By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Columbia, Mo. — Missouri unveiled a brand new location its 2019 state championships in Columbia’s Gans Creek cross country course.
Designed specifically for cross country events by Columbia Parks and Recreation and the University of Missouri, the brand new course is the first to host the state meet following Jefferson City’s 42-year run.
1,369 runners in four classes descended on the area for Saturday’s championship races.
In the Class 2 boys race, El Dorado Springs sophomore Daelen Ackley pulled away from Maplewood-Richmond Heights’ Malik Stewart in the final 1,000 meters to capture his first-ever state title.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE CLASS 2 RACES
The pair led from the opening gun, running neck-and-neck throughout most of the race.
“I knew it was going to be a fast race, so I just had to take it out,” Ackley said. “We kept changing between first and second, but, at the 4K, I put 15 meters on him and then kept pressing. I was going to try and lose him in the second mile, but he hung in with me longer. I was, like, I’ve got to make it in this last mile — I’m not going to get outkicked.”
Ackley stretched his lead into a 20-second advantage over the final 1,000 meters, finishing with a time of 15:39.0.
Stewart crossed in 16:01.1.
After finishing fourth last season — trailing runner-up Stewart by nearly the same margin — the sophomore’s accomplishment took some time before it finally set it.
“I really didn’t grasp it until, like, 30 minutes after the race,” Ackley said. “I was in shock from earlier.”
Spokane junior Sam Shuman finished third in 16:06.3.
In the team competition, Fatima raced to a dominant first-place finish with 77 points. East Newton was the area’s top finisher in third place, while Ackley’s El Dorado Springs squad finished fifth.
Class 2 O-Zone Boys All-State Finishers
1. Daelen Ackley, El Dorado Springs (15:39.0)
3. Sam Shuman, Spokane (16:06.3)
11. Kelton Sorrell, East Newton (16.41.1)
14. Tanner Tailey, Summit Prep (16:47.0)
18. Caleb Wicklund, College Heights (16:51.9)
22. Willard Palmer, Warsaw (16:54.8)
23. Grant Stewart, Spokane (16:54.8)
Class 2 O-Zone Boys Top Team Finishes
3. East Newton – 118
5. El Dorado Springs – 187
In the girls race, Brookfield sophomore Alex Sharp cruised to a first-place individual finish in a time of 19:07.5.
El Dorado Springs’ Hannah Klaiber capture the area’s top mark, finishing fourth in 19:50.2.
While Klaiber’s finish was impressive, the journey tells a much better tale.
Following a blistering start, the freshman found herself in 20th place at the 1,000-meter mark.
“I’ll be honest with you,” Klaiber said. “In the beginning, I was thinking what’s so bad about 25th? What’s so bad about 23rd? And then, looking down, I saw the finish line and thought, hey … this is my team, and it’s my sister’s senior year, so I wanted to give her a show.”
Abigail Klaiber may have finished a ways back from her younger sister, but the senior was definitely treated to a show.
Over the remaining 4,000 meters, the younger Klaiber slowly and steadily worked her way through up through the pack.
At the final turn, with just a little over 200 meters to go, Klaiber found herself in seventh place.
Worn and weary, the freshman decided she wasn’t finished racing.
“When we came into the straight, I thought — well, I can’t sprint, and I’m tired,” Klaiber said. “Then, I looked up and saw three girls in front of me and though, why not go get them. It was just all down the line from there.”
The area’s other top-25 finishers included Summit Prep junior Alexis Workman (ninth) and College Heights junior Grace Bishop (13th).
Fatima completed the Class 2 sweep in the team competition with a 53-point first-place finish in the girls race. The area had two top-ten finishers in El Dorado Springs (fourth) and College Heights (sixth).
Class 2 O-Zone Girls All-State Finishers
1. Hannah Klaiber, El Dorado Springs (19:50.2)
9. Alexis Workman, Summit Prep (19:59.4)
13. Grace Bishop, College Heights (20:08.1)
Class 2 O-Zone Girls Top Team Finishes
4. El Dorado Springs – 156
6. College Heights – 175
