Running all the way to Lawrence
by John Giffin In her senior season of track at El Dorado High School, Molly Milbourn is adding to an already abundant trophy case. The two-time cross-country, track 1600 meter, and one-time 3200 and 800 4A state champ has opened the 2011 track season placing first in every race through her first three meets. Milbourn’s season started at Winfield March 29. The University of Kansas bound senior strode her way to firstplace finishes in the 800 and 1600 meter runs. Just to show the Winfield folks she wasn’t fooling, Milbourn won the 1600 and 3200 meter at the Winfield Invitational two days later, April 1. Taking home three gold medals from the Warrior Invitational in Marion April 8, the 2010 KU relays 3200 meter champ swept the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs. And she’s just getting started. The stiffer the competition, the harder Milbourn said she competes. “When I run the best is when I have competition the whole race, pushing me to run faster,” said Milbourn. “ I definitely set (personal records) when I have good competition.” Milbourn went up against plenty of competition in the Wichita State hosted K.T. Woodman Invitational, followed by the KU relays.
Milbourn poses for a photo at El Dorado High School. Going up against all classes, Milbourn saw the ranked 4-6A runners Makenzie Maki fastest in the state of Kansas at WSU (Kapaun), Amber Eickhorn (Wichita and some of the fastest in the midwest North), and Kaitlyn Barnes (Baldwin). the next weekend in Lawrence. Competing against the cream of the “This weekend, I’m going to get to state will only help Milbourn as she race against some of the faster girls moves to compete at the next level. that I don’t get to race normally,” said Milbourn is not expecting to run varMilbourn the week of K.t Woodman sity right away, but moving to races Invitational. “So I’m definitely going of 5K and up at KU plays into her to have some good competition.” strengths. Among the girls she faced are top-
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