By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
NIXA – Aaron Ashley took first place for the first time in his Nixa career at the Eagles’ 5th Annual Riann Lubinski Invitational on Saturday.
The Eagles senior won going away, recording a time of 15:40. It’s the second fastest time in meet history, with Jack Williams, of Lee’s Summit West, holding the record at 15:37.
Ashley’s closest competition was teammate Reyes Martinez, who was runner-up with a 16:02.
Ashley gained separation from the field well before the halfway mark of the 5,000-meter run.
“I’m pretty content. I was wanting a little more to be honest,” Ashley said. “But it’s hard running alone the majority of the race.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE BOYS RACE
Ashley would have liked for Williams and his Lee’s Summit West teammates to make a return trip to Nixa. Lee’s Summit West had five top-10 finishers a year ago.
“I think I would have run a lot faster if they were here,” Ashley said.
With Ashely and Martinez leading the way, Nixa claimed the team championship by a hefty margin. The Eagles totaled 16 points, while second-place Ozark had 47.
Nixa had six of the top seven individual finishers. All of the Eagles’ top six runners broke 17:00.
“We have a good team,” Ashley said. “We’re ready for Districts and State.”
The boys Classes 1-3 winner was Colton McMillian, of New Heights Christian Academy. He had a time of 16:11.
On the girls side, Ozark’s Elsie Estes was dominant. She was the Classes 4-5 winner by nearly a full minute with a time of 18:46.
Estes broke away from the pack a couple minutes into the race and never looked back. She had a hunch beforehand she would gain separation.
“My goal was to get out strong and stay (in front),” Estes said. “It’s a bit off of my PR. But I had prepared myself to run by myself.”
Ozark’s Sydney Lister was second with a 19:49. The Lady Tigers had five top-finishers on their way to winning the team championship by nine points over second-place Nixa.
“We have a great girls team this year,” Lister said. “In our workouts, we’re able to push ourselves and make each other better. I think we have a great chance at winning COC and districts and making it to state.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GIRLS RACE
Ozark did not compete in the meet last year. With the Inman Elementary Course also the site of the COC Meet in two weeks, Estes was thankful the Lady Tigers were at Inman on Saturday.
“I’m glad I got to race this course before COC,” she said. “I wanted to get a feel for the course.”
The Classes 1-3 winner was Clara Trent, of New Covenant, with a time of 19:35. She won by more than a minute.
“I was going for a PR because this is a really nice course. But I was a bit off,” Trent said. “I like this course because they play music and the fans are everywhere running back and forth.”
Trent was a repeat winner. A year ago, her winning time was 19:52.
Trent and her New Covenant teammates are faring well despite not having a home track.
“That’s challenging,” Trent said. “But we go to the local parks, Nathanael Greene Park, Chesterfield Park, Sequiota Park and Tals Trailhead, to practice.”
Trent is striving for a sub-19 time her senior year.
