Conference rivals Joplin and Webb City finished fourth and fifth in the team standings, and Neosho’s Kaden Cole was the top local finisher in the boys Green Division at the 31st annual Missouri Southern Stampede on Saturday at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.
With three runners in the top 10, Kickapoo was the team champion with 61 points. Liberty North (78) and Rogers Heritage (163) finished second and third, with Joplin (166) and Webb City (261) rounding out the top five squads.
The Green Division, featuring larger schools, featured 30 full teams and 262 runners.
Joplin had four runners finish in the top 29. With that, Eagles coach Dustin Dixon was pleased with his team’s showing.
“We had a great day,” Dixon said. “All five of the boys who scored today PR’d. We ran great. We feel really good. We came into the year with big time goals and we ran like it today. Some really good Class 5 teams beat us today, but we feel like we had them at the two-mile mark. We just have to finish. My No. 5 (Nicholas Horton) didn’t finish. He collapsed, but he’s going to be fine. We competed really well today, so I’m pleased. We had a good day.”
Neosho’s Cole crossed the line fifth in a personal best time of 15:37.
Joplin’s Hobbs Campbell finished ninth in 15:53, while Carl Junction’s Collin Emmert was 11th in 15:57.
Joplin’s Evan Matlock finished 14th (16:03), while Webb City’s Dustin Brockmiller (16:07) and Roman Borboa (16:17) placed 15th and 18th, respectively.
East Newton’s Kelton Sorrell was 19th (16:18) and Joplin’s Ian Horton took 21st (16:19).
The top 25 runners were medalists.
Also, Joplin’s Zaben Barnes finished 29th, East Newton’s Gabe Bergen was 30th, Carthage’s Mariques Strickland placed 35th and East Newton’s Chase Sorrell was 45th. Webb City’s Evan Stevens was 55th and Carthage’s Miquel Solano was 57th.
Webb City coach Dustin Miller was pleased with his team’s showing. The Cardinals had two runners in the top 18.
“To come out and finish fifth in a big meet like this is great,” Miller said. “I’m really proud of the guys. We came out and competed well. It’s still early. Our training has gone well and we’ve had guys run really good races in bits and pieces. We haven’t put together a team performance yet, but we’re getting there.”
Miller noted his team continues to make progress, with peaking at the end of the season the ultimate goal.
“Dustin Brockmiller is just so consistent,” Miller added. “Roman is starting to come around. He looked good and looked focused. Evan Stevens struggled a little bit, but he’ll figure it out. Mason Hedger (93rd) stepped up as our No. 4. He’s starting to believe he’s as good as we tell him he is. And Blake Vaughan (99th) is nails. We can’t ask for any more than he gives us.”
NEOSHO’S COLE TAKES FIFTH WITH NEW PR
A senior at Neosho, Cole definitely had a day to remember as the top local finisher. He also shattered his previous personal best time.
“I felt really solid,” Cole said. “I really just wanted to get out there, execute a plan and get a good time. I wanted to get out and not get boxed in and hold that position the whole race.”
Cole noted finishing fifth in such a stellar field will give him a confidence boost as the season progresses.
“It’s definitely a big confidence boost for me,” Cole said. “I had a PR by almost 40 seconds. The competition level was a big part of it. Getting a goal for the end of the season really sparks your mood for this race.”
El Dorado Springs standout Daelen Ackley won the race with a time of 15:10. Liberty’s North’s Sage Wilde was second (15:22), with Rolla’s Nathanael Pohlsander (15:30) taking third and Kickapoo’s Tyler Harris (15:32) placing fourth.
ATTEBERRY EARNS MEDAL IN GOLD DIVISION
The area’s smaller schools competed in the Gold Division (Class 1-3 schools in Missouri).
Thomas Jefferson’s Kip Atteberry finished 17th with a time of 17:30 to earn the bragging rights as the area’s top finisher.
“I was surprised a little bit by my time,” Atteberry said, noting a PR. “I didn’t feel like I was going that fast. This meet is three times bigger than the meets I’m used to, so it was great. When you come to these big meets, there’s always runners who compete at a really high level. So it’s just nice to be able to run with them. I’m pretty happy.”
There were 19 full teams and 175 runners in the Gold Division. New Bloomfield’s Nathan Hinrichs won the race in 16:12.
Smithville (45), Metro Christian Academy (92) and Union (98) were the top three teams. McAuley Catholic finished 18th in the standings.
MCAULEY GAINS EXPERIENCE
Despite being short-handed due to injuries, McAuley Catholic’s young team gained valuable experience, Warriors coach Andy Youngworth noted.
“I don’t think I did a very good job of preparing the kids for being in a race with nearly 200 kids in,” Youngworth said. “This is a new experience for some of them. But when I saw our times, probably in the worst conditions of the season due to the heat, I think we did OK. I’m not disappointed. I was pleased with the effort. Our finish is what it is. If we would have had our top guys, we might have made a little bit of a move up. But, there weren’t many full squads of Class 1 schools. We’re still running against really good teams.”
McAuley’s Drew Zeb finished 106th and Armando Alberto was 113th. The Warriors without their No. 1 runner Michael Parrigon and No. 2 runner Kevin Tran.
“We dealt with some injury issues that kept us from fielding a full team,” Youngworth said. “But there was great competition, I think we learned some things and I know I can prepare them better.”
MEET NOTES: The annual event featured 10 races and more than 2,000 runners.
Competing in the University/Open Men’s Division, Webb City High School graduate Ryan Riddle of Missouri Southern won the 8K race in 24:14.
Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern were the top two men’s teams.
College results: https://mssulions.com/sports/2021/9/16/2021-missouri-southern-stampede.aspx
High school results
http://results.tfmeetpro.com/Dennis_Weber/Missouri_Southern_Stampede/#event6
