Injury leaves concerned Tigers on outside at state

Central girls worry more about Woldtvedt than sectional showing

By Bill Hester

Special to the Southeast Missourian

ST. LOUIS -- A trip to the state meet was the goal from the beginning of the season for the Central girls cross country team.

But team scores were secondary to the health of runner Linnea Woldtvedt following Saturday's Class 4 sectional meet at Jefferson Barracks Park.

"I have no idea how we placed," Tiger coach Mark Hahn said almost an hour after the race. "The focus right now is on Linnea's health."

Woldtvedt left Jefferson Barracks Park in an ambulance after collapsing some 30 meters short of the finish line Saturday.

"We think she is going to be OK," Hahn said. "I think she is just severely dehydrated."

As things turned out, if Woldtvedt, who was a state qualifier last year, would have finished the race the Tigers would be headed to Jefferson City, Mo., as a team. As it was they fell just seven points short of fourth-place Washington.

"We are sad about the team not going, but we are a lot more concerned with Linnea," Cape Central senior Jennifer Pancoast said.

Pancoast earned her fourth trip to state, becoming the second Central runner, boy or girl, to be a four-year state qualifier. Tobie Bittle was the first in the mid-1990s.

Pancoast finished fourth in 20:01. Senior Holly Shaffer, who will be going to state individually for the third time, was 12th.

The top four teams and top 30 individuals qualify to the state meet from sectionals.

"We were literally 30 meters away from getting to state as a team," Hahn said. "It is really an emotional time for us now. I feel so bad for Linnea. She ran such a great race today. But you have no regrets if you give it your best effort. And everyone absolutely gave it their best today."

Jackson seniors Rachel Schmidt and Ashley Meyr both will making return trips to state. Schmidt was 17th and Meyr was 24th. Jackson was seventh as a team.

Marquette, Eureka and Lafayette advanced to state.

Two boys will represent Central at state. Junior John Kipper finished 16th. Senior Cory Huskey makes his first trip to state after a 21st-place finish.

Parkway South, Kirkwood, Eureka and Poplar Bluff qualified as boys teams.

Central results

Girls -- 4. Jennifer Pancoast, 20:01; 12. Holly Shaffer, 20:42; 36. Liz Alberson, 22:20; 40. Allison Dohogne, 22:38; 42. Emily Ponder, 22:44.

Boys --16. John Kipper, 17:41; 21. Cory Huskey, 17:49; 38. Daniel Austin, 18:19; 66. Beau Jordan, 19:42; 68. Alex Eom, 19:55.

Jackson results

Girls --17. Rachel Schmidt, 21:12; 24. Ashley Meyr, 21:28; 44. Amanda Craven, 22:57; 60. Beth Barton, 24:27; 70. Katie Grieshop, 26:33; 73. Barbara Gillard, 28;13; 74. Jessie Barton, 30:38.

Boys -- 48. Sam Masters, 18:43; 56. David Welker, 18:54.

Class 3 District 1

Junior Greg Kanneberg finished fourth to lead Notre Dame to a second-place finish, qualifying the Bulldogs for state.

Notre Dame results

Boys -- 4. Greg Kanneberg, 18:08; 8. Austin Critchlow, 18:36; 11. Matt Pfau, 18:52; 14. Brian McCrate, 19:04.97; 15. Cody Essner, 19:09.91; 20. Steven Eeftink, 20:03; 22. Cole Min, 20:08.

Girls -- 19. Brooke Beussink, 24:51; 20. Hailey Brown, 25:04; 22. Casey Crawford, 25:40; 23. Megan Rosenquist, 25:48; 30. Cori Garrett, 26:58; 31. Jennifer Hinkebein, 27:02.

Kelly results

Boys -- 13. Michael Glastetter, 18:58; 18. Russell Carroll, 19:44; 19. Derek Brucker, 19:55; 21. Jordan Felter, 20:03; 24. Zach Hicks, 20:40.

Girls -- 7. Sarah Ruff, 21:34; 28. Samantha Barber, 26:30; 29. Lauren Jean, 26:42; 32. Kathleen Ray, 28:10; 33. Elizabeth Ray, 29:00.