Cross Country has busy week

by Coach Brian Goatley

The El Dorado Springs Cross Country team had a busy but successful week, last week. On Saturday, Sept. 14, the El Dorado Springs cross country team traveled to Hermitage to run at the Outlet park, over by the Pomme De Terre Lake Dam.  This is memorable for the athletes, as they run up the side of the dam early into their race.

The High School girls’ team came out victorious as a team, winning the small school team division.  Freshman Hannah Klaiber led the way finishing first with a time of 22:08.57.  Morgan Mitchell finished 8th, with teammate Colbie Wood, finishing just shortly behind in 10th place.  These three were joined by teammates Abby Klaiber and Madison Hendricks to get the job done as a team.  They all ran well as a team.  This is the first time for the freshmen to run up the dam, as in Middle School, they did not run that part.  They all handled it really well, and experienced runners all improved their times from previous races here.

On the boys’ side, Daelen Ackley led the way, not only winning the small school division, but also the overall winner for the day, with a time of 16:34.42.  Teammate Trevyn Garringer joined Daelen in the top 20 medal stand, finishing 10th.  Like the girls, everyone ran well, with experienced runners improving on times from previous years and freshman running well for their first time.

On the Middle School side of things, this year MSHSAA (Missouri State High School Activities Association) is pushing for Middle School to run a distance of 2 miles for cross country.  So this year’s Middle Schoolers were the first to get to run the dam, as that was where they added the distance on this year, to get the race distance closer to the 2 mile distance.

The Middle School girls’ team followed in the footsteps of the High School team finishing 2nd as a team.  Audrey Goatley led the way, finishing 5th in the small school division, 6th overall.  Teammates Hanna Ridgeway and Maya Steward also finished in the top 20 to medal, finishing 7th and 18th respectively.  These 3 were joined by teammates Alivia Bowen, Myka Barger, Lydia Zimmer and Isabelle Reddick to place 2nd as a team.  They handled the change this year  and ran really well.

Ethan Tucker and Logan Fisk were the lone medalists for the Middle School boys team finishing 11th and 16th respectively.

Overall, I thought we ran well and competed hard on Saturday, and our times showed it.  We are getting there as a team in all areas.  Next up for the team, is a trip to Lamar on Tuesday, Oct. 1 with the High School then travelling to Fayetteville, AR, for the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival, hosted at the University of Arkansas cross country course.  It will be an exciting day for the kids and a great experience.