Runners find balance between friendships and finishes

~ Central's top two girls push each other in practice and races.

When Ronny Schabbing and Brittany Moreland are not competing on the cross country course for the Central girls team, they often enjoy going together to Texas Roadhouse.

"My [favorite] meal is ribs, mashed potatoes, green beans and bacon," Schabbing said.

Similarly, Notre Dame boys runners Logan Davis and Dillon Klaffer like to hang out together whenever they are not training or competing.

"We like to go bowling, we play ultimate Frisbee a lot and homework has been a big thing lately," Davis said. "We like bowling though. That's our side sport."

Central's Tiffany Mead hurdled hay bales Saturday during the Cape Central Invitational.

Schabbing and Moreland, the two top runners for the Tigers, and Davis and Klaffer, the two top runners for the Bulldogs, are good friends off the trails.

Sometimes, friendly feelings can turn competitive when race time approaches. All four junior runners want to be successful as individuals and win meets.

The competitive juices flowed again at the Cape Central Invitational on Saturday. In this race, Schabbing beat her friend Moreland and Davis beat his buddy Klaffer.

Schabbing came in second (20 minutes, 1.16 seconds) with Moreland crossing the finish line moments later in fourth (20:08.66). They helped Central win the girls team title with 24 points. Fox finished second with 111, while Jackson took third with 112.

The top individual girls finisher was Hannah Blalock (19:19) of Poplar Bluff.

On the boys side, Davis captured first (16:35.02) and Klaffer dashed his way to fourth (16:50.52) to help the Bulldogs earn first-place honors with 39. Farmington came in second with 92.

In Central's three races this season, Schabbing has beaten Moreland twice.

"Yeah, it's competitive; it's a race," Moreland said. "But we work together all the time and I'm proud of her when she beats me and she's proud of me when I beat her. During races we pace each other, and then when one feels more tired, the other person takes control."

Schabbing said racing against a good friend every meet is difficult. But with her being the victor Saturday, she said it's beneficial for both of them.

"My dad told me [right before the meet] if I beat Brittany, he would take me to Texas Roadhouse and she can come with me since we both got close," Schabbing said.

Mark Hahn, who has won eight consecutive championships while coaching the Tigers, has seen many members of his team balance friendships with teammates and individual success.

"It's never been a problem," he said. "They've always competed well on Saturday and gotten along great outside of Saturday."

As for Davis and Klaffer, they've been posting similar times for a while. During their sophomore year, Davis beat Klaffer for almost the entire first half of the season. But then Klaffer beat Davis down the stretch and at the district and state tournaments.

Davis has won all the races between the two this season.

The two runners even get competitive during practices, but they said it is nice because they push each other, which makes them both stronger. "It helps enhance the race a little bit more," Klaffer said.

They seem to leave out this competitive mindset at the bowling alley.

Or do they?

They both agreed that Klaffer is better.

"Well, I think I am the better bowler than he is," Klaffer said. "His high score is like 190 or something. Mine is in the 200s."

Results

Girls

Team results

1. Cape Central 24; 2. Fox 111; 3. Jackson 112; 4. Carbondale 116; 5. Notre Dame 140; 6. Northwest 143; 7. Dexter 144; 8. Farmington 172;

Individual results

Hannah Blalock, Poplar Bluff, 19:19; Veronica Schabbing, Central, 20:01; Stephanie Schmolele, Fox, 20:04; Brittany Moreland, Central, 20:08; Tiffany Mead, Central, 20:13; Mary Dohogne, Central, 20:37; Rachel Burchyett, Central, 20:44; Angie Turner, Farmington, 20:47; Jasmine Sumrall, Poplar Bluff, 20:57; Sammy Waldner, Dexter, 21:05; Beth Barton, Jackson, 21:12; Jara Johnson, Kelly, 21:14; Ray Guyse, Fox, 21:18; Annie James, Northwest, 21:19; Jordan Whitner, Jackson, 21:23; Tori Phau, Notre Dame, 21:29; Brittany Waldner, Dexter, 21:32; Kristian Barlow, Carbondale, 21:33; Kayla Antonelli, Northwest, 21:35; Ragan Dunn, Carbondale, 21:40; Jessica Banda, Notre Dame, 21:46; Laura Stucky, Fox, 21:48; Kristian Baldwin, Carbondale; