McGovern wins Missouri x-country gold. He’s Rockhurst’s 2nd straight state champ

Jack McGovern, a sophomore from Rockhurst High School, scorched the Gans Creek Cross Country course for the Missouri Class 5 boys individual state championship on a sunny early-November afternoon in Columbia.

His winning time Friday — 14 minutes, 52.2 seconds — matched the mark turned in by the fastest runner on the same state-title course in 2024: Rockhurst’s Henry Acorn, who is now competing as a college freshman at Virginia.

McGovern’s victorious time for 2025 beat the rest of the field by more than 11 seconds Friday. He was just 3 seconds away from setting a new state record.

Liberty North finished first in the Class 5 boys team competition.

Joplin’s Ava Doll won the Class 5 girls race, and Blue Springs South finished as this year’s girls Class 5 team champion after capturing the program’s first district title in 12 years.

Blue Springs earned the girls Class 4 team championship.

Races for other classifications continued through Saturday. Here are the full results:

Missouri state cross country championships

Friday-Saturday, in Columbia; at Gans Creek Cross Country Course

(all races 5K)

CLASS 5 RESULTS

Boys team scores: 1. Liberty North, 77; 2. Columbia Rock Bridge, 81; 3. St. Louis University High, 97; 4. Blue Springs South, 150; 5. Springfield Kickapoo, 165; 6. Lee’s Summit West, 172; 7. Raymore-Peculiar, 191; 8. Rockhurst, 210; 9. Nixa, 233; 10. Parkway West, 236; 11. Jackson, 269; 12. Kirkwood, 297; 13. Park Hill South, 324; 14. Ft. Zumwalt West, 350; 15. North Point, 377; 16. Liberty (Wentzville), 421.

Boys medalists: 1. McGovern, Rockhurst, 14:52.2; 2. Voelker, Raymore-Peculiar, 15:03.3; 3. Miller, SLUH, 15:06.9; 4. Martensen, Rolla, 15:14.9; 5. Sievers, Rock Bridge, 15:15.6; 6. Haberlach, Liberty North, 15:33.3; 7. Wegleitner, LS West, 15:34.4; 8. Smith, Raymore-Peculiar, 15:35.4; 9. Hudson, Roc Bridge, 15:39.9; 10. Crews, Glendale, 15:42.0; 11. Patten, Parkway West, 15:43.7; 12. Blaine, Kickapoo, 15:45.1; 13. Martinez, Nixa, 15:47.6; 14. Nziramasanga, Liberty North, 15:49.1; 15. Kim, Rock Bridge, 15:49.2; 16. Beatty, SLUH, 15:52.0; 17. McCrea, LS West, 15:52.6; 18. Rahn, Christian Brothers College, 15:53.0; 19. Gray, Liberty North, 15:53.1; 20. Hagen, Lafeyette (Wildwood), 15:53.3; 21. Niedbalski, Jackson, 15:53.4; 22. Williams, LS West, 15:54.3; 23. Stahl, North Point, 15:54.6; 24. Luna, SLUH, 15:55.3; 25. Andreasen, Liberty North, 15:55.7; 26. Morris, Blue Springs South, 15:55.9; 27. DeRouchie, Liberty North, 15:58.7; 28. Fyvie, SLUH, 15:59.8; 29. Walker, Kirkwood, 16:00.0; 30. Jokerst, Rock Bridge, 16:02.2.

Girls team scores: 1. Blue Springs South, 87; 2. Webb City, 133; 3. Eureka, 135; 4. St. Teresa’s Academy, 137; 5. St. Joseph’s Academy, 155; 6. Cor Jesu Academy, 186; 7. Columbia Rock Bridge, 193; 8. Father Tolton Regional Catholic, 229; 9. Parkway South, 242; 10. Liberty (Wentzville), 244; 11. Lafayette (Wildwood), 252; 12. Blue Springs, 280; 13. Lee’s Summit West, 284; 14. Ozark, 299; 15. Nixa, 331; 16. Liberty, 343; 17. Francis Howell Central, 423.

