The area’s Class 1 cross country teams descended on Outlet Park at Lake Pomme De Terre Dam looking to punch their tickets to the Class 1 state cross country meet.
BOYS RACE
School of the Ozarks sophomore Kellen Robertson showed why he is one of the favorites to win the Class 1 state title by running a 16:51.30 to win the race over runner-up Daniel Tomlinson from Dora who ran 17:30.34. Hermitage’s Levi George finished third in 17:58.15.
That trio will also be going to the state meet with their teams. Hermitage won the district title with 52 points followed by School of the Ozarks (74 points) in second and Dora (83 points) in third. Rich Hill rounded out the team qualifiers in fourth with 104 points.
The top 30 individuals inclusive of the team qualifiers also qualify for state.
Below are the area’s team and individual qualifiers.
AREA BOYS TEAM STATE QUALIFIERS
1. Hermitage – 52
(Levi George, Joel Earwood, Benton Pitts, Jacen Wheeler, Brayden Franse, Trayce Boeke, Matthew Boyer)
2. School of the Ozarks – 74
(Kellen Robertson, Isaac Todd, Oliver Mutrux, Dekker Youngblood, Isaac Hampsch)
3. Dora – 83
(Daniel Tomlinson, Jacob Perkins, Zachary Green, Josiah Ward, Hunter Dobbs, Clifford Brashers, Logan Smith)
AREA BOYS INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS
4. Carter Ferrell – Macks Creek
5. David Stuber – Niangua
6. Gideon Case – Gloria Deo Academy
9. Aiden McGill – Dadeville
14. Esiya Weeks – Galena
15. Joe Graf – Dadeville
17. Thayor Little – Chadwick
18. Adien Evans – Blue Eye
19. Isaac Mabary – MCE
20. Michael Kincaid – Stoutland
23. Joshua Daniels – Everton
24. Kipton Case – Chadwick
25. Sam Vorhis – Walnut Grove
26. Jayson Peterson – Wheaton
28. Hunter Walton – Gloria Deo
29. Brent Stuart – Mansfield
30. Benjamin Williams – Mansfield
GIRLS RACE
Norwood’s multi-sport star Jayden Chambers paced a stacked field with a 20:34.44 to win the individual title. She was followed by Chadwick’s Macy Landry in second with a 20:42.48. Gloria Deo sophomore Caroline Fields was third in 21:04.21. Ella Howard from School of the Ozarks (21:10.57) and Emily Landry from Chadwick (21:46.96) rounded out the top five.
The race featured 10 athletes who placed in the Top 30 of the state last season. Those 10 represent more than half of the 19 eligible returning runners from last season’s top 30 at state. Chambers was eighth at state last season. Liberal’s Ally Barton, who finished 12th on Saturday, was fourth at state last season. Stoutland’s Mallory Shaw, who placed sixth on Saturday, was fifth at state as a junior. Macy Landry (seventh) and Fields (10th) were also top 10 finishers putting five top 10 finishers and making that quintet five of the seven fastest returners from last season’s Class 1 state meet.
In the team competition, School of the Ozarks scored 56 points to pace the field followed by McAuley Catholic in second with 60 points. Dora (68) and Thomas Jefferson (91) placed third and fourth to round out the team qualifiers.
Dora is the defending state champion while McAuley Catholic and School of the Ozarks were third and fourth as a team. Defending state runner-up Chadwick placed fifth just outside of qualifying.
The top 30 individuals inclusive of the team qualifiers also qualify for state.
Below are the area’s team and individual qualifiers.
AREA GIRLS TEAM STATE QUALIFIERS
1. School of the Ozarks – 56
(Ella Howard, Krystina Evans, Lorelai Strathman, Helena Smilie, Aly Wilkinson, Hailey Housley)
2. McAuley Catholic – 60
(Olivia Parrigon, Edith Nolan, Riley Sears, Elizabeth Bohachick, Samantha Perrin, Josie Sears, Sarah Burink)
3. Dora – 68
(Isabelle Martin, Haley Perkins, Kara Anderson, Kinley Luna, Alexis Anderson, Brynlee Walker)
4. Thomas Jefferson – 91
(Vivian Sharp, Kirra Moser, Haley Orr, Abigail Riley, Ciera Ancell)
AREA GIRLS INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS
1. Jayden Chambers – Norwood
2. Macy Landry – Chadwick
3. Caroline Fields – Gloria Deo
5. Emily Landry – Chadwick
6. Mallory Shaw – Stoutland
8. Kalie Chadwell – Norwood
10. Adelyn Asbury – Blue Eye
12. Ally Barton – Liberal
19. Claire McGee – Dadeville
20. Lucy Proctor – Dadeville
28. Lilee Minzes – Wheatland
30. Cheyanne VanDyke – MCE
