Jackson boys, girls cross country teams overcome obstacles to sweep conference meet

It's been trying times for the Jackson boys and girls cross country teams this season.

That's why Jackson coach Andrea Talley couldn't hold back the tears when talking about how both of her squads found a way to come together and sweep the SEMO Large Schools Conference Meet on Thursday at Cape Central High School.

The Indians did it all without their top boys runner in sophomore Ean Buffington, who tore his ACL, loosened his ALL and suffered meniscal damage over the summer after coming down awkwardly on his knee during a pick-up basketball game at the Joe Bill Dixon Running Camp.

Jackson's Ean Buffington cheers on a runner in the varsity girls race during the SEMO Large Schools Conference Meet on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at Cape Central High School. (Brian Rosener)

"It's kind of hard to talk about because he's just such a quality type of kid," said Talley, who was overcome with emotion when asked about Buffington. "He's been upbeat and optimistic, and he knows that he can overcome this.

"He tries to bring that mentality into the team."

Buffington stayed within the moment Thursday, cheering on his fellow teammates as they approached the finish line. He said he attempted to run last week but has since slowed down after feeling a bit of soreness.

"Of course, it's really sad, but the best thing I've done is just stay really positive through the whole thing," said Buffington, who placed 58th overall in the Class 4 state meet as a freshman last season. "Early on, I just accepted it, and from there, I just do everything my therapist tells me and look forward to the track season."

Jackson's boys team scored all 30 of its points with top-10 finishes, and each of the Indians' seven runners placed in the top 15. Alex Philipps led the way for Jackson with a second-place finish of 17:36.40, followed by Jackson Givens (17:49.97) in fourth, Joseph Reed (18:05.54) in seventh, Caleb Bess (18:11.89) in eighth and Kyle Kester (18:12.17) in ninth.

Notre Dame's Rudy McClellan makes a turn in the varsity boys race during the SEMO Large Schools Conference Meet on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at Cape Central High School. (Brian Rosener)

"We've had to kind of take our focus off the things that have happened and focus instead on all the little things," Talley said. "We just talked this week about how we've been through a lot but how we've got the team that can do it. ... We talked a lot about leadership, having some people who weren't accustomed to being leaders really step up and be leaders."

Notre Dame junior Rudy McClellan placed first in the boys race, finishing with a time of 17:01.42. The Bulldogs finished with 55 points, which was good enough for second in the team standings. Cape Central took third with 62 points, followed by Poplar Bluff (82) in fourth, Scott City (154) in fifth and Dexter (168) in sixth.

McClellan said he began noticing fatigue from the frontrunners about a mile into the race and used the opportunity to create separation.

"Last year, I was a little hurt in the beginning of the year, but this year, I've stayed pretty healthy," said McClellan, who placed second last year at the conference meet and improved his time by 18 seconds. "I put in about 500 miles over the summer, which is more than I had before, and I feel like it's really paid off on keeping my legs healthy and fresh."

Notre Dame also had a top finish in the girls race when sophomore Alaina Baumgart finished in 19:21.02, dethroning three-time conference champion Chelsea Drum, who was stricken with an unknown illness that forced her to miss practice this week.

Baumgart said she started to pull away roughly 2 1/2 miles into the race, during which she found a second wind that allowed her to surge up a hill.

Notre Dame's Alaina Baumgart approaches the finish line in the varsity girls race during the SEMO Large Schools Conference Meet on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at Cape Central High School. (Brian Rosener)

"I definitely didn't expect that coming into the race," Baumgart said about placing first. "I know [Drum] has been hurting. I was sticking with them, and usually they pull away pretty soon. So I just went with it and kept going."

Drum finished third with a time of 19:52.86 while teammate Carli Knott took second in 19:39.89. The Indians also secured first place and 28 points with top-10 finishes from Megan Barnum (6, 20:25.79), Kaylee Wilson (7, 20:41.92) and Ana Compton (10, 21:24.28).

The Bulldogs, who were conference champions a year ago, took second with 34 points while Poplar Bluff (73) finished third and Dexter (115) placed fourth.

Talley expressed concern over Drum's illness, which remains a mystery. Illness has become an undesirable trend with the Indians this season, according to Talley.

"It's an emotional day," said Talley, whose runners will turn their attention to the Class 4 District 1 meet Oct. 24 in Jackson. "... I have to say that our team has really been a joy to coach because of how they've overcome."