Girls medalists: 1. Doll, Joplin, 18:06.4; 2. Mckenzie, Cor Jesu Academy, 18:10.3; 3. Bowen, St. Teresa’s Academy, 18:28.1; 4. Amann, St. Joseph’s Academy, 18:33.1; 5. Hedger, Webb City, 18:33.5; 6. Wahrenbrock, Blue Springs South, 18:44.9; 7. Perdue, Liberty, 18:48.5; 8. Viet, Father Tolton, 18:49.5; 9. Conklin, Park Hill South, 18:50.7; 10. Lister, Ozark, 18:51.4; 11. Navarro-Sanchez, Liberty (Wentzville), 18:52.1; 12. Messner, St. Teresa’s Academy, 18:53.8; 13. Halferty, Lee’s Summit, 18:54.6; 14. Samuelson, Eureka, 18:56.3; 15. Richter, Staley, 18:57.4; 16. Baier, Blue Springs South, 18:58.2; 17. Loeffelman, Cor Jesu Academy, 18:58.3; 18. Perez, Webb City, 19:04.0; 19. McKinnon, Eureka, 19:04.2; 20. Archambeault, Lafayette (Wildwood), 19:04.3; 21. Conner, Liberty North, 19:04.9; 22. Jackson, St. Joseph’s Academy, 19:06.6; 23. Lena, Parkway South, 19:10.0; 24. Carter, Branson, 19:11.3; 25. Schultz, Rock Bridge, 19:12.3; 26. Price, Blue Springs South, 19:16.1; 27. Haynes, Troy-Buchanan, 19:16.3; 28. Erickson, Blue Springs, 19:17.4; 29. Reid, Rock Bridge, 19:17.8; 30. Lawrence, Liberty (Wentzville), 19:19.0.

CLASS 4 RESULTS

Boys team scores: 1. West Plains, 81; 2. Festus, 86; 3. Webster Groves, 120; 4. Bolivar, 139; 5. Lincoln Prep, 165; 6. De Soto, 165; 7. Washington, 201; 8. Clayton, 214; 9. Parkway Central, 225; 10. Kearney, 247; 11. Warrensburg, 248; 12. DeSmet Jesuit, 281; 13. Springfield Central, 285; 14. Ft. Zumwalt South, 306; 15. Capital City, 372; 16. Kirksville, 377.

Boys medalists: 1. Driemeier, Festus, 14:49.2; 2. Morris, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 15:31.0; 3. Case, St. Charles, 15:48.7; 4. Koerber, De Soto, 15:56.9; 5. Amador, Parkway Central, 15:58.5; 6. Anders, De Soto, 15:58.6; 7. Roberson, West Plains, 16:09.0; 8. Jacknewitz, DeSmet Jesuit, 16:12.0; 9. Fink, Festus, 16:13.8; 10. Johnston, Smithville, 16:14.8; 11. Boulware, St. Michael the Archangel, 16:15.1; 12. Stanley, West Plains, 16:18.3; 13. Fowler, Kearney, 16:18.9; 14. Upperman, Webster Groves, 16:20.1; 15. Rich, Bolivar, 16:20.9; 16. Ohm, Washington, 16:22.3; 17. Bates, Festus, 16:22.8; 18. Throm, Smithville, 16:23.2; 19. Tao, John Burroughs, 16:23.7; 20. Bliss, Washington, 16:25.4; 21. Timm, Springfield Central, 16:28.9; 22. Broadbent, Washington, 16:29.3; 23. Fawcett, Logan-Rogersville, 16:31.1; 24. Young, Bolivar, 16:31.9; 25. Youngblood, Warrensburg, 16:33.1; 26. Jarmon, Webster Groves, 16:33.6; 27. Sperino, John Burroughs, 16:33.8; 28. Kane, Lincoln Prep, 16:34.1; 29. Shearin, West Plains, 16:35.3; 30. Smith, West Plains, 16:36.4.

