Wildcats cross country team heads to state
November 4, 2020
Lee Stubblefield
The Cassville boys turned in a strong performance at Hollister on Saturday, taking second place behind East Newton and earning a team berth in the MSHSAA Class 3 state cross country championships. The powerful East Newton squad placed five runners in the top seven positions, scoring 18. Pace Evans led Cassville with his 4th place finish, and the Wildcats squeezed past Forsyth for second, 64-66.
Both the Cassville girls and Southwest boys saw their team hopes for state dashed on Saturday. Both finished third in their respective team standings, and both missed by a single point.
With 46 points, the Lady Wildcats placed third in Class 3 District 6 behind Aurora’s 29 and East Newton’s 45. It was an abrupt ending to a season where the Cassville girls won a number of regular season meets and seemed primed to move on to state.
The big story for Southwest was who didn’t run. Senior leader Travis Sickles could only watch in street clothes after suffering an injury earlier in the week. With Sickles, the Trojans were heavily favored to win their first district title since 2005. Without him, they lost a dogfight for second in the Class 2 District 6 race, even with four runners in the top 13.
Only the top two teams and top 15 individuals from each race qualify for the state championship races.
Area district finishers
(*individual state qualifier)
Class 3 Boys @ Hollister
*4. Pace Evans, Cassville, 17:38
*12. Caleb Leach, Cassville, 19:12
*15. Jacob Martinez, Cassville 19:26
20. Ethan Bohmke, Cassville, 19:52
27. Charles Elliot, Cassville, 20:40
43. Donald Pettyjohn, Cassville, 24:48
Teams
East Newton 18
Cassville 64
Forsyth 66
Class 3 Girls @ Hollister
*5.Jordyn Stafford, Cassville, 20:42
*7. Annie Moore, Cassville, 21:08
*10. Jolie Evans, Cassville, 21”44
17. Marianne McCracken, Cassville, 23:31
19. Ella Reuter, Cassville, 24:12
23. Madison Bowyer, Cassville, 25:08
Teams
• Aurora 29
• East Newton 45
• Cassville 46
Class 2 Boys @ Hollister
*5. Christian Long, Southwest, 17:41
*7. Caden Uthe, Southwest, 17:59
*8. Otis Rainer, Southwest, 18:23
*13. Lucas Lakey, Southwest, 18:57.11
*14. Bryce Osbun, Purdy, 18:57.93
27. Adrian Tate, Purdy, 20:06
28. Roper Varner, Southwest, 20:12
35. Westin Ellison, Purdy, 21:07
Teams
• Spokane 43
• New Covenant 53
• Southwest 54
Class 2 Girls @ Hollister
*9. Cally Bowyer, Southwest, 23:34
18. Alexis Raucstadt, Southwest, 26:47
Teams
• Sparta 34
• Thayer 38
Class 1 Boys @ Hollister
25. Lane Willis, Exeter,, 20:30
47. Josue Alcarez, Exeter, 25:47
51. Jamison Nichols, Exeter, 30:33
Teams
Blue Eye 27
Fordland 73
Class 1 Boys @ Lamar
*5. Zane Johnson, Wheaton, 18:51
*13. Lance Greenwell, Wheaton, 19:30
22. Blake Morgan, Wheaton, 20:27
25. Fernando Gonzalez, Wheaton, 20:39
31. Wyatt Gorman, Wheaton, 21:19
Teams
• Liberal 63
• Montrose 67
• 4. Wheaton 81
Class 1 Girls @ Hollister
26. Abby Cossey, Exeter, 33:52
Teams
• Blue Eye 24
• Fordland 35
State Meet Schedule:
Due to Covid 19 restrictions, the state cross country meet will have a decidedly different look this year. The races will be spread out over three days, and teams are strictly limited on the number of spectators allowed at the race site. Admission for all runners, coaches, administrators, and spectators will be by digital ticketing only.
