Missouri State Meet

Festus Boys Win 6th Straight; Wesley Porter, Carolyn Ford Fastest

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

A change in venue didn't stop the Festus High boys cross country team from missing a beat. On Saturday, the Missouri State High School Cross Country Championships took place at Gans Creek in Columbia, the first time since 1976 the meet was not held at Oak Hills in Jefferson City.

For five-time defending champion Festus, a new location meant at chance to add more history. Festus won its sixth straight title, scoring 39 points to claim the Class 3 title. All five runners finished in the top 21 of the race. Michael Rebello of Excelsior won the race in 15:29.4.

Freshman Julia Ray of the Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School led her team to a Class 3 title, winning the race in 18:13.8.

In the boys Class 4 race, standout Rockhurst senior Wesley Porter clocked the fastest time of the day, covering the 5,000-meter course in 15:07.4. Last weekend at the Missouri Southern meet, Porter ran the third fastest time in state history when he went 14:53. Raymore-Peculiar won the large-school class championship with 104 points.

The Lee's Summit West girls held off Rock Bridge, 109-112, to claim the Class 4 team crown. Rock Bridge freshman Carolyn Ford won the race in the fastest time of the day, running 18:08.6.

Fatima swept the boys and girls team titles in Class 2. Individually, El Dorado sophomore Daelen Ackley won the boys race (15:39), while Brookfield sophomore Alex Sharp claimed the girls title (19:07.5).  

In Class 1, the Oak Ridge boys won the team title with 89 points, while Jace Cavness of The Fulton School won the individual title in 16:39.7.

In the girls Class 1 race, Blue Eye sophomore Riley Arnold repeated as state champ, winning in 18:53.8, and led her team to a state crown. Blue Eye placed three runners in the top five to win with 56 points.

Team Champions

Class 4: Raymore-Peculiar boys 104 points; Lee Summit West girls 109 points - RESULTS

Class 3: Festus boys 39 points; MICDS girls 104 points - RESULTS

Class 2: Fatima boys 77 points; Fatima girls 53 points - RESULTS

Class 1: Oak Ridge boys 89 points; Blue Eye girls 56 points - RESULTS