Girls team scores: 1. Festus, 84; 2. West Plains, 104; 3. Parkway Central, 107; 4. Webster Groves, 110; 5. Washington, 169; 6. Nerinx Hall, 171; 7. Kearney, 176; 8. Bolivar, 176; 9. Kirksville, 237; 10. Rockwood Summit, 266; 11. MICDS, 282; 12. Capital City, 286; 13. Warrensburg, 295; 14. Clayton, 340; 15. St. Pius X, 383; 16. Lutheran South, 394.

Girls medalists: 1. Moresi, Parkway Central, 18:26.8; 2. Gunter, West Plains, 18:34.4; 3. Burlbaw, Rockwood Summit, 18:34.4; 4. Owenby, Washington, 18:38.3; 5. Johanson, Union, 18:53.3; 6. Selby, Webster Groves, 19:00.7; 7. Murphy, Nerinx Hall, 19:02.4; 8. Howes, Bolivar, 19:12.2; 9. Boyer, Festus, 19:14.8; 10. Liebetrau, Parkway Central, 19:15.1; 11. Knight, Warrensburg, 19:17.8; 12. Romans, West Plains, 19:26.9; 13. Cowan, Clayton, 19:32.4; 14. Phillips, Savannah, 19:35.7; 15. Gildea, Festus, 19:38.4; 16. Vander Veen, Pleasant Hill, 19:38.6; 17. Applegate, MICDS, 19:38.8; 18. Mahon, Washington, 19:39.6; 19. Hotle, Camdenton, 19:39.6; 20. Thurman, Festus, 19:43.1; 21. Young, Bolivar, 19:45.2 22. Middendorf, Webster Groves, 19:45.7; 23. Tolbert, Festus, 19:46.4; 24. Roberts, Webster Groves, 19:47.8; 25. Lee, Springfield Central, 19:51.1; 26. Hinkle, Parkway Central, 19:51.1; 27. Ritter, West Plains, 19:52.0; 28. Li, Springfield Central, 19:53.5; 29. Besand, Webster Groves, 19:53.8; 30. Eash, Nerinx Hall, 19:55.7.

CLASS 3 RESULTS

Boys team scores: 1. Centralia, 94; 2. Westminster Christian Academy, 95; 3. Herculaneum, 99; 4. Collegiate School of Medicine, 144; 5. Springfield Catholic, 144; 6. MICDS, 219; 7. Maplewood Richmond Heights, 228; 8. Pembroke Hill, 236; 9. Bowling Green, 236; 10. Fair Grove, 239; 11. Summit Christian Academy, 241; 12. Osage, 250; 13. Strafford, 251; 14. Owensville, 271; 15. Maryville, 299; 16. Chillicothe, 346.

Boys medalists: 1. Mendoza, Hollister, 15:25.1; 2. Spickert, Centralia, 15:37.5; 3. Butler, Summit Christian, 15:44.4; 4. Hathcock, Springfield Catholic, 15:47.2; 5. Pickert, Pembroke Hill, 16:00.6; 6. Thomas, Westminster Christian, 16:04.5; 7. Moll, Collegiate School of Medicine, 16:11.3; 8. Robertson, Centralia, 16:12.9; 9. Holtmeyer, Owensville, 16:14.4; 10. Thompson, Chillicothe, 16:15.4; 11. Bey, MICDS, 16:17.2; 12. Fitzgerald, Herculaneum, 16:20.3; 13. Morris, Helias Catholic, 16:23.7; 14. Smith, Ava, 16:31.5; 15. Bell, Pembroke Hill, 16:34.7; 16. Casey, Blair Oaks, 16:41.0; 17. Kistner, St. Charles West, 16:45.3; 18. Casey, Clever, 16:47.8; 19. Clampet, Herculaneum, 16:48.6; 20. Decker, Centralia, 16:48.7; 21. Bigham, St. Joseph Benton, 16:49.7; 22. Moreland, St. James, 16:49.9; 23. Jackson, Warsaw, 16:50.9; 24. Garrett, Collegiate School of Medicine, 16:53.2; 25. Koeppen, Osage, 16:53.3; 26. Deboer, Westminster Christian, 16:53.7; 27. Davis, St. Pius X, 16:53.8; 28. Johnson, Springfield Catholic, 16:54.1; 29. Weber, Oak Grove, 16:54.1; 30. Dowling, Fair Grove, 16:55.2.

