Notre Dame boys, Jackson girls win conference cross country titles

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Jackson runners Gabe Underwood and Chelsea Drum took different approaches in winning the SEMO Conference large schools cross country meet Thursday.

Drum dominated from line-to-line, winning by nearly half a minute, while Underwood surged ahead over the final third of the 3.1-mile course.

"Start slow and finish fast," said Underwood, who won in 16 minutes, 53.34 seconds.

"That was the key, not to go out too fast."

Drum won in 20:08, leading Jackson to its fifth straight team title. The Indians edged Notre Dame by five points as all five scoring runners earned all-conference honors.

Jackson’s Chelsea Drum finished first in the girls race in 20:08.31, helping the Indians to the SEMO Conference large schools title.

Notre Dame won its first boys title since 2008 by beating Jackson 28-41.

Rudy McClellan placed third to lead the Bulldogs in 17:01, while Brock Kasten followed in 17:19. Michael Peters (sixth, 17:37), Jacob Meadors (seventh, 17:41) and Michael Nelson (eighth, 17:55) also earned all-conference honors.

Underwood beat teammate Jack Jeffers by 4 seconds to win, while Matt Gibson placed 10th in 17:59 for the Indians.

Underwood caught McClellan near the two-mile mark as the two ran up the second of the steepest hills on the 3.1-mile course with Jeffers not far behind.

Taylor Winick placed third for Jackson in 21:00, while Mollie Cunningham was seventh in 21:25, followed by Carlie Knott 4 seconds later. Leah Hect was 10th in 21:45. Courtney Hahs (21:48) and Carlee Williamson (22:04) followed.

"We just concentrate on using each other, pushing each other," said Drum, who had a sizable lead by the time she climbed the first steep hill at the one-mile mark.

Notre Dame's Adilyn Mueller was second in 20:36, while Katie Hanners was fourth in 21:16, followed a second later by Maddie Baumgart. Elsie Anderson, sixth in 21:22 also earned all-conference honors but the Bulldogs' fifth runner placed 17th.

Central was fourth in both races led by Logan Wright in 12th place at 18:09 and Maddy McDonald in 13th at 22:17.

Boys

5,000-meters

Team -- 1. Notre Dame 28; 2. Jackson 41; 3. Poplar Bluff 87; 4. Cape Central 91; 5. Dexter 158.

Individual -- 1. Gabe Underwood (J) 16: 53.34; 2. Jack Jeffers (J) 16:57; 3. Rudy McClellan (ND) 17:01; 4. Brock Kasten (ND) 17:19; 5. Isaiah Williams (PB) 17:35; 6. Micheal Peters (ND) 17:37; 7. Jacob Meadors (ND) 17:41; 8. Micheal Nelson (ND) 17:55; 9. Bailey Davidson (PB) 17:58; 10. Matt Gibson (J) 17:59; 11. Tyler Pech (ND) 18:03; 12. Logan Wright (C) 18:09; 13. Alex Phillipps (J) 18:09; 14. Riley Duncan (C) 18:17; 15. Calvin Lysell (J) 18:22; 16. Trey Walker (K) 18:22; 17. Charlie Townsend (J) 18:25; 18. Caleb Bess (J) 18:39; 19. Dalton Buchanan (C) 19:18; 20. Clayton Carpenter (PB) 19:18; 21. Clayton Monia (C) 19:29; 22. Jerrod Lynn (K) 19:30; 23. Jesse Perry (SC) 19:39; 24. Bryson Burns (PB) 19:43; 25; Matt Steams (C) 19:45; 26. Caleb Ambler (C) 19:54; 27. Josh Morrison (C) 19:59; 28. Joshua Ladd (D) 21:13; 29. Preston Jenson (PB) 21:32; 30. Daniel Williams (PB) 23:35; 31. Dakota Holt (D) 23:47; 32. Jordan Wood (D) 24:25.35; 33. Jason Mattison (D) 24:25.56; 34. Damon Allston (D) 26:49; 35. Brandon Strickler (D) 26:50.

Girls

5,000-meters

Team -- 1. Jackson 29; 2 Notre Dame 34; 3. Poplar Bluff 85; 4. Cape Central 87.

Individual -- 1. Chelsea Drum (J) 20:08.31; 2. Adilyn Mueller (ND) 20:36; 3. Taylor Winick (J) 21:00; 4. Katie Hanners (ND) 21:16; 5. Maddie Baungart (ND) 21:17; 6. Elsie Anderson (ND) 21:22; 7. Mollie Cunningham (J) 21:25; 8. Carlie Knott (J) 21:29; 9. Cassidy Harris (PB) 21:38; 10. Leah Hecht (J) 21:45; 11. Courtney Hahs (J) 21:48; 12. Carlee Williamson (J) 22:04; 13. Maddy McDonald (C) 22:17; 14. Haley White (C) 22:19; 15. Emma Cooper (PB) 22:48; 16. Bridget Trepasso (C) 22:50; 17. Jordan Meadors (ND) 23:08; 18. Amy Banda (ND) 23:21; 19. Allison Huskey (PB) 23:57; 20. Zakia Hickman (PB) 24:04; 21. Hannah Shermonia (SC) 24:25; 22. Katie Justice (D) 24:36; 23. Aleksandra Alexksandara (C) 24:48; 24. Kelsi Wood (D) 24:54; 25. Lucy Johnson (PB) 25:01; 26. Zionna Mehalopoulis (C) 25:21; 27. Alice Ibrahim (PB) 26:01; 28. Tiara Bowman (C) 26:13; 29. Kristin Cooper (PB) 26:18; 30. Elizabeth Ustinor (C) 27:20.