BOYS

Team scores -- 1. Jackson 30; 2. Notre Dame 55; 3. Cape Central 62; 4. Poplar Bluff 82; 5. Scott City 154; 6. Dexter 168

Individuals -- 1. Rudy McClellan (ND) 17:01.42; 2. Alex Philipps (J) 17:36.40; 3. Isaiah Williams (PB) 17:43.60; 4. Jackson Givens (J) 17:49.97; 5. Will Shivelbine (C) 17:59.33; 6. Matt Gibbs (ND) 18:01.42; 7. Joseph Reed (J) 18:05.54; 8. Caleb Bess (J) 18:11.89; 9. Kyle Kester (J) 18:12.17; 10. Jared Neikirk (C) 18:12.83; 11. Benton Keran (ND) 18:15.85; 12. Brent Werner (J) 18:27.10; 13. Wesley Moore (PB) 18:29.64; 14. Jovanny Miranda (C) 18:44.19; 15. Glen Boyd (J) 18:49.51

Local top finishers

CAPE CENTRAL -- 5. Shivelbine 17:59.33; 10. Neikirk 18:12.83; 14. Miranda 18:44.19; 16. Trevor Foeste 18:52.42; 17. Clayton Monia 19:15.50; 20. Matt Stearns 19:38.70; 28. Brad Orenstein 20:56.75

DEXTER -- 29. Joshua Ladd 21:08.39; 32. Jordan Wood 21:28.74; 34. Sean Rybolt 22:00.09; 38. Dylan Long 24:04.46; 39. Trenten Dean 24:40.38; 40. Weston Avery 24:42.16; 41. Chris Seabaugh 25:11.84

JACKSON -- 2. Philipps 17:36.40; 4. Givens 17:49.97; 7. Reed 18:05.54; 8. Bess 18:11.89; 9. Kester 18:12.17; 12. Werner 18:27.10; 15. Boyd 18:49.51

KELLY -- 35. Robbie Hopper 22:18.17; 37. Ian Williams 23:44.77

NOTRE DAME -- 1. McClellan 17:01.42; 6. Gibbs 18:01.42; 11. Keran 18:15.85; 18. Grant Grove 19:21.91; 19. Gabe Meadors 19:26.89; 24. Evan Landewee 20:06.08

POPLAR BLUFF -- 3. Williams 17:43.60; 13. Moore 18:29.64; 21. Brantley James 19:50.52; 22. Sean Hardin 19:51.68; 23. Blake Odom 20:05.66; 26. Danarius Moore 20:18.43; 27. John Myers 20:22.58

SCOTT CITY -- 25. Joe Parker 20:12.89; 30. Tyler Rhyne 21:10.89; 31. Isaac Pennington 21:28.37; 33. Noah Hahn 21:57.89; 36. Chris Phillips 23:07.80

GIRLS

Team scores -- 1. Jackson 28; 2. Notre Dame 34; 3. Poplar Bluff 73; 4. Dexter 115

Individuals -- 1. Alaina Baumgart (ND) 19:21.02; 2. Carli Knott (J) 19:39.89; 3. Chelsea Drum (J) 19:52.86; 4. Katie Hanners (ND) 19:57.14; 5. Katie Sliger (PB) 20:05.84; 6. Megan Barnum (J) 20:25.79; 7. Kaylee Wilson (J) 20:41.92; 8. Bailey Beussink (ND) 20:49.92; 9. Jordan Meadors (ND) 21:06.24; 10. Ana Compton (J) 21:24.28; 11. Leah Hecht (J) 21:34.35; 12. Emily Timpe (ND) 21:42.96; 13. Mattie Huff (C) 21:57.33; 14. Alyssa Davis (C) 22:27.66; 15. Margo Motes (J) 22:38.92

Local top finishers

CAPE CENTRAL -- 13. Huff 21:57.33; 14. Davis 22:27.66; 17. Allison McDonald 22:55.70; 26. Elizabeth Ustinov 27:01.55

DEXTER -- 25. Emily Ladd 25:49.78; 27. Brooke Hobson 29:04.94; 28. Sarah Smith 31:32.94; 29. Taryn Fortner 32:19.15; 30. Kirsten Durrow 33:31.96

JACKSON -- 2. Knott 19:39.89; 3. Drum 19:52.86; 6. Barnum 20:25.79; 7. Wilson 20:41.92; 10. Compton 21:24.28; 11. Hecht 21:34.35; 15. Motes 22:38.92

NOTRE DAME -- 1. Baumgart 19:21.02; 4. Hanners 19:57.14; 8. Beussink 20:49.92; 9. Meadors 21:06.24; 12. Timpe 21:42.96; 19. Alleigh Emmendorfer 23:31.67; 20. Kennedy McGhee 23:34.75

POPLAR BLUFF -- 5. Sliger 20:05.84; 18. Kaylee Eakin 23:29.64; 21. Brooke Slayton 24:18.83; 22. Zakia Hickman 25:21.01; 23. Kristin Cooper 25:29.90; 24. Grace Owings 25:42.99

SCOTT CITY -- 16. Bella Bowers 22:49.36