ROGERS — Seven-time defending Class 7A state cross country champion Rogers should know later this week the status is its No. 1 runner, Jeremiah Fleeman, head coach Carlton Efurd said Tuesday.
The Mounties struggled Saturday at the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin, finishing seventh after Fleeman dropped out of the race around the 1.5-mile mark. He had shin problems.
"I knew they were bothering him, but didn't realize they were that bad," Efurd said after the race.
"Our 1 to 5 split was great at 49 seconds but where our No. 1 finished was not that strong in 31st place," he said.
Fleeman, an All-State senior, ran a time of 16 minutes and 2 seconds at the 2008 Class 7A state meet. He is scheduled to see a doctor later this week, Efurd said.
Rogers runs this week at a meet hosted by Missouri State University in Springfield, the
Richard Clark Invitational.
Efurd said about 25 teams would compete.
"It will be a good test for us," he said.
Efurd said Fleeman could rest five to six weeks before the 7A-West Conference meet is held in late October at Rogers High School. He will work out on a bicycle and in the pool during the interim, the coach said.
"Jeremiah is our front runner this year," Efurd said. Fleeman ran a 15:48 road race at the Heritage War Eagles Twilight Run, the coach said.
Sports, Pages 5 on 09/24/2009