by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Jaedyn Ledesma has had a roller coaster career in her four years of running for the Wellington Cross Country team. But on Saturday afternoon in the Class 4A Regional at El Dorado State Park, Ledesma rolled that coaster cart to the top of the hill, parked it and stood there in Wellington Cross Country glory.

Ledesma broke a school record in a 4K race and garnered a state cross country meet berth Saturday. She will be heading to Wamego at the golf course for the Class 4A state meet. She finished sixth individually and helped the girls team place ninth.

She ran the race in 15.53 to garner a medal. Her time knocked out her sister, J’Lynn Ledesma’s record holding time set in 2006.

After a very good freshman year, Ledesma battled injury her sophomore and junior year. Her senior year she pieced it all together – saving her best race for last.

Overall, the Wellington girls accumulated 219 points, giving the team its best regional results in years. The team’s ninth place finish was better than Independence, Clearwater, Mulvane, Augusta, Parsons and Almamont-Labette.

Lauren Scheufler finished 19th with a 16.34 time.

Jo Tredway placed 53rd with a 18.24 time.

Mackinze Tracy finished 71st with a 19.40 time.

Baylee DeJarnett placed 74th with a 19.59 time.

Julia Peck finished 78th with a 20.22 time.

Cabreil Roe placed 83rd with a 21.22 time.

On the all-time top 10 list, Ledesma moved from second to first. Scheufler stayed at fourth, and Jo Tredway moved from 10th place to ninth.

“We have six girls that are on the team this year that has made the top 10 all-time record list,” said Charles Wallace, Wellington head cross country coach. “The other girls on the list include, Leah Nelson, fifth; Cabreil Roe, sixth and Baylee DeJarnett, 10th.

On the boys side, two boys ran the 5K race.

Brent Williams finished 55th place with a 19.12 time.

Joe Friesen finished 75th with a 20.17 time.

There were three girls and one boy who received personal records.

This concludes the season for the cross country team except for Ledesma.