Competing against the region’s best distance runners in a championship environment, Webb City’s dynamic duo of Abi Street and Riley Hawkins were the top local finishers in the Green Division at the 31st annual Missouri Southern Stampede on Saturday morning at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.
The area’s larger high schools competed in the Green Division, while the smaller schools were entered in the Gold Division.
GREEN DIVISION
There were 27 full squads and 234 runners in the Green Division. The top 25 runners were medalists.
Webb City’s Street finished 17th with a time of 19:23, while Hawkins placed 28th in 19:56.
“I was really proud of Abi,” Webb City coach Dustin Miller said. “Riley struggled some today, but I think overall we’re getting better as a team.”
Webb City’s girls finished 14th in the final team standings.
“Our No. 3 runner, Alanna Bundy (109th), struggled some today, but she’s been sick all week,” Miller noted. “So I’m just proud of her for coming out and competing. I thought Izzy Lopez (103rd) and Lauren Kuechler (132nd) had big days for us. We’re going to be a force in a month. Our training has been great.”
As far as other top performers from local schools, Neosho’s Chloe Wood finished 38th in 20:20, while teammate Riley Kemna crossed the line 50th in 20:44.
Carthage’s Maggie Boyd finished 61st (20:57), Nevada’s Allie Rains was 73rd (21:18) and Joplin’s Jennalee Dunn crossed the line 76th (21:22).
Carl Junction’s Ally Montez (21:35) and Hannah Franks (21:42) finished 82nd and 85th, respectively.
The top five teams were Cor Jesu Academy (84), West Plains (105), Eureka (165), Moore (197) and Farmington (219).
Neosho was 18th, Carl Junction took 20th and Joplin was 21st.
“We had good performances from the girls, but Jennalee’s been sick all week,” Joplin coach Dustin Dixon said, noting the team was also without its No. 2 runner Allie Keizer. “Our other girls all had season-bests. We’re making steps. A day like today is just about finishing and trying to tough it out. It’s really about competing against other kids who are suffering in the heat with you.”
Bixby’s Cayden Dawson was the individual champion in 17:28, more than a minute faster than runner-up Frances Luna of Cor Jesu Academy (18:47).
Finishing third through fifth were Kickapoo’s Klarie Brown (18:47), Cor Jesu Academy’s Adrienne Luna (18:56) and Eureka’s Leah Kleekamp (19:00).
GOLD DIVISION
The top local finisher in the smaller school division was Aurora’s Kaci Singer, who crossed the line fourth in a time of 20:18.
Springdale’s Esperanza Trejo (19:57), Owensville’s Ilene Limberg (20:03) and Smithville’s Naomi Hunter (20:11) were the top three finishers.
East Newton’s Alonna Eytcheson finished seventh in 21:01 to earn medalist honors.
Thomas Jefferson’s Macie Shifferd finished 42nd (23:28), while teammate Sarah Mueller was 89th (26:41).
McAuley coach Andy Youngworth noted his program’s lone female runner, Kendall Ramsey, was unable to compete due to an injury.
El Dorado Springs (103) and Smithville (108) were the top two teams.
There were 12 full teams and 119 runners in the Gold Division.