Girls team scores: 1. Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 93; 2. St. Charles West, 106; 3. Herculaneum, 110; 4. Knob Noster, 128; 5. Metro Academy & Classical, 136; 6. St. Michael the Archangel, 189; 7. Osage, 221; 8. Lutheran St. Charles, 232; 9. Visitation Academy, 240; 10. Moberly, 255; 11. Springfield Catholic, 281; 12. Fair Grove, 283; 13. Blair Oaks, 296; 14. St. Francis Borgia, 301; 15. Houston, 302; 16. Maryville, 333.

Girls medalists: 1. Krueger, St. Charles West, 18:15.1; 2. Ressel, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 18:42.2; 3. Coy, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 18:52.4; 4. Luetkemeyer, Metro Academy & Classical, 18:59.2; 5. Cantwell, Fair Grove, 19:05.5; 6. Huffman, Houston, 19:36.5; 7. Belk, Springfield Catholic, 19:46.3; 8. Rivers, Oak Grove, 19:48.9; 9. Pickett, Blair Oaks, 19:54.8; 10. Barnes, Helias Catholic, 20:03.2; 11. Rademan, California, 20:03.9; 12. Jackson, St. Charles West, 20:04.8; 13. Schrimsher, Doniphan, 20:05.0; 14. Bone, Fredericktown, 20:06.3; 15. Marion-Swan, Fair Grove, 20:06.8; 16. Doney, Odessa, 20:07.6; 17. Stiles, Knob Noster, 20:11.1; 18. Ferguson, Herculaneum, 20:13.0; 19. Miller, Aurora, 20:14.4; 20. Hifner, Potosi, 20:15.4; 21. Nolie, Sullivan, 20:19.9; 22. Wishard, Herculaneum, 20:20.1; 23. Smith, Oak Grove, 20:23.0; 24. Gehlert, Owensville, 20:29.8; 25. Campbell, Bayless, 20:32.0; 26. Butts, Clever, 20:32.4; 27. Howen, Moberly, 20:32.8; 28. Reeves, Herculaneum, 20:33.5; 29. Falter, Osage, 20:35.0; 30. Babcock, St. Charles West, 20:35.1.

CLASS 2 RESULTS

Boys team scores: 1. Woodland, 102; 2. Thomas Jefferson Independent, 105; 3. McAuley Catholic, 142; 4. Fatima, 153; 5. Jefferson (Festus), 161; 6. Hermann, 165; 7. El Dorado Springs, 192; 8. New Covenant Academy, 196; 9. West Platte, 197; 10. North Platte, 205; 11. Kansas City Lutheran, 206; 12. Paris, 298; 13. South Shelby, 310; 14. Stover, 324; 15. Veritas Christian Academy, 340; 16. Kingston, 354.

