Boys Crack Top 10 At State

GIRLS FINISH 13TH AT CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH 319 POINTS

Thursday, November 8, 2012

The McDonald County High School boys cross country team proved Saturday they are one of the 10 best Class 3 teams in the state of Missouri.

“We had our ups and downs, just like the course,” said coach Darbi Stancell. “The boys never fi nished as high as we had hoped, but they did better than we thought we would do at the beginning of the season.”

Led by a 37th place finish out of a field of 170 entrants by Caleb Littlefield, McDonald County totaled 249 points to finish in 10th place in the Missouri Class 3 State Cross Country Championships.

Littlefield covered the 3.1 mile course at Oak Hills Golf Center in Je◊erson City in a time of 17:34.97. Taking second for McDonald County, 51st overall, was Connor Underwood in 17:54.81. Connor Hackworth was 86th in 18:26.43 followed by Randal Buckner, 117th, 19:00.97; Wade Schmit, 124th, 19:04.22; James Walker, 133rd, 19:26.71; and Jacob Walker, 147th, 19:47.24.

“Caleb was disappointed he didn’t make all-state (top 25),” Stancell said. “But he still graduates as a district champion. The highlight on the boys team was Connor Underwood. He ran a very strong race and nearly made the top 50.”

Amos Bartelsmeyer of M.I.C.D.S. won the Class 3 race in a time of 16:24.98.

Festus won the team title with 58 points followed by Warrensburg with 65, Liberty North 133,M.I.C.D.S. 150, Clayton 166, St. Genevieve 181, Pembroke Hill 195, Platte County 232, John Burroughs 237, McDonald County 249, St. Dominic 261, Bolivar 273, Helias Catholic 300, Mexico 337, St. Mary’s 386 and Pleasant Hill 388.

The McDonald County girls team, took 13th place with 319 points. Faith Owens led the Lady Mustangs with a 63rd place fi nish out of 166 entrants in a time of 21:25.14 while Emily High was 78th in 21:45.50.

“We were pleased with the girls,” Stancell said. “This is our fourth trip to state and we have always been last.”

Rounding out the girls results were Yessy Domingues, 112th, 22:27.96; Kylie Littlefield, 121st, 22:40.75; Dakota Bunch, 130th, 23:03.15; Cendy Garcia, 159th, 24:26.13; and Makala Stephens, 160th, 24:27.88.

“The highlight for the girls was our four newcomers (Owens, High, Littlefield and Bunch) thought the course was fun. They never thought it was that bad. Their goal is to come back and finish in the top four next year. That is exciting.”

Taylor Werner led St. Genevieve to the team title in Class 3 with a first place finish in a time of 18:19.88.

St. Genevieve had 42 points followed by Festus with 100, Smithville 110, Villa Duchesne 135, Notre Dame de Sion 149, M.I.C.D.S. 182, Liberty North 218, Clinton 228, Bolivar 240, Helias Catholic 244, Clayton 273, Incarnate Word Academy 291, McDonald County 319, Pembroke Hill 321, St. Charles West 333 and St. Dominic 406.

Sports, Pages 13 on 11/08/2012