Missouri cross country: Blue Springs South girls win Class 5 championship at Gans Creek

Sunshine, smiles and some blistering times on Columbia’s Gans Creek course were the order of the morning Friday at the two-day Missouri high school cross country state finals.

The MSHSAA Class 4 and 5 competition kicked off this year’s championships on Friday, with the Class 1, 2 and 3 finals Saturday (click here for Saturday recap of Class 1-3 action).

Here’s a recap of Friday’s highlights and results.

Class 5

GIRLS: Blue Springs South is Missouri’s Class 5 champion for 2021, and St. Teresa’s is this year’s girls Class 5 runner-up.

Cor Jesu Academy placed third, with Ray-Pec (fifth), Liberty (seventh), Liberty North (12th) and Lee’s Summit West 14th also in the mix.

St. Teresa’s senior Amelia Arrieta finished third overall Friday in 17 minutes, 57.2 seconds. Junior Grace Tyson of Lafayette was the girls winner in 17:42.9, and senior Leah Kleekamp of Eureka placed second in 17:56.5.

Kansas City-area finishers in Friday’s top 10 included: 5. Mya Trober, Blue Springs South, 18:03.9; 16. Natalie Gerdes, Park Hill, 18:37.1; 18. Makayla Clark, Lee’s Summit, 18:41.2; and 20. Ashlyn Smith, Ray-Pec, 18:43.1. Ray-Pec’s Alexis Borum was 21st in 18:49.7.

BOYS: Times under 15 minutes led the way in the boys finals, and a pair of Liberty North runners finished in the top three to power the Eagles to third-place team honors.

Rock Bridge sophomore Andrew Hauser crossed the finish line first in 14 minutes, 52.7 seconds. Liberty North’s Ethan Lee (14:59.7), a senior, and Sage Wilde (15:06.6), a sophomore, placed second and third, respectively.

Among KC-area runners who finished in the top 20, Ray-Pec senior Luke Voelker was fifth in 15:22.0, Staley senior Andrew Atkins was seventh in 15:33.0 and Lee’s Summit senior Carson Clancy was 20th at 15:53.1.

Kickapoo was the overall boys Class 5 team champ, followed by Rock Bridge. Rockhurst placed seventh, Ray-Pec eighth, Lee’s Summit North 10th and Blue Springs South 11th.

Class 4

GIRLS: West Plains took home the team title, followed by runner-up Farmington and, from the Kansas City area, the Kearney Bulldogs in third.

A pair of West Plains seniors — winner Jordan Kantola (18 minutes, 28.5 seconds) and runner-up Brayden Kantola (18:29.4) — finished one-two individually.

Kearney freshman Alexandria Kinstler placed third in 18:36.8. Among other top 20 area finishers, Platte County sophomore Sisely Mitchell was 11th at 19:12.1 and Pleasant Hill freshman Brooke Beck finished 18th in 19:21.3.

Kearney’s third-place team consisted of Abby Elam (19:35.4), Heidi Adams (19:38.5), Olivia Brock (20:11.7), Liela Murphy (20:35.0), Gracie Bomar (20:45.6) and Isabella Donze (21:57.7).

BOYS: Platte County’s ninth-place showing and Smithville’s 10th were the highest team finishes for KC-area schools. Festus, Willard and Lutheran (St. Charles) went 1-2-3 atop the team standings.

Senior Caleb Lind of Lutheran (St. Charles) won the boys Class 4 race in 15:15.2, followed by Jacob Meyers of Festus (15:18.4) and Charles Krasnoff of Ladue (15:20.2).

Results — Classes 1-5, Friday and Saturday

CLASS 5

Boys team scores: 1. Springfield Kickapoo, 77; 2. Columbia Rock Bridge, 81; 3. Liberty North, 111; 4. St. Louis University High, 116; 5. Kirkwood, 174; 6. Lafayette (Wildwood), 197; 7. Rockhurst, 204; 8. Raymore-Peculiar, 220; 9. Joplin, 224; 10. Lee’s Summit North, 224; 11. Blue Springs South, 242; 12. Columbia Hickman, 306; 13. Nixa, 307; 14. Jackson, 334; 15. Timberland, 353; 16. Ft. Zumwalt West, 365.

