High school cross country: Campbell's Fowler, Coleman battle chill, run strong

CAPE GIRARDEAU — Campbell High School runner Drew Fowler was bundled up tightly during the Class 2 District 1 boys cross country race Saturday.

Fowler wore a grey hoodie and orange-colored running shorts underneath his black and gold Campbell uniform.

Staying as warm as possible was the mantra for all the competitors at Cape Notre Dame Regional High School.

Taylor Coleman (Bib No. 98) of Campbell opted to wear a peach-colored hoodie while running during the Class 1 District 1 girls race on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, at Cape Notre Dame Regional High School. Coleman earned a top-40 finish for the Camels in her first postseason competition. Temperatures hovered in the upper 40s.(Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Everyone’s goal was to place among the top-30 individuals — or top-four teams — and qualify for this week’s Missouri State High School Activities Association state meet set for Gans Creek Recreational Area in Columbia.

However, it wasn’t meant to be for either Campbell (in Class 1) and Senath-Hornersville (in Class 2).

Fowler came the closest among area boys, placing 36th in a time of 19:23.68.

Campbell's Samuel Bunting reaches the three-mile mark during the Class 1 District 1 boys race dated Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, from Cape Notre Dame Regional High School. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)

“I thought we had a really successful first-ever season for cross country,” Campbell head coach Steve Fowler said. “The conditions for the district meet were not ideal. I think it was 48 degrees, and windy. Our kids fought through it, and finished. I am proud of my kids.”

Fowler also serves as the school’s athletic director and head boys basketball coach. The Camels used the fall as a chance to get in shape for the upcoming hoops season, which started with the first practices on Monday.

“We didn’t have anybody quit,” noted coach Fowler, with 15 boys and two girls out for the sport. Practices were at 6:15 a.m., most days. Early birds are sacrificial flyers.

Overall, Campbell finished eighth as a team with 210 points. Van Buren was tops with 52 points, and regional powerhouse Oak Ridge was second (65).

Samuel Bunting was next in line for the Camels, taking 54th (20:47.20), and Clay Huber was 56th (20:55.72).

Four Campbell runners were 60th through 63rd: Caiden Mayberry, Ben Rowland, Logan Townsend and Zander Mayberry, respectively, as the Camels employed the strategy of “pack running.”

Caiden Mayberry’s time was 21:03.04, Rowland 21:06.94, Townsend 21:07.53 and Zander Mayberry 21:07.72.

Cade Nold from Dora was the gold medalist in a strong time of 17:05.55, winning the meet by roughly 35 seconds over Brock Hobeck of Oak Ridge.

In the Class 1 girls race, Taylor Coleman wrapped up her season with a 38th place finish in a time of 25:54.26.

Like Fowler, Coleman was bundled up wearing a peach-colored hoodie under her uniform top.

Teammate Rita-Joy Wheeler was 56th overal, clocking in at 28:50.95. Both Coleman and Wheeler are freshmen, so the future is bright for both runners.

Like on the boys side, Dora had the individual gold medalist for the girls. Freshman Isabelle Martin raced in with a 20:57.23 finish, about 12 seconds better than Katelyn Nichols of East Carter.

Dora and East Carter shared the team title with 42 points each, while Van Buren was third with 51.

Campbell will lose four seniors to graduation in Sam Bunting, Logan Townsend, Beckett Hanners and Landon Wilson.

The Camels won the boys’ JV division at the Dexter Bearcat Invitational on Oct. 21, and earlier tied Poplar Bluff at its own invitational in late August.