Dickerson scoffs at course changes

ST. LOUIS -- Jackson sophomore Taylor Dickerson is not fond of a change in her routine.

But that was the case Saturday as Dickerson and the Tigers ran in the prestigious Hancock Invitational cross country meet at Jefferson Barracks Park in south St. Louis County.

"They threw me a curveball today by significantly changing the course," Dickerson said. "I was proud that I was able to adapt."

Dickerson had the best local finish in the meet as she finished eighth out of 88 runners in the Class 4 event.

"We had a hard week of workouts and my goal today was just to come out and medal," Dickerson said.

She did that with ease as the top 30 finishers in the six varsity events -- three boys and three girls -- earned medals.

Dickerson competed in the Hancock meet last fall and won, but that was in the junior varsity division.

"I ran that because I had to get back home to choir auditions," Dickerson said.

The same scenario held true Saturday, but the girls varsity race was run at 9:30 a.m. and the choir audition was at 12:30 p.m.

"We might have to break some laws, but I think we will make it," Dickerson joked.

Dickerson made it to state as a freshman and finished 78th. But she has shown significant improvement as a sophomore and has much bigger goals for the end of the season.

"I want to be in the top 30, I want to be all-state," Dickerson said.

Dickerson's top-10 finish helped the Indians to a fourth-place finish among the 13 teams that fielded full teams Saturday. Rockwood Summit won the team title with 78 points. Nerinx Hall, which boasted the individual champion in Colleen Quigley, edged out Jackson by two points for third place.

Four Jackson runners came home with medals.

Central's Mary Dohogne also medaled Saturday. She finished 16th.

Classes 1 and 2

Team results -- 1. Herculaneum, 21; 2. Willow Springs, 71; 3. Lutheran North, 92, 4. Dexter, 104

Local top fives

Woodland -- 31. Juliet Dickey, 26:27.32; 44. Tess Rainey, 30:52.98

Scott City -- 32. Miranda Brashear, 26:34.00

Class 3

Team results -- 1. Festus, 94; 2. Ste. Genevieve, 100; 3. MICDS, 113; 4. Farmington, 164; 5. Notre Dame, 165

Local top fives

Notre Dame -- 17. Elizabeth Kiblinger, 22:05.43; 33. Jessica Triller, 22:48.07; 36. Tara Grojean, 22:56.34; 51. Morgan Morris, 23:33.06; 61. Sarah Mittrucker, 23:53.02

Class 4

Team results -- 1. Rockwood Summit, 78; 2. Eureka, 82; 3. Nerinx Hall, 114; 4. Jackson, 116; 5. Kirkwood, 121; 9. Cape Central, 227

Local top fives

Jackson -- 8. Taylor Dickerson, 20:31.92; 19. Tori Parry, 21:17.18; 22. Landon Wachter, 21:24.99; 23. Lindsey Seabaugh, 21:25.73; 53. Diane Strong, 23:05.88

Central -- 16. Mary Dohogne, 21:09.54; 35. Megan Daly, 22:02.79; 45. Laura Chavez, 22:34.10; 68. Audrey Westrich, 24:16.25; 76. Chleo LeGrand, 24:51.63