By Mike Gilmore ELLINWOOD - Canadian journalist Cory Doctorow has said that it was always exciting to be recognized by your peers. After the success of the Ellinwood Cross Country teams in the 2011 season, Coach Lyles Lashley would agree. Lashley, whose boys, and girls’ teams finished first and second, respectively, in the Class 2A state championship meet at Wamego in October, has been named Class 2A Cross Country Coach of the Year by his fellows of the Kansas Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches Association. For the boys, it was the Eagles’ first state title since 1967. The girls’ squad has finished runners-up twice in three consecutive team state appearances. For Lashley it is a momentary highlight on a continuing journey. “You would hope,” he said, following his teams’ return bearing the Wamego hardware, “that kids would come out and be with us and train with us and realize that cross country isn’t such an awful thing. It’s fun to run, it’s fun to compete, and it’s really fun to be part of a successful team.” While the team members returned to EHS to acclaim from both the school and city leaders, Lashley’s honor completes the picture. His coaching honor will be presented at the KCCTFCA’s coaches clinic on Jan. 5-6, 2012 in Junction City. “We will make sure that he gets there,” said EHS Activities Director Kip Wilson, upon learning of Lashley’s honor last week. “I bet there will be a contingent of people going. It’s a great honor for coach Lashley, it’s a great honor for the school. “It was a great fall season for us,” Wilson continued, as the cross country teams join the girls’ tennis team as Class 2A state champion. “Two state championships and a state runner up. And then this (coach Lashley’s award). Just a great seasonBy Mike Gilmore ELLINWOOD - Canadian journalist Cory Doctorow has said that it was always exciting to be recognized by your peers. After the success of the Ellinwood Cross Country teams in the 2011 season, Coach Lyles Lashley would agree. Lashley, whose boys, and girls’ teams finished first and second, respectively, in the Class 2A state championship meet at Wamego in October, has been named Class 2A Cross Country Coach of the Year by his fellows of the Kansas Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches Association. For the boys, it was the Eagles’ first state title since 1967. The girls’ squad has finished runners-up twice in three consecutive team state appearances. For Lashley it is a momentary highlight on a continuing journey. “You would hope,” he said, following his teams’ return bearing the Wamego hardware, “that kids would come out and be with us and train with us and realize that cross country isn’t such an awful thing. It’s fun to run, it’s fun to compete, and it’s really fun to be part of a successful team.” While the team members returned to EHS to acclaim from both the school and city leaders, Lashley’s honor completes the picture. His coaching honor will be presented at the KCCTFCA’s coaches clinic on Jan. 5-6, 2012 in Junction City. “We will make sure that he gets there,” said EHS Activities Director Kip Wilson, upon learning of Lashley’s honor last week. “I bet there will be a contingent of people going. It’s a great honor for coach Lashley, it’s a great honor for the school. “It was a great fall season for us,” Wilson continued, as the cross country teams join the girls’ tennis team as Class 2A state champion. “Two state championships and a state runner up. And then this (coach Lashley’s award). Just a great season
