Jackson pair pushes each other toward trip to state cross country meet

ST. LOUIS -- The "Tori and Taylor Show" has been a yearlong hit at Jackson High School.

Indians cross country runners Tori Parry and Taylor Dickerson hope to make their grand finale a memorable one at next week's Class 4 state meet in Jefferson City, Mo.

Parry, a senior, and Dickerson, a junior, finished second and fourth at Saturday's Class 4 Sectional 1 meet at Parkway Central High School. Both broke the 20-minute mark with Parry finishing in 19 minutes, 41.6 seconds and Dickerson clocking a 19:57.3. Rockwood Summit's Alyssa Jones won the race in 19:13.7.

Parry and Dickerson hope to become the first Jackson girls cross country runners in more than a decade to earn state medals and all-state honors. The top 25 from each class receive those accolades, and Dickerson and Parry fell just short last year. Dickerson was 28th while Parry was 29th.

"I do want to get that medal," said Parry, who also qualified for state as a sophomore. "That has been my season-long goal."

Tori Parry

"Tori has been talking about winning a medal since preseason practice," said Dickerson, who also was a state qualifier as a freshman. "For me, it is a lot about the time. That is tangible evidence that I am getting better. That doesn't mean that place is not important."

The perfect ending would have both girls bring home state medals, but what if one of them accomplishes the feat?

"I might hate her for a day," Parry said. "But the next day we would be eating ice cream together. We really, really want to do it together, though."

Parry and Dickerson complement each other's running styles.

"She sets the pace the first mile," Parry said. "She has the speed and I have the endurance."

The Indians failed to make state as a team, finishing fifth Saturday. The top four teams qualify as do the top 30 individuals. Parry and Dickerson will be joined by teammate Lindsey Seabaugh, who finished 28th.

Lindbergh won the girls team title and will be joined at state by Eureka, Lafayette and Rockwood Summit.

Central had a pair of top-10 finishers.

Senior Eric Schott was 10th in the boys race.

"The main goal today was to get the team through and we weren't able to do that," said Schott, who helped the Tigers finish sixth. "But my goal individually was to be all-sectional, and I was able to get into the top 10. I relaxed in the first mile and was able to move up from the mile and a half to two mile and a half mark. I would love to be all-state next week. I have to have a really good day, but I think I can do it."

Collin Summers is the other Central boy to make it to state. He finished 23rd.

Parkway West was the boys team champion. Marquette, DeSmet and Eureka also qualified as teams.

The Central girls will send three runners to state. Mary Dohogne led the way with a 10th-place finish. She will be joined by Laura Chavez, who finished 12th, and Jordyn Richmond, who was 26th.

"I am pumped that we all made it," said Dohogne, who was all-state as a sophomore and missed by one place with her 26th-place finish last year. "I was scared that only two might get through."

Richmond provided the drama as she found herself in the dreaded 31st spot late in the race.

"I was in the hot spot," Richmond said. "It was desperation time and luckily I was able to pass several girls at the end."

Central coach Mark Hahn had mixed feelings at the end of the day.

"It was the worst of times and the best of times today," Hahn said. "The boys missed out going to state by 17 points, and I think they were fully capable of making up those points. But the girls really came through. If you went by district seeds, we had three girls on the edge of qualifying and all three made it and two of them did it comfortably. I couldn't be happier for the girls."

The Class 4 meet will be held Saturday at the Oak Hills Golf Center in Jefferson City, Mo.

BOYS

Team results -- 1. Parkway West 60; 2. Marquette 81; 3. DeSmet 85; 4. Eureka 108; 5. Lindbergh 115; 6. Central 125; 7. Rockwood Summit 131; 8. Fox 169

Local top five

Jackson -- 54. Riley Talbut 18:12.30

Central -- 10. Eric Schott 16:53.40; 23. Collin Summers 17:05.50; 32. Roy Leighton 17:20.80; 43. Brandon Bryant 17:46.90; 71. Lars Monia 18:37.71

GIRLS

Team results -- 1. Lindbergh 71; 2. Eureka 73; 3. Lafayette 85; 4. Rockwood Summit 95; 5. Jackson 115; 6. Kirkwood 120; 7. Marquette 146; 8. Poplar Bluff 182

Local top fives

Jackson -- 2. Tori Parry 19:41.60; 4. Taylor Dickerson 19:57.30; 28. Lindsey Seabaugh 20:40.00; 60. Zhao Ni Dirnberger 22:37.60; 67. Brittany Hazelwood 23:47.20

Central -- 10. Mary Dohogne 20:10.40; 12. Laura Chavez 20:18.11; 26. Jordyn Richmond 20:37.10