By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The ultimate goal is always a state championship for the Hermitage boys cross country team, and the Hornets took an important step towards another title on Saturday in Lamar.
Hermitage placed four runners in the top 11 and easily claimed the Class 1 District 2 championship at Jeremy’s Creek Golf Course as the Hornets finished more than 30 points ahead of second-place McAuley Catholic.
“The kids set their goals early in the year and the ultimate goal is always the state championship,” Hermitage coach Mark Sabala said. “They want to see if they can win the third one straight for them. It’s special. They’re working hard. That’s been their focus all year long and they’re just trying to maintain the game plan all the way through and see what happens.”
Bennett Mantooth (16:55.24) led the way with a third-place finish for the Hornets, while Justus Yates followed in fifth, DeJuan Chambers placed seventh, Jaxon Wheeler finished 11th and Cash Turner finished 26th.
“We looked at the game plan trying to come in today and to execute it perfectly we knew where we should be and I think we were two points ahead of where we thought we should place,” Sabala said. “They did very well, I’m very proud of them.”
“They all ran together like they’re supposed to,” he said. “Bennett and Justus, our seniors, stepped up and led us. We have three juniors after that and they ran well. Cash Turner has been the big one for us. He’s our No. 5 and last year he kind of was a sub for us. He’s stepped up huge this year and he PR’d today. It was awesome.”
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The top four teams and top 30 individual runners all qualified for next weekend’s state meet.
Hermitage finished with 35 points, while McAuley (74), School of the Ozarks (111) and Dadeville (117) rounded out the top four.
Marion C. Early’s Landon Duchscherer was the boys district champion by a wide margin. He finished in 15:59.54, more than 36 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
McAuley’s Michael Parrigon was second overall (16:35.78). Trae Veer was eighth for the Warriors, Will Mollnow placed 17th, Connor Taffner finished 31st and Alex Bohachick placed 41st.
Ethan Howard (17:45.32) placed ninth to lead School of the Ozarks, while Isaac Todd was 12th, Oliver Mutrux was 23rd, Henry Cerretti was 33rd and Kaedon Williams was 77th.
Dadeville was led by Aidan Jarman (18:02.34) in 16th place. Brayden Keathley was 27th, Kaleb Getman was 36th, Gavin Orr was 37th and Brayden Garver was 38th.
Crane’s Calen Faucett (17:09.80) was fourth overall, Macks Creek’s Caleb Phillips (17:31.98) was sixth and Walnut Grove’s Nathan Inman (17:45.91) was 10th, to round out the top 10.
Chadwick girls make program history
This fall is the first time Chadwick has fielded a full girls cross country team, and the Cardinals made history on Saturday with the program’s first-ever district championship.
Chadwick had to fend off a strong Liberal squad to get the title, and only 14 points separated the Cardinals and Bulldogs when it was all over.
“We knew where we were ranked, we knew the potential here but we knew it was going to be close,” head coach Jenny Gardner said. “Liberal’s a great team, but all our girls showed up today and they got the job done. We’ve always had just one girl, (Alexis) Loveland, our senior. She represented today. She has always wanted a team. She’s been with us since seventh grade and I’m so glad we’re able to fill that team for her senior year to pull this off. I’m just beyond excited for each and every one of them.”
Chadwick totaled 33 points and actually placed all six of its runners in the top 23. Macy Landry (20:14.26) was second overall, Emily Landry followed in third, Raeleigh Little was eighth, Loveland was 10th, Gretchen House was 17th and Madeline Sallee was 23rd.
Sallee suffered an injury in practice on Wednesday and didn’t run for the next two days, but overcame the pain on Saturday to turn in a personal best.
“I always tell them: know what you can do, show yourself what you can do and show everyone here what you can do,” Gardner said. “Leave it all out here and no regrets walking off the course. They all did just that. I don’t even have words. I’m just beyond ecstatic for them. They were consistent in their performances and they did just what they needed to do to make history today for Chadwick.”
Liberal (47), McAuley Catholic (78) and School of the Ozarks (104) rounded out the top four in the team standings.
Liberal’s Ally Barton was the individual champion after finishing in 20:11.42. Taylor Swarnes finished seventh for the Bulldogs, Abby Barton was ninth, Bailey Couch was 20th and Jordan Goodell was 31st.
McAuley’s top runner was Kendall Ramsey (21:00.03), who placed fifth. Olivia Parrigon followed in sixth, Riley Sears was 27th, Marbellie Villanueva was 41st and Samantha Perrin was 49th.
School of the Ozarks was led by Ella Howard (22:30.36) in 12th. Krystina Evans was 34th, Shiloh Fanslwer was 38th, Charis Long was 40th and Claire Knight was 51st.
Stoutland’s Mallory Shaw was the only runner from another school to place in the top 10. She finished in 20:27.06 to earn fourth place.