Race schedule for the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships at Gans Creek in Columbia:
• Thursday, November 5, Class 3 (pm)
• Friday, November 6, Class 4 (am); Class 2 (pm)
The Cassville boys turned in a strong performance at Hollister on Saturday, taking second place behind East Newton and earning a team berth in the MSHSAA Class 3 state cross country championships. The powerful East Newton squad placed five runners in the top seven positions, scoring 18. Pace Evans led Cassville with his 4th place finish, and the Wildcats squeezed past Forsyth for second, 64-66.
Both the Cassville girls and Southwest boys saw their team hopes for state dashed on Saturday. Both finished third in their respective team standings, and both missed by a single point.
With 46 points, the Lady Wildcats placed third in Class 3 District 6 behind Aurora’s 29 and East Newton’s 45. It was an abrupt ending to a season where the Cassville girls won a number of regular season meets and seemed primed to move on to state.
The big story for Southwest was who didn’t run. Senior leader Travis Sickles could only watch in street clothes after suffering an injury earlier in the week. With Sickles, the Trojans were heavily favored to win their first district title since 2005. Without him, they lost a dogfight for second in the Class 2 District 6 race, even with four runners in the top 13.
Only the top two teams and top 15 individuals from each race qualify for the state championship races.
Area district finishers
(*individual state qualifier)
Class 3 Boys @ Hollister
*4. Pace Evans, Cassville, 17:38
*12. Caleb Leach, Cassville, 19:12
*15. Jacob Martinez, Cassville 19:26
20. Ethan Bohmke, Cassville, 19:52
27. Charles Elliot, Cassville, 20:40
43. Donald Pettyjohn, Cassville, 24:48
Teams
East Newton 18
Cassville 64
Forsyth 66
Class 3 Girls @ Hollister
*5.Jordyn Stafford, Cassville, 20:42
*7. Annie Moore, Cassville, 21:08
*10. Jolie Evans, Cassville, 21”44
17. Marianne McCracken, Cassville, 23:31
19. Ella Reuter, Cassville, 24:12
23. Madison Bowyer, Cassville, 25:08
Teams
• Aurora 29
• East Newton 45
• Cassville 46
Class 2 Boys @ Hollister
*5. Christian Long, Southwest, 17:41
*7. Caden Uthe, Southwest, 17:59
*8. Otis Rainer, Southwest, 18:23
*13. Lucas Lakey, Southwest, 18:57.11
*14. Bryce Osbun, Purdy, 18:57.93
27. Adrian Tate, Purdy, 20:06
28. Roper Varner, Southwest, 20:12
35. Westin Ellison, Purdy, 21:07
Teams
• Spokane 43
• New Covenant 53
• Southwest 54
Class 2 Girls @ Hollister
*9. Cally Bowyer, Southwest, 23:34
18. Alexis Raucstadt, Southwest, 26:47
Teams
• Sparta 34
• Thayer 38
Class 1 Boys @ Hollister
25. Lane Willis, Exeter,, 20:30
47. Josue Alcarez, Exeter, 25:47
51. Jamison Nichols, Exeter, 30:33
Teams
Blue Eye 27
Fordland 73
Class 1 Boys @ Lamar
*5. Zane Johnson, Wheaton, 18:51
*13. Lance Greenwell, Wheaton, 19:30
22. Blake Morgan, Wheaton, 20:27
25. Fernando Gonzalez, Wheaton, 20:39
31. Wyatt Gorman, Wheaton, 21:19
Teams
• Liberal 63
• Montrose 67
• 4. Wheaton 81
Class 1 Girls @ Hollister
26. Abby Cossey, Exeter, 33:52
Teams
• Blue Eye 24
• Fordland 35
State Meet Schedule:
Due to Covid 19 restrictions, the state cross country meet will have a decidedly different look this year. The races will be spread out over three days, and teams are strictly limited on the number of spectators allowed at the race site. Admission for all runners, coaches, administrators, and spectators will be by digital ticketing only.
Race schedule for the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships at Gans Creek in Columbia:
• Thursday, November 5, Class 3 (pm)
• Friday, November 6, Class 4 (am); Class 2 (pm)
