The goal for the 2015 McDonald County boys and girls cross country teams has nothing to do with times and results.
Though if they achieve the goal, their times and results will be greatly affected.
Zeke Bates##12
Cole Cooper ##12
Parker Owens##12
Matthew Sedillos##12
Wesley Bethel##11
Truman Craig##11
Felimon Alejo##12
Treyton Murphy##11
Colton Tweedy##11
Grant Abercrombie##10
Caleb Curtis##10
Scion Fertic##10
Isaac Gardner##10
Alex Guadarrama##10
James King##10
Conner Wolff##10
Anthony Deering##9
Johan Delacruz##9
Lane Ziemianin##9
Dakota Bunch##12
Emily High##12
Kylie Littlefield##12
Istarlin Aden##10
Annika Blair##10
Lexie Tuttle##9
Natalie Staib##9
Andrea Creason##10
####10
Cassie##Dowd##10
Saylor##Jones##10
Cross Country, Fall 2015
(Revised Aug. 14)
Date##Opponent##Location##Time
Sept. 5##SWCCCA Kickoff##Nixa##9 a.m.
Sept. 10##Carthage##Away##TBA
Sept. 15##Monett Invitational##Away##4 p.m.
Sept. 19##Southern##Stampeded Away##TBA
Sept. 26##Rim Rock##Lawrence, Kan.##TBA
Sept. 26 ##Patriot Invitational (JV)##Away##10 a.m.
Sept. 29##Lamar Invitational##Away##4 p.m.
Oct. 3##Chile Pepper Festival##Fayetteville, Ark.##11 a.m.
Oct. 12##Cassville Invitational##Away##4 p.m.
Oct. 10##Big 8 Conference##Monett##TBA
Oct. 24##District##Nixa##TBA
Oct. 31##Sectionals##TBA##TBA
Nov. 7 ##State##Jefferson City##TBA
"Injuries were a huge problem for us last year," said Darbi Stancell, the only cross country coach McDonald County High School has had since it began the program 10 years ago. "The number one goal for us is to stay healthy. We have a strong group of runners. If we can stay health, hopefully we can advance to sectionals this year."
Leading the girl's team is a trio of seniors including Dakota Bunch, Emily High and Kylie Littlefield. High and Littlefield were both sectional qualifiers as juniors.
"Last year the girl's team lacked depth," Stancell said. "This year the depth is there to go with the three seniors and our goal is qualify as a team to sectionals and possibly to state."
Joining the three seniors are returning letter winners Cassie Dowd, Annika Blair and Saylor Jones. New to the program are sophomores Andrea Creason and Istarlin Aden and talented freshmen in Lexie Tuttle and Natalie Staib.
"This could be the deepest girl's team ever," Stancell said. "The three seniors have really been committed. They are great examples for the underclassmen."
Senior Cole Cooper will lead the boys. Other returning lettermen are Wes Bethel, Treyton Murphy and Colton Tweedy. Rounding out the team are seniors Zeke Bates, Parker Owens, Matthew Sedillos and Felimon Alejo; junior Truman Craig; sophomores Grant Abercrombie, Caleb Curtis, Scion Fertic, Isaac Gardner, Conner Wolff, Alex Guadarrama and James King; and freshmen Anthony Deering, Johan Delacruz and Lane Ziemianin.
"Cole's commitment level couldn't be any higher," Stancell said. "He has made himself a very good runner. The boys are maybe the most talented, but as a group they haven't had the best work ethic. If they could buckle down, they could show they are the best team we have ever had."
McDonald County opens the season Sept. 5 at the Southwest Cross Country Coaches Association Kickoff in Nixa. Featured meets include the Southern Stampede on Sept. 19; Rim Rock in Lawrence, Kan. on Sept. 26; the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., on Oct. 3.
The Big 8 Conference meet is set for Oct. 19 followed by districts on Oct. 24 and sectionals on Oct. 31.
Sports on 08/27/2015