Kirkwood's Christian Baker Gets Breakthrough Win

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

A year after placing 29th at the Missouri state meet, Kirkwood senior Christian Baker took a big step up on Saturday afternoon. On a weathered course at Oak Hills Golf Center in Jefferson City, Baker ran to a Class 4 state cross country title, covering 5,000 meters in 15 minutes, 42.03 seconds. It was the first individual state title for Kirkwood High in 51 years. In the team race, senior Thomas Seitzer finished third (15:55.3) to lead Rockhurst to a state title with 72 points.

Baker ran 42 seconds faster than his 2017 state meet result.

The girls Class 4 race was dominated by Lee’s Summit West. Senior Ginger Murnieks, a transfer from Sprague High in Salem, Ore., won the individual title by more than 20 seconds in 18:35.7, leading her team to a state title with 58 points. 

Maxwell McDaniel led Festus to the program’s fifth straight Class 3 title, as he won the race in 16:12.1. Fetus scored 43 points and had three runners in the top 10. 

The Bolivar girls held off Fetus’ bid for a second straight title as they scored 77 points to win the Class 3 crown. Festus was runner-up with 94 points. Sophomore Mercedes Schroer of Christian,won the individual title in 19:36.2.

In Class 2, the Fatima boys and girls swept the team titles. Fatima junior Kendall Haller led the girls with a winning time of 20:21.9. Lamar junior Kolin Overstreet won the boys individual title in 16:34.7.

It was a program sweep for Lutheran (K.C.) in Class1. Weaubleau senior Chase Ratliff won the boys race in 17:10.7, while Blue Eye freshman Riley Arnold impressed on the girls side, claiming the individual crown in 20:07.9.

Team Champions

Class 4 Boys - Rockhurst 72 points - RESULTS

Class 4 Girls - Lee’s Summit West 58 points - RESULTS

Class 3 Boys - Festus 43 points - RESULTS

Class 3 Girls - Bolivar 77 points - RESULTS

Class 2 Boys - Fatima 66 points - RESULTS

Class 2 Girls - Fatima 53 points - RESULTS

Class 1 Boys - Lutheran (K.C.) 86 points - RESULTS

Class 1 Girls - Lutheran (K.C.) 60 points - RESULTS