Boys top individuals: 1. Hauser, Rock Bridge, 14:52.7; 2. Lee, Liberty North, 14:59.7; 3. Wilde, Liberty North, 15:06.6; 4. Kemey, Rock Bridge, 15:12.9; 5. Voelker, Raymore-Peculiar, 15:22.0; 6. Cole, Neosho, 15:33.0; 7. Atkins, Staley, 15:33.0; 8. Harris, Kickapoo, 15:34.4; 9. Creehan, Kickapoo, 15:38.7; 10. Freiner, Timberland, 15:39.9; 11. Brawley, SLUH, 15:41.1; 12. Jokerst, Rock Bridge, 15:42.8; 13. Keltner, Kickapoo, 15:43.9; 14. Campbell, Joplin, 15:45.1; 15. Musick, Kickapoo, 15:46.9; 16. Kellogg, SLUH, 15:47.8; 17. Malek, Lafayette (Wildwood), 15:48.3; 18. Groenewald, Lafayette (Wildwood), 15:48.9; 19. Lee, Kirkwood, 15:51.0; 20. Clancy, LS North, 15:53.1.

Girls team scores: 1. Blue Springs South, 89; 2. St. Teresa’s Academy, 117; 3. Cor Jesu Academy, 125; 4. Columbia Rock Bridge, 139; 5. Raymore-Peculiar, 161; 6. Lafayette (Wildwood), 164; 7. Liberty, 192; 8. Kirkwood, 200; 9. Eureka, 209; 10. Ft. Zumwalt West, 252; 11. Liberty (Wentzville), 269; 12. Liberty North, 281; 13. Nixa, 283; 14. Lee’s Summit West, 309; 15. Springfield Kickapoo, 343; 16. Francis Howell Central, 378.

Girls top individuals: 1. Tyson, Lafayette (Wildwood), 17:42.9; 2. Kleekamp, Eureka, 17:56.5; 3. Arrieta, St. Teresa’s, 17:57.2; 4. Ray, MICDS, 18:00.0; 5. Trober, Blue Springs South, 18:03.9; 6. Kruger, Liberty (Wentzville), 18:06.7; 7. F. Luna, Cor Jesu, 18:10.2; 8. Baker, Kirkwood, 18:14.4; 9. Marcum, Fox, 18:18.3; 10. Wilkes, Pattonville, 18:22.4; 11. Ford, Rock Bridge, 18:31.2; 12. Russell, Holt, 18:32.1; 13. Genel, Parkview, 18:32.5; 14. Dunn, Joplin, 18:36.1; 15. Noonan, MICDS, 18:36.7; 16. Gerdes, Park Hill, 18:37.1; 17. Crouch, Nerinx Hall, 18:39.3; 18. Clark, LS West, 18:41.2; 19. A. Luna, Cor Jesu, 18:41.8; 20. Smith, Raymore-Peculiar, 18:43.1.

CLASS 4

Boys team scores: 1. Festus, 38; 2. Willard, 148; 3. Lutheran (St. Charles), 154; 4. Ladue Horton Watkins, 159; 5. Webb City, 171; 6. West Plains, 177; 7. Farmington, 181; 8. Hillsboro, 182; 9. Platte County, 206; 10. Smithville, 210; 11. Bolivar, 228; 12. Parkway Central, 285; 13. Lincoln Prep, 295; 14. DeSmet, 329; 15. Ft. Zumwalt East, 364; 16. Kearney, 434.

