Jackson girls cross country team places fourth at Class 4 state meet

Seniors Carli Knott and Chelsea Drum each earned all-state finishes to lead the Jackson girls cross country team to a fourth-place finish at the Class 4 state meet Saturday in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Knott placed eighth in 19 minutes, 2.89 seconds while Drum took 15th in 19:21.00.

"For not being 100 percent, we're just thrilled," said Jackson coach Andrea Talley, whose team has been riddled by injuries and illnesses throughout the season. "We had no idea how this was going to turn out. We went into the meet just trying not to put pressure on anybody, just knowing that we're going to go out and do the best we can under the circumstances. We all know we've had the hard knocks. All we could do was say prayers and run our best.

"They were remarkably calm, and I think everyone just knew that however it was going to turn out, that was the best they could do."

Talley said the fourth-place finish was the first time since 1993 that Jackson had a team reach the podium at state.

"Everyone was just almost in disbelief," Talley said. "It was almost like we had to check those results again just to make sure. After they posted them on the wall, we had to look at them again to make sure it was correct. ... It's just been a good day."

Jackson senior Carli Knott runs to an eighth-place finish in the Class 4 girls race at Saturday's state meet in Jefferson City, Missouri. (Chris Auckley ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian)

Lafayette (Wildwood) finished first with 55 points to take the team title while Raymore-Peculiar (117) finished second and Nerinx Hall (139) placed third.

Lafayette also won the boys state title with 38 points, followed by Rockhurst (131) in second and West Plains (145) in third.

"The boys placed higher than they were ranked," Talley said. "It was just a good day all-around."

GIRLS

Team scores -- 1. Lafayette (Wildwood) 55; 2. Raymore-Peculiar 117; 3. Nerinx Hall 139; 4. Jackson 153; 5. Blue Springs South 161; 6. Washington 162; 7. Lee's Summit West 172; 8. West Plains 208; 9. Park Hill South 244; 10. Parkway West 250; 11. Staley 257; 12. Lee's Summit North 258; 13. Holt 291; 14. Rock Bridge 300; 15. St. Joseph's Academy 340; 16. Jefferson City 354

Local finishers

JACKSON -- 8. Carli Knott 19:02.89; 15. Chelsea Drum 19:21.00; 49. Megan Barnum 20:10.21; 61. Kaylee Wilson 20:15.97; 104. Courtney Hahs 20:52.83; 105. Anastasia Compton 20:52.93; 106. Leah Hecht 20:54.07

BOYS

Team scores -- 1. Lafayette (Wildwood) 38; 2. Rockhurst 131; 3. West Plains 145; 4. Rock Bridge 162; 5. Marquette 193; 6. Webb City 206; 7. Lee's Summit West 208; 8. Blue Springs 215; 9. Hillsboro 219; 10. Staley 244; 11. St. Louis University 250; 12. Liberty 251; 13. Parkway West 274; 14. Jefferson City 283; 15. Webster Groves 288; 16. Timberland 310

Local finishers

JACKSON -- 91. Alex Philipps 17:25.21; 117. Joseph Reed 17:38.63