Boys medalists: 1. Klaiber, El Dorado Springs, 14:51.0; 2. Lichte, Lexington, 15:43.5; 3. Chapman, Paris, 15:46.4; 4. Hammett, Butler, 15:54.5; 5. McDaniel, Clark County, 15:59.4; 6. Keraus, North Platte, 16:06.2; 7. W. Twiss, Thomas Jefferson Independent, 16:08.0; 8. Veer, McAuley Catholic, 16:08.8; 9. Metzler, St. Pius X (Festus), 16:10.0; 10. Edwards, New Covenant Academy, 16:22.6; 11. Heras, Elsberry, 16:24.6; 12. Kopp, Hermann, 16:24.7; 13. M. Layton, Woodland, 16:25.3; 14. C. Layton, Woodland, 16:29.7; 15. Schaffart, North Platte, 16:31.7; 16. Faulkner, Spokane, 16:36.5; 17. Soendker, Lexington, 16:38.5; 18. Nord, KC Lutheran, 16:41.3; 19. McMillan, New Heights Christian Academy, 16:44.5; 20. Horn, Jefferson (Festus), 16:45.7; 21. Gabelsberger, Fatima, 16:49.9; 22. Rutledge, Steelville, 16:50.5; 23. Hubbard, South Callaway, 16:51.6; 24. J. Twiss, Thomas Jefferson Independent, 16:52.1; 25. Seaton, South Shelby, 16:52.2; 26. Sickler, Westran, 16:54.8; 27. Long, Thomas Jefferson Independent, 16:55.0; 28. McVey, Jefferson (Festus), 16:57.0; 29. Dake, Fatima, 17:02.5; 30. Fletcher, El Dorado Springs, 17:07.3.

Girls team scores: 1. Lexington, 25; 2. West Platte, 116; 3. Lafayette County, 147; 4. El Dorado Springs, 181; 5. Monroe City, 185; 6. Whitfield, 186; 7. Fatima, 219; 8. Brentwood, 239; 9. Stockton, 239; 10. Veritas Christian Academy, 253; 11. Saxony Lutheran, 257; 12. Hermann, 272; 13. Gainesville, 278; 14. East Carter, 284; 15. Spokane, 296; 16. Lone Jack, 341.

Girls medalists: 1. Smith, Lexington, 18:33.0; 2. Lichte, Lexington, 18:35.8; 3. Curd, Brentwood, 19:05.2; 4. Heckman, North Platte, 19:09.8; 5. Engelbrecht, Lexington, 19:25.3; 6. Rouggly, Woodland, 19:28.4; 7. Hoffmann, Duchesne, 19:33.2; 8. Hunt, Pierce City, 19:37.4; 9. Lovell, Lexington, 19:42.9; 10. Robertson, New Bloomfield, 19:46.3; 11. Koper, South Shelby, 19:47.4; 12. Steward, El Dorado Springs, 19:52.8; 13. Linderman, KC Lutheran, 19:54.7; 14. McManus, Principia, 19:55.3; 15. Hartnell, Veritas Christian, 20:01.4; 16. Massman, Fatima, 20:05.4; 17. Suit, Gainesville, 20:16.4; 18. Roe, Southwest (Washburn), 20:16.6; 19. Shocklee, Whitfield, 20:23.8; 20. Willingham, Monroe City, 20:25.5; 21. Howard, Veritas Christian, 20:25.6; 22. Adkins, Lexington, 20:25.8; 23. Gillis, West Platte, 20:27.1; 24. Patry, Barstow, 20:27.9; 25. Butler, Brentwood, 20:28.4; 26. Keller, Monroe City, 20:30.7; 27. Pessetto, Lafayette County, 20:30.7; 28. Rains, Stockton, 20:38.7; 29. Yourchisin, Plato, 20:41.1; 30. Phillips, Skyline, 20:41.1.

CLASS 1 RESULTS

Boys team scores: 1. School of the Ozarks, 95; 2. Van Buren, 114; 3. Kingsville, 126; 4. Hermitage, 153; 5. Maysville, 156; 6. Vienna, 165; 7. Van-Far, 183; 8. Oak Ridge, 215; 9. St. Joseph Christian, 221; 10. Northeast (Cairo), 229; 11. Meadow Heights, 232; 12. Dora, 237; 13. New Haven, 290; 14. Alton, 318; 15. Rich Hill, 327; 16. Bishop LeBlond, 371.