Boys top individuals: 1. Lind, Lutheran (St. Charles), 15:15.2; 2. Meyers, Festus, 15:18.4; 3. Krasnoff, Ladue Horton Watkins, 15:20.2; 4. Smock, Ladue Horton Watkins, 15:20.7; 5. Krieg, Festus, 15:30.7; 6. Jos. Allison, Hillsboro, 15:35.2; 7. Pohlsander, Rolla, 15:35.5; 8. Schram, Festus, 15:38.8; 9. Wolk, Festus, 15:40.9; 10. Kaempfe, DeSoto, 15:46.5; 11. Belardo, Warrensburg, 15:46.6; 12. Roehl, Jefferson City, 15:50.2; 13. Shuster, Willard, 15:50.4; 14. Ahrens, Windsor (Imperial), 15:54.4; 15. Thiessen, Bolivar, 15:56.9; 16. Kazmi, Parkway Central, 16:02.7; 17. Brockmiller, Webb City, 16:04.5; 18. Grieve, Capital City, 16:05.9; 19. Borboa, Webb City, 16:06.1; 20. Jon. Allison, Hillsboro, 16:06.8; 26. Rivera, Lincoln Prep., 16:15.9.

Girls team scores: 1. West Plains, 59; 2. Farmington, 97; 3. Kearney, 122; 4. Rockwood Summit, 126; 5. Festus, 179; 6. Webb City, 182; 7. Clayton, 228; 8. St. Joseph’s Academy, 255; 9. Rolla, 265; 10. Parkway North, 268; 11. St. Dominic, 271; 12. Washington, 275; 13. Platte County, 279; 14. Bolivar, 331; 15. Warrensburg, 332; 16. Pleasant Hill, 338.

Girls top individuals: 1. J. Kantola, West Plains, 18:28.5; 2. B. Kantola, West Plains, 18:29.4; 3. Kinstler, Kearney, 18:36.8; 4. Donnelly, Washington, 18:38.2; 5. Street, Webb City, 18:44.6; 6. Bevan, Parkway North, 18:46.8; 7. Gunter, West Plains, 18:51.2; 8. Hawkins, Webb City, 18:58.1; 9. Martin, Rockwood Summit, 19:00.7; 10. Frost, Rolla, 19:02.4; 11. Mitchell, Platte County, 19:12.1; 12. Schulte, Ladue Horton Watkins, 19:15.3; 13. Sparr, Farmington, 19:18.3; 14. Thier, Rockwood Summit, 19:18.6; 15. McAndrew, Clayton, 19:20.0; 16. Vogelsang, DeSoto, 19:20.0; 17. Pelligreen, Clayton, 19:20.4; 18. Beck, Pleasant Hill, 19:21.3; 19. Bishop, Perryville, 19:22.1; 20. Mathes, Farmington, 19:22.4.

CLASS 3

Boys team scores: 1. Herculaneum, 95; 2. Maryville, 122; 3. East Newton, 127; 4. Father Toltan Regional Catholic, 173; 5. El Dorado Springs, 175; 6. John Burroughs, 185; 7. St. Charles West, 189; 8. Lutheran South, 191; 9. St. Michael the Archangel, 197; 10. Blair Oaks, 203; 11. Priory, 220; 12. Strafford, 246; 13. Potosi, 253; 14. Osage, 274; 15. KC Lutheran, 326; 16. Knob Noster, 405.

Boys top individuals: 1. Burns, Southern Boone County, 15:13.5; 2. Ackley, El Dorado Springs, 15:36.2; 3. Wortham, St. Charles West, 16:08.9; 4. Ad. Snoke, Lutheran South, 16:15.2; 5. An. Snoke, Lutheran South, 16:20.1; 6. Galapin, Maryville, 16:26.0; 7. Blassingame, St. Charles West, 16:26.7; 8. Bergen, East Newton, 16:27.8; 9. Chance, Bowling Green, 16:31.1; 10. K. Sorrell, East Newton, 16:34.5; 11. McCown, Montgomery County, 16:34.9; 12. Wilmes, Father Toltan, 16:35.1; 13. C. Sorrell, East Newton, 16:36.0; 14. Morris, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 16:43.7; 15. Walker, Buffalo, 16:44.9; 16. Gruenke, Fredericktown, 16:46.3; 17. Reynolds, Eldon, 16:48.6; 18. Goatley, El Dorado Springs, 16:49.1; 19. St. Clair, Ste. Genevieve, 16:50.0; 20. Vance, Herculaneum, 16:50.9; 37. Wheeler, St. Michael the Archangel, 17:28.0.

