BOLIVAR, Mo. — Area cross country teams opened the 2023 season by competing at the annual SWCCCA Richard Clark Invitational on Saturday at the Bolivar City Municipal Golf Course.
The Joplin Eagles had the top local finisher in both races, while the Webb City girls had the top overall team finish, regardless of classification, among area squads.
BOYS
Joplin senior Ian Horton crossed the line third in the varsity boys race with a time of 15 minutes, 53 seconds. Finishing ahead of Horton were Nixa’s Aaron Ashley (15:31) and Rolla’s Cameron Martensen (15:47).
East Newton’s Chase Sorrell took fourth in 15:54, while Joplin’s Grey Edwards finished 12th (16:15), Carl Junction’s Jack Lawson was 13th (16:20) and Webb City’s Evan Stevens placed 15th (16:23). Lawson and Stevens were fifth and sixth among Class 4 runners.
McAuley Catholic’s Michael Parrigon finished 25th (16:38) and Webb City’s Andrew Dawson was 30th (16:44).
Monett’s Victor Salas finished 43rd, Carthage’s Eddy Fuentes took 45th, Carl Junction’s Isaac Willoughby was 54th, Webb City’s Mason Hedger took 58th and Webb City’s Spencer Kendall was 66th. College Heights was led by Colton McMillan (77th).
College Heights’ second finisher was Owen Horton (101st) and McAuley’s second finisher was Trae Veer (106th).
Parrigon, who ran a personal-best time by 50 seconds, was the first Class 1 finisher, and McAuley was the second-place team among Class 1 schools behind Hermitage. The CHC boys were third in Class 1.
There were 338 runners in the varsity boys race, with 35 full teams.
The top four teams were Nixa (61), West Plains (97), Mountain Home (145) and Glendale (174). Webb City was sixth (221) and Joplin was 11th (359).
GIRLS
The top four girls teams were Ozark (90), Webb City (99), Bolivar (101) and Nixa (120).
Joplin senior Katherine Schaefer finished second in the girls race with a time of 19:24 and Webb City sophomore Brooke Hedger placed fourth in 19:31. Republic’s Gracie Troester was the girls champion with a time of 18:37.
Webb City’s Emily Countryman finished 12th (20:05), Liberal’s Ally Barton was 23rd (20:24), Lamar’s Abigail Diggs took 28th (20:37) and Webb City’s Amelia Antillon (20:50) and Olivia Klotz (20:56) finished 31st and 33rd, respectively.
Hedger and Countryman were second and fourth among Class 4 runners.
Also, Webb City’s Emma McKinzie finished 38th, Joplin’s Kyrie Britton and Averi Burks were 39th and 40th, Carthage’s Maggie Boyd took 42nd and teammate Jennifer Rodas-Gomez was 51st, while Webb City’s Brooke Collard took 54th.
Carl Junction’s top finishers were Delaney Harris (61st) and Marissa Newman (65th).
McAuley Catholic was led by Kendall Ramsey (67th) and College Heights was led by the duo of Marla Anderegg (106th) and Jesalin Bever (115th).
Ramsey was fifth among Class 1 runners. CHC’s Anderegg, Bever and Lilly Royer finished fifth, seventh and eighth among Class 2 runners.
There were 215 runners in the varsity girls race, with 21 full teams.
FULL RESULTS: TRXC Timing