Boys medalists: 1. Robertson, School of the Ozarks, 16:16.0; 2. Hill, St. Joseph Christian, 16:35.7; 3. Schwartze, Vienna, 16:43.1; 4. Hoffman, Clopton, 16:46.2; 5. Street, Van Buren, 16:49.3; 6. Dorson, New Franklin, 16:57.8; 7. Barnes, Kingsville, 16:58.8; 8. Hennemann, St. Vincent, 16:59.4; 9. Tomlinson, Dora, 17:08.3; 10. Keller, Van-Far, 17:12.3; 11. Hoerr, Hale, 17:13.0; 12. Williams, North Shelby, 17:13.8; 13. Gilliland, Caig, 17:14.3; 14. Kincaid, Stoutland, 17:14.9; 15. George, Hermitage, 17:22.6; 16. Clark, Van Buren, 17:24.7; 17. Stuber, Niangua, 17:25.9; 18. Umfleet, Meadow Heights, 17:27.4; 19. Ferrell, Macks Creek, 17:27.7; 20. Janseen, Higbee, 17:28.3; 21. Crews, Polo, 17:28.8; 22. Luecke, Northeast (Cairo), 17:31.3; 23. Case, Gloria Deo Academy, 17:32.0; 24. Sybert, North Andrew, 17:33.2; 25. Little, Chadwick, 17:33.8; 26. Roller, North Andrew, 17:35.7; 27. Harper, Southwest (Livingston County), 17:36.0; 28. McGill, Dadeville, 17:37.9; 29. Hopke, Van-Far, 17:38.6; 30. Ewers, Vienna, 17:38.9.

Girls team scores: 1. School of the Ozarks, 60; 2. Dora, 106; 3. South Nodaway, 139; 4. St. Vincent, 157; 5. Alton, 161; 6. McAuley Catholic, 166; 7. Thomas Jefferson Independent, 190; 8. Tarkio, 193; 9. St. Joseph Christian, 205; 10. Maysville, 209; 11. Glasgow, 227; 12. Green Ridge, 229; 13. Ellington, 292; 14. Clopton, 292; 15. Meadow Heights, 370.

Girls medalists: 1. Chambers, Norwood, 19:09.4; 2. Shafer, St. Paul Lutheran, 19:19.2; 3. Meyer, St. Vincent, 19:28.3; 4. Wray, South Nodaway, 19:28.3; 5. Bender, Christian Fellowship, 19:54.6; 6. Fields, Gloria Deo Academy, 20:07.6; 7. Watkins, Rock Port, 20:18.0; 8. Shaw, Stoutland, 20:26.3; 9. M. Landry, Chadwick, 20:35.0; 10. Howard, School of the Ozarks, 20:40.8; 11. E. Landry, Chadwick, 20:49.5; 12. Welker, St. Vincent, 20:58.2; 13. Martin, Dora, 21:01.6; 14. Chadwell, Norwood, 21:10.1; 15. Riley, South Nodaway, 21:19.2; 16. Edington, Green Ridge, 21:19.5; 17. Hodges, Prairie Home, 21:20.2; 18. Sharp, Thomas Jefferson Independent, 21:23.1; 19. Morrison, Otterville, 21:24.4; 20. Evans, School of the Ozarks, 21:24.9; 21. Beauchamp, Clopton, 21:25.8; 22. Moser, Thomas Jefferson Independent, 21:25.9; 23. Price, Oak Ridge, 21:25.9; 24. Brawley, Summersville, 21:32.6; 25. Carter, Montrose, 21:34.1; 26. Deraps, Jamestown, 21:35.3; 27. Moore, Scotland County, 21:36.0; 28. McGee, Dadeville, 21:36.8; 29. Asbury, Blue Eye, 21:37.8; 30. Wallace, Van-Far, 21:49.9.

This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 1:49 PM.