Girls team scores: 1. Father Toltan Regional Catholic, 91; 2. St. Charles West, 113; 3. Lutheran South, 113; 4. Southern Boone County, 138; 5. Potosi, 173; 6. Pembroke Hill, 193; 7. Osage, 201; 8. Herculaneum, 203; 9. Fatima, 231; 10. El Dorado Springs, 242; 11. East Newton, 256; 12. Notre Dame de Sion, 258; 13. Macon, 296; 14. Metro, 305; 15. Eldon, 306; 16. Strafford, 311.

Girls top individuals: 1. Wilmes, Father Toltan, 18:28.2; 2. Jackson, St. Charles West, 18:49.5; 3. Martonfi, Eldon, 19:02.9; 4. Taylor, Father Toltan, 19:04.3; 5. Volkart, Southern Boone County, 19:05.0; 6. Wacker, St. Charles West, 19:05.7; 7. Mauney, Southern Boone County, 19:14.4; 8. Limberg, Owensville, 19:14.8; 9. Schaff, Lutheran (St. Charles), 19:18.9; 10. Henry, St. Michael the Archangel, 19:21.6; 11. Klaiber, El Dorado Springs, 19:30.1; 12. Berhorst, Fatima, 19:32.7; 13. Potter, Lamar, 19:34.2; 14. Ford, Montgomery County, 19:39.8; 15. Goans, California, 19:42.7; 16. Rodgers, Montgomery County, 19:44.6; 17. Goatley, El Dorado Springs, 19:51.1; 18. Al-sagr, Whitfield, 19:52.1; 19. Brown, Dexter, 19:59.1; 20. Riggs, Wright City, 20:01.8; 23. Young, Pembroke Hill, 20:04.0.

CLASS 2

Boys team scores: 1. Stockton, 87; 2. Principia, 107; 3. Steelville, 110; 4. Blue Eye, 111; 5. Arcadia Valley, 142; 6. West Platte, 186; 7. Alton, 190; 8. Lexington, 232; 9. Mark Twain, 242; 10. Bloomfield, 249; 11. Southwest (Washburn), 265; 12. Linn, 270; 13. Calvary Lutheran, 303; 14. Sherwood, 309; 15. Lafayette County, 324; 16. Russellville, 367.

Boys top individuals: 1. Talley, New Covenant Academy, 15:32.5; 2. Hinrichs, New Bloomfield, 16:01.0; 3. Heath, Principia, 16:24.3; 4. Cardenzana, Blue Eye, 16:26.2; 5. Diaz, Steelville, 16:30.2; 6. Estes, Kingston, 16:32.6; 7. Kinslow, West Platte, 16:34.1; 8. Benton, Summit Christian, 16:40.7; 9. Layton, Woodland, 16:43.4; 10. Proctor, Principia, 16:48.6; 11. Gill, Arcadia Valley, 16:49.4; 12. Hardwicke, Christian, 16:50.2; 13. Hull, Pleasant Hope, 16:57.6; 14. Hagemeyer, Calvary Lutheran, 17:00.7; 15. Long, Southwest (Washburn), 17:03.8; 16. Heckman, North Platte, 17:05.9; 17. Weaver, Blue Eye, 17:08.5; 18. Brodersen, Stover, 17:09.1; 19. Bradshaw, Stockton, 17:09.6; 20. Combs, Alton, 17:09.7.

Girls team scores: 1. Hermann, 74; 2. Summit Christian Academy, 81; 3. North Platte, 119; 4. St. Pius X, 174; 5. Valle Catholic, 190; 6. Steelville, 208; 7. Arcadia Valley, 220; 8. Blue Eye, 223; 9. Clark County, 226; 10. Lexington, 235; 11. Monroe City, 240; 12. Woodland, 273; 13. Mansfield, 290; 14. Spokane, 297; 15. Christian, 298; 16. Stockton, 316.

