Gibson rounds into form

ST. LOUIS — Jackson senior Greg Gibson is glad to be back. And so are his friends and family.

Gibson missed most of his junior cross country season with a torn muscle in his side.

And boy did he miss the sport.

"Everyone can tell you that I was a wreck last fall," Gibson said. "I was not fun to be around."

Gibson is around the state's courses again, and if Saturday's effort is any indication, he is ready to go out in style.

Gibson won the race in the white division of the Forest Park Festival cross country meet Saturday.

The white division did not feature the cream of the crop of runners from the schools that came from across the state. But it was still a great start to 2008 for Gibson.

"I would have liked to have run with the top guys, but since I was in this division, I was just able to go out there and run," Gibson said. "I did not set any goal and was not as nervous as I usually get. I wish my time was faster, but I moved when I had to. I felt I ran a good strategic race."

Gibson was challenged down the stretch, but was able to outlast Soldan's Adrain Liddell. Gibson won with a time of 17 minutes, 6.40 seconds. Liddell ran a 17:11.7.

"The main thing I got out of this race was that I felt good," Gibson said. "I got on a great strength training program this summer and this was the first test of the season. I thought that hill would get me, but it really didn't."

Gibson would not give himself an A for Saturday, but it was certainly a passing grade.

"I've got a lot more training to do and need to improve if I want to reach my goals," Gibson said. "It would be nice to finish in the top 25 at state in my senior season."

No other area runner finished in the top 10 of the white division. Lutheran South won the team title in that division, and Jackson did not enter enough runners for a team score.

The area boy with the best time Saturday was Notre Dame junior Wynn McClellan. He finished 10th in the much more competitive green division. His time was 16:35.9.

McClellan was the only area medalist in the green division.

Notre Dame senior Logan Davis was 32nd (17:13.8). Sophomore Roy Leighton was the top Central boys runner. He was 46th (17:34.1).

Saint Louis Univeristy High, which hosted the meet, showed its overall strength. The Junior Bills, who are ranked in the top 20 nationally in one poll, won the green division team title. Their B team finished 10th.

Potosi senior Jacob Swearingen won the green division title in a thrilling finish against Danny Thater of Kickapoo. Swearingen ran a 15:44.20, while Thater ran a 15:46.90.

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:Green division

Team scores — 1. Saint Louis University High 87; 2. Kickapoo 159; 3. Jefferson City 160; 4. Marquette University High 185; 5. Rockhurst High 211; 6. Rock Bridge 233; 7. Potosi 242; 8. Lebanon 247; 9. Helias 247; 10. Saint Louis University High B 269; 11. Notre Dame 270; 12. Herculaneum 302; 13. Festus 316; 14. De Smet Jesuit 326; 15. Fort Zumwalt South 332; 16. Farmington 457; 17. Central 467; 18. Westminster Christian 468; 19. CBC 480; 20. Francis Howell North 483; 21. Marquette 502; 22. Francis Howell Central 556; 23. Parkway North 560; 24. Chaminade 594; 25. Branson 707.

Local top-five finishers

Notre Dame — 9. Wynn McClellan 16:35.90; 27. Logan Davis 17:13.80; 62. Ryan Johnson 17:55.50; 79. Matt Reinagel 18:09.50; 93. Cody Moore 18:24.20.

Central — 41. Roy Leighton 17:34.10; 48. Eric Schott 17:40.80; 124. Jordan Pope 19:12.60; 126. Alex Crawford 19:15.30; 128. Derek Summers 19:21.10.

White division

Jackson — Greg Gibson 17:06.40; Chris Hurst 18:50.20.