Over the weekend, several area schools competed in their respective state cross country meets.
Highlighting the boys’ Class 5 meet at Gans Creek Cross Country Course, Webb City’s Noah Lankard was the top local finisher in 73rd place in a time of 16 minutes, 29.8 seconds, while Joplin’s Chance Tindall (16:32.1) closed in 76th place. Grey Edwards (16:40.9) finished in 90th place for the Eagles.
In the girls’ Class 5 meet, Joplin’s Ava Doll took fourth place in a time of 18:17.7, while Webb City’s Brooke Hedger finished in fifth place in a time of 18:20.2. Emma McKinzie (19:58.3) finished in 83rd for the Cardinals, while Araceli Perez (20:08.7) placed 91st and Olivia Klotz (20:08.8) placed 92nd to round out the local top 100 runners.
In the Class 4 boys' meet, Carl Junction’s Isaac Willoughby (16:54) took 21st, while Nikash Yeary placed 93rd in a time of 18:10.9. On the girls’ side, Marissa Newman placed 72nd for Carl Junction in a time of 21:44.8.
New Heights Christian Academy’s Colton McMilan earned a podium finish at the boys’ Class 3 State Meet, crossing the finish line in third place in a time of 16:53.8.
McAuley Catholic’s Michael Parrigon (16:25.8) took third place and Trae Veer (16:31.9) placed fourth and Will Mollnow took 10th in a time of 17:11.9 in the boys Class 1 run. Gavin Anderson (17:439.9) placed 19th, while Thomas Perrin took 22nd in a time of 17:50.5. Rowan Veer added a finish in 79th with a time of 19:05.5.
Thomas Jefferson’s Spencer Long placed 14th in a time of 17:33.8, while Connor Taffner crossed in 85th at 19:14.2.
McAuley Catholic’s Olivia Parrigon placed 11th in the Class 1 girls' run, crossing the line in a time of 20:55. Riley Sears placed 45th with a time of 23:01.9 and Edie Nolan took 48th in a time of 23:06.1. Ellie Bohachick placed 77th in a time of 24:03.9.
Macie Shifferd took 14th for Thomas Jefferson. She finished in a time of 20:59.