Girls top individuals: 1. Arnold, Blue Eye, 19:23.0; 2. Pattison, West Platte, 19:23.4; 3. Uthlaut, Hermann, 19:45.3; 4. DeBord, North Platte, 19:50.4; 5. Sharp, Brookfield, 20:03.8; 6. Hunsucker, Spokane, 20:05.8; 7. Dettmer, Arcadia Valley, 20:12.4; 8. Miller, Hermann, 20:16.7; 9. Buschling, Clark County, 20:24.0; 10. Villard, Christian, 20:26.5; 11. Lemelin, New Bloomfield, 20:28.8; 12. Williams, Monroe City, 20:30.6; 13. Menke, Hermann, 20:31.8; 14. Cassity, North Platte, 20:34.8; 15. McCoy, Summit Christian, 20:41.3; 16. Brown, South Callaway, 20:47.7; 17. McGregor, Summit Christian, 20:49.1; 18. Calvert, Lawson, 20:51.5; 19. Parks, Summit Christian, 20:52.4; 20. Guilford, Salisbury, 20:52.8.

CLASS 1

Boys team scores: 1. Hermitage, 61; 2. Oak Ridge, 132; 3. Wellsville-Middletown, 155; 4. Valle Catholic, 162; 5. Van Buren, 165; 6. College Heights Christian, 173; 7. Winona, 175; 8. New Haven, 183; 9. Marion C. Early, 209; 10. Fordland, 212; 11. Dadeville, 217; 12. Mound City, 237; 13. Macks Creek, 269; 14. South Nodaway, 315; 15. St. Paul Lutheran, 421; 16. Hardin-Central, 429.

Boys top individuals: 1. Blay, West Nodaway, 16:05.9; 2. Held, Plato, 16:29.2; 3. Mantooth, Hermitage, 16:33.9; 4. Atteberry, Thomas Jefferson Independent, 17:03.4; 5. Roth, Valle Catholic, 17:04.3; 6. VanWinkle, Winona, 17:08.8; 7. Horn, Hermitage, 17:21.5; 8. Zembles, Mound City, 17:25.3; 9. G. Duchscherer, Marion C. Early, 17:27.1; 10. L. Duchscherer, Marion C. Early, 17:27.4; 11. Shaw, Stoutland, 17:28.9; 12. Ricker, Van Buren, 17:30.5; 13. Bailey, Kingsville, 17:32.7; 14. Thompson, School of the Ozarks, 17:34.7; 15. Fansher, South Holt, 17:35.4; 16. Ford, Zalma, 17:35.9; 17. Hoyt, Community, 17:36.5; 18. Norris, Wellsville-Middletown, 17:40.2; 19. Faucett, Crane, 17:42.5; 20. Chambers, Hermitage, 17:46.1.

Girls team scores: 1. Van Buren, 43; 2. Glasgow, 122; 3. St. Vincent, 128; 4. New Haven, 154; 5. Braymer, 166; 6. Liberal, 175; 7. Fordland, 184; 8. North Andrew, 202; 9. Crystal City, 206; 10. Smithton, 225; 11. Calvary Lutheran, 243; 12. Marion C. Early, 246; 13. Bakersfield, 257.

Girls top individuals: 1. Bryan, Smithton, 18:27.6; 2. Barringhaus, Glasgow, 20:20.9; 3. Cleaver, Van Buren, 20:27.9; 4. Griffin, Van Buren, 20:36.2; 5. Martens, St. Paul Lutheran, 20:36.9; 6. Hartman, Crystal City, 20:39.5; 7. Doyle, Fulton, 20:46.3; 8. VanderMierden, Leopold, 20:54.9; 9. Bess, Marion C. Early, 20:57.8; 10. Homfeldt, Calvary Lutheran, 20:59.2; 11. Straus, Marion County, 21:07.8; 12. Murphy, Van Buren, 21:11.1; 13. Wuertley, Summersville, 21:13.2; 14. Watkins, Rock Port, 21:16.7; 15. Little, Chadwick, 21:21.8; 16. Riley, South Nodaway, 21:24.9; 17. Carmack, Glasgow, 21:25.2; 18. Pankau, Mound City, 21:29.9; 19. Hampton, Ellington, 21:38.9; 20. Nold, Dora, 21:40.5.

This story was originally published November 5, 2021 at 12:45 PM.