by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Wellington High School Cross Country has had a long and wonderful history. But there has been one thing the Crusaders have never accomplished — winning a high school girls meet.

Until, Thursday. Wellington girls won the Oxford varsity girls cross country meet which happened to be in Winfield.

Wellington girls accumulated 37 points. Circle was the only other school to score with 40 points. Other schools attending were: Clearwater, Pretty Prairie, Central of Burden, Caldwell, Sunrise Academy, Classical School of Wichita, Cedar Vale-Dexter, Wichita Warriors, Bluestem, Wellington Christian Academy, Douglass, Elk Valley, Eureka, Cheney, Udall and Oxford. 

“I believe this is the first time we ever won it,” said Charles Wallace, Wellington head cross country coach for over 30 years. “I can’t remember it if we did.”

The victory came with high winds and hot 90 degree temperatures.

“My time went up 30 seconds,” said Jaedyn Ledesma, Wellington’s top senior runner.

Ledesma placed third with a 17.01 time. Lauren Scheufler finished 11th with an 18.01 time. Wellington had three other girls medal including Leah Nelson, Cabrell Roe and Jo Tredway.

On the varsity boys side, Brent Williams and Isaiah Rogers medaled.

It has been a busy week for the cross country team which ran at Anthony Lake on Monday in the Chaparral meet that was originally scheduled for the Thursday before but was postponed because of rain.

Wellington middle school then ran on Tuesday.

The Oxford meet, held east of the state prison in Winfield contained runners from sixth grade to Wellington senior high. This was the first time this year that Wellington Christian Academy runners ran with WMS runners.

The results for the week starting with the Chaparral meet on Monday to the Oxford meet Thursday are as follows: