharissa Daw in 34th place. Hannah Thomas finished her career with in  43rd.

Boys

Ottawa

8, D. White, 18:27; 16, Yates, 18:59; 19, S. White, 19:16; 21, Nanninga, 19:20; 26, Christian, 19:31; 59, Birzer, 20:44; 66, Schlotterback, 20:52.

Anderson County

42, Trujillo, 20:11; 49, Jumet, 20:22; 56, Patterson, 20:36; 74, Carter, 21:07; 88, Katzer, 22:45.

Girls

Ottawa

34, Daw, 17:56; 43, Thomas, 18:27; 44, Manis, 18:27.65; 54, Crossen, 19:01; 60, Peterson, 19:22; 63, Doty, 19:41; 75, Pruitt, 21:34.

Anderson County

4, Moody, 16:43; 19, I. Sibley, 17:20; 25, G. Sibley, 17:40; 26, Scheckel, 17:41; 42, Wilson, 18:25; 49, E. Sibley, 18:40; 50, Hedges, 18:41.