For the first time in program history, a cross country team from Webb City High School has brought home a trophy from the state meet.
Webb City’s boys finished second in the Class 4 team standings at the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships on Friday at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.
It’s Webb City’s highest-ever team finish. The 2015 team took sixth.
“We had aspirations of trying to challenge Festus for a state title and we fell short of that today,” Webb City coach Dustin Miller said. “We didn’t have our best day, but we did enough to secure second place. There were some tears in the tent, but then I think they realized there are a lot of teams that would love to be second in the state. It’s the first time we’ve ever plaqued at state, so it’s a big day for our program. It’s been many years coming. We’ve had some stellar teams take sixth or seventh in the biggest class. This hasn’t been our best team (ever), but to break through that barrier of missing out on the podium and to get up there today was definitely a big step forward for our program. I’m proud.”
Festus claimed the team championship with 45 points, capturing a state title for the seventh straight season, with the prior six in Class 3. Webb City and West Plains both finished with 97 points, but the Cardinals took second because their sixth runner finished ahead of West Plains’ sixth runner. Chaminade took fourth with 128 points. The top four teams earned a trophy.
West Plains’ Riley Simpson cruised to a first-place finish in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15 minutes, 39 seconds. His time was 17 seconds faster than the second-place finisher, Cullen Krieg of Festus (15:56).
The top Joplin-area finisher was Webb City senior Joseph Dawson, who finished 13th in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16:25 seconds. Dawson was in ninth at the 3K mark and 11th at 4K mark.
Neosho’s Kaden Cole was 14th in 16:26. Cole was in seventh place after the first 1,000 meters, and was 12th at the 4K mark.
Carl Junction’s Collin Emmert finished 18th with a time of 16:34 and Webb City’s Roman Borboa was 21st in 16:39. Emmert finished strong, as he was in 24th place at the 4K mark. Borboa was in 24th at the 3K mark and moved up a few spots late in the race.
Dawson, Cole, Emmert and Borboa earned all-state recognition with their top-25 finishes.
Webb City’s Dustin Brockmiller just missed earning all-state honors with a 26th place finish (16:48). Also competing for the Cardinals were Owen Weller (51st), Samuel Winesburg (55th), Evan Stevens (59th) and Jose Banda-Antillon (64th).
Also competing for the Wildcats were Connor Jordon (96th), Harry Slinkard (98th), Carson Newell (99th), Gabriel Mabrey (102nd), Bryce Hall (117th) and Jeremiah Enlow (143rd). Neosho finished 10th in the standings with 235 points.
Julio Cruz (72st) and Jose Salas Esquivel (100th) competed for Monett, while Carl Junction’s Logan Carnes finished 82nd.
CLASS 4 GIRLS
No area runners were able to secure an all-state finish in the Class 4 girls race on Friday morning.
Webb City’s Riley Hawkins finished 57th (20:33), while teammates Hally Philpot and Abi Street were 72nd and 77th, respectively.
Neosho’s Bailey Miller was 79th, Webb City’s Isabelle Lopez took 86th, Neosho’s Riley Kemna finished 88th and Nevada’s Allie Rains took 89th.
Webb City’s Mileah Metcalf finished 106th and teammate Velissia Perez was 109th. Neosho’s Makenna Davis placed 110th, Carl Junction’s Hannah Franks was 119th, Webb City’s Katherine Moore took 123rd and McDonald County’s Melysia McCrory was 124th.
Also competing for Neosho were Jayden Adams (134th), Lakyn Prough (140th), Michelle Lindsay (150th) and Emma Dodd (154th).
As far as the team standings, Webb City was 12th and Neosho was 16th. Neosho had both teams at state for the first time since 1992.
West Plains won the team championship with 53 points. Cor Jesu Academy (75), St. Teresa’s Academy (80) and Smithville (116) rounded out the top four girls teams.
CARDINALS GAIN EXPERIENCE
Coach Miller noted a large number of his athletes will be back next fall, so the Cardinals gained valuable experience for the future.
“On the girls side, we’ll return all but two,” Miller said. “Today was a great experience for our girls. We performed all right today. We have a lot of learning and growing to do. We’re going to set some high expectations and I think the girls will work hard to get there. I need to raise the bar and challenge them to achieve greatness. On the boys side, we’ll return a solid core (Dawson, Weller and Winesburg are the seniors). They’ll give us a chance to be successful again next year.”
“Overall, it was just a great experience,” Miller said of Friday’s state trip. “There were a lot of positives from today and a lot of opportunities for growth. I’m chomping at the bit. This has rejuvenated me as a coach and I’m ready to get going again.”
CLASS 3
The Class 3 races were held on Thursday.
In the girls race, Lamar’s Kiersten Potter finished third in 19:30. Lutheran South’s Macy Schelp (18:54.3) and John Burroughs’ Kylie Goldfarb (18:54.4) were first and second, respectively.
Aurora’s Kaci Singer and Aubrey Boatwright finished ninth and 12th, respectively, while Mount Vernon’s Rilee Simons placed 19th.
East Newton’s duo of Ellie Hicks and Alonna Eytcheson were 30th and 31st.
The top four teams were John Burroughs (59), Southern Boone (90), Potosi (137) and Aurora (138).
In the boys race, Lamar’s Joe Kremp placed third in 16:02. El Dorado Springs’ Daelen Ackley (15:41) and Southern Boone’s Connor Burns (15:42) were first and second. A junior, Ackley repeated as champion.
East Newton’s Gabe Bergen took 10th and Lamar’s Ethan Pittsenbarger was 12th. East Newton’s Kelton Sorrell just missed earning all-state honors with his 28th place finish.
The top four teams were Fatima (98), Lutheran (St. Charles) 109, Maryville 139 and John Burroughs (142). East Newton (159) and Lamar (176) were sixth and seventh, respectively.
CLASS 5, CLASS 1 MEETS ARE SATURDAY
Athletes from Joplin and Carthage will compete in the Class 5 races on Saturday, while athletes from College Heights Christian, McAuley Catholic and Thomas Jefferson will compete in Class 1.
