On Saturday, Oct. 29, the El Dorado Springs Cross Country team traveled to the Pomme de Terre dam outlet park just outside of Hermitage to participate in the Class 2, District 7 cross country meet. This meet was to qualify for the State meet, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5. To qualify for state, runners have to finish in the top 15 or place in the top 2 as a team.

On Saturday, the meet got started off with the Class 2 Boys race. Senior Tyler Goatley got out with the front pack heading into the big hill up the side of the dam, and stayed in the front pack of 5, throughout the hill. By mile one Tyler took control of the race and went on to win the district with a time of 17:11.67. This advances Tyler to the state meet next week. Tyler was 2nd last year in the same race.

Due to an injury to Freshman Matthew Reddick and sickness with Sophomore Nick Raddatz, the boys team was shorthanded and not able to compete as a team, with only four participants. Freshman Garrin McCullick ran well, running one of his faster times of the year on one of the tougher courses we run, finishing 20th. Wrapping up the boys’ team was Sophomore Caleb Mooney and Senior Wyatt Cartwright. The boys ran well and have had a good season. They are young, however, have worked hard and taken several positive steps forward in progress this year. Looking forward to seeing them continue to improve next year.

Seniors Wyatt Cartwright and Tyler Goatley will be greatly missed next year. Wyatt looks to head to college next year, pursuing a career in music education, and try to walk on with cross country.

Tyler Goatley lives to run one more race in his high school career at the State meet next week. He is excited about this one last race and has goals of improving on his last year finish of 15th. Cedar County neighbor, Stockton, won the boys team title.

The girls’ team was led by Junior Ashley Knoll. Ashley put herself in the front pack at the big hill early on and maintained her position through the hill. As she approached the first mile, she had established herself in the 3rd position, and went on to hold that position for the remainder of the race, finishing 3rd with a time of 21:45.01.

This qualified Ashley for another week of running with cousin, Tyler. Last year, Ashley just missed being All-State by one position, finishing in 26th. This year she has her goals set on improving on last year’s finish and bringing home All-State honors. She will get to do this with teammates, Junior Emily Ring, Freshman Emily Sutton, Senior Michaela Trotter, Sophomore Sarah King, and Sophomore Abby Cartwright as the team went on to take 2nd next to champion Holden.

Emily, Michaela and Sarah finished 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd. These girls have run together all year, and we have talked of the importance of pack running and they have done it well. They have been training with the hopes and beliefs of taking one of the top two spots as a team and represent ElDo at the state meet. Saturday, they were able to embrace that realization.

Tyler Goatley will join the Girl’s team as they head to the state meet to be held on Saturday, Nov. 5, in Jefferson City at the Oak Hills Golf Center. The girls will get things started, with their race scheduled for 11:10 with Tyler’s race scheduled to begin at 12:25.