Jackson boys cross country team wins SEMO Conference meet

Despite injuries and illnesses that have limited Jackson's boys and girls cross country teams, none of it seemed to stop the Indians from making some noise Thursday.

Junior Chelsea Drum and senior Jack Jeffers each came away with first-place finishes to lead Jackson at the SEMO Large Schools Conference Meet at Jackson City Park.

"We didn't really know what to expect," Jackson coach Andrea Talley said. "I was pretty pleased. It was kind of like an average run for us today because I know we've been dealing with a lot of those things."

Jeffers, who ran a time of 16 minutes, 53.73 seconds, and teammates Ean Buffington (3, 17:38.60), Jackson Givens (5, 17:53.32) and Caleb Bess (8, 18:09.03) each had top-10 finishes to lead the Indians' boys team to first place with 28 points. Notre Dame (36) finished second, while Central (88) placed third and Scott City (132) took fifth.

"I felt pretty good," Jeffers said. "I just wanted to come out and win. I wasn't too concerned about my time, just wanted to get first place and get first place as a team."

Jackson's 31 points were good enough for second place in the girls race, but Drum ran a time of 19:38.84 to finish almost 1 1/2 minutes ahead of second-place Alaina Baumgart (21:03.64) of Notre Dame.

"We were just trying to go through this meet and get ready for districts next week so we can move on to sectionals and state," Drum said. "Today we were a little off. We had one girl who didn't race because she was injured and another girl who raced but fell back because of her injury, but it's alright. We're just focused on districts now."

Talley said Drum came out in a flash her freshman year and experienced a growth spurt last season, which has set up nicely for her junior campaign.

"She's had a really good season," Talley said. "I knew if she stuck with our training plan, she was going to get better and better, and she has. Instead of plateauing, she took a big jump this year."

The big surprise of the day was Notre Dame's girls squad, which finished first with 24 points. Central took third with 111 points.

Baumgart was joined by Notre Dame teammates Katie Hanners (3, 21:03.87), Jordan Meadors (4, 21:12.48), Alleigh Emmendorfer (6, 21:14.42) and Adilyn Mueller (9, 21:37.59) in the top 10.

"We came over here with the idea that we could finish a strong second, but we've been working so hard on trying to run even-paced," Notre Dame coach Bill Davis said. "Our girls earlier in the year would go out and run the first mile way too fast, and they'd go into oxygen debt at about the mile and a half and wonder why they were running slower. That allows you to run together. You go out a little bit slower, and everyone stays on board and becomes more emotionally involved."

Jackson's Ana Compton (5, 21:13.17), Megan Barnum (7, 21:13.61), Tayler Winick (8, 21:24.47) and Leah Hecht (10, 21:38.11) rounded out the top 10 in the girls race.

In the boys race, Notre Dame was led by top-10 runners Rudy McClellan (2, 17:19.41), Brock Kasten (6, 17:56.72), Michael Peters (7, 17:57.23) and Tyler Pech (9, 18:12.23), while Poplar Bluff's Isaiah Williams (4, 17:49.42) and Central's Riley Duncan (10, 18:12.75) also earned top-10 finishes.

The teams will now turn their attention to districts, which begin later this month.

GIRLS

Team Scores -- 1. Notre Dame 24; 2. Jackson 31, 3. Poplar Bluff 79; 4. Central 111; 5. Dexter 133.

Individuals -- 1. Chelsea Drum (J) 19:38.84; 2. Alaina Baumgart (ND) 21:03.64; 3. Katie Hanners (ND) 21:03.87; 4. Jordan Meadors (ND) 21:12.48; 5. Ana Compton (J) 21:13.17; 6. Alleigh Emmendorfer (ND) 21:13.42; 7. Megan Barnum (J) 21:13.61; 8. Tayler Winick (J) 21:24.47; 9. Adilyn Mueller (ND) 21:37.59; 10. Leah Hecht (J) 21:38.11; 11. Katie Sliger (PB) 21:43.12; 12. Courtney Hahs (J) 21:51.19; 13. Cassidy Harris (PB) 22:08.91; 14. Maddy McDonald (C) 23:24.75; 15. Carlee Williamson (J) 23:25.81.

Local Top Finishers

Central -- 14. McDonald 23:24.75; 20. Haley White 24:06.70; 23. Kyra Pearl 24:27.40; 27. Elizabeth Ustinov 26:35.12; 29. September Knupp 26:48.46.

Jackson -- 1. Drum 19:38.84; 5. Compton 21:13.17; 7. Barnum 21:13.61; 8. Winick 21:24.47; 10. Hecht 21:38.11; 12. Hahs 21:51.19; 15. Williamson 23:25.81.

Kelly -- 31. Marissa Jones 27:27.85.

Notre Dame -- 2. Baumgart 21:03.64; 3. Hanners 21:03.87; 4. Meadors 21:12.48; 6. Emmendorfer 21:13.42; 9. Mueller 21:37.59; 18. Allie Pujol 24:06.06; 21. Claire Morrill 24:07.03.

Scott City -- 25. Hannah Shenoniah 25:36.26; 30. Bella Bowers 27:10.44; 33. Anna Kern 30:14.15.

BOYS

Team Scores -- 1. Jackson 28; 2. Notre Dame 36; 3. Central 88; 4. Poplar Bluff 98; 5. Scott City 132; 6. Dexter 158.

Individuals -- 1. Jack Jeffers (J) 16:53.73; 2. Rudy McClellan (ND) 17:19.41; 3. Ean Buffington (J) 17:38.60; 4. Isaiah Williams (PB) 17:49.42; 5. Jackson Givens (J) 17:53.32; 6. Brock Kasten (ND) 17:56.72; 7. Michael Peters (ND) 17:57.23; 8. Caleb Bess (J) 18:09.03; 9. Tyler Pech (ND) 18:12.23; 10. Riley Duncan (C) 18:12.75; 11. Alex Philipps (J) 18:28.95; 12. Matt Gibbs (ND) 18:34.68; 13. Will Allen (J) 18:39.28; 14. Jesse Perry (SC) 19:03.65; 15. Brent Werner (J) 19:04.78.

Local Top Finishers

Central -- 10. Duncan 18:12.75; 17. Brendan Wilkens 20:02.81; 18. Jay Richardson 20:06.21; 21. Jovanny Miranda 20:16.20; 22. Matt Stearns 20:22.42; 24. Gavin Green 20:41.76; 26. Jacob Bishop 20:52.44.

Jackson -- 1. Jeffers 16:53.73; 3. Buffington 17:38.60; 5. Givens 17:53.32; 8. Bess 18:09.03; 11. Philipps 18:28.95; 13. Allen 18:39.28; 15. Werner 19:04.78.

Kelly -- 25. Robbie Hopper 20:43.07.

Notre Dame -- 2. McClellan 17:19.41; 6. Kasten 17:56.72; 7. Peters 17:57.23; 9. Pech 18:12.23; 12. Gibbs 18:34.68; 16. Grant Grove 19:37.40.

Scott City -- Perry 19:03.65; 28. Joe Parker 21:40.11; 29. Chris Phillips 21:52.06; 32. Tyler Rhyne 22:08.83; 22. Isaac Pennington 22:27.45; 40. Quentin Lacey 25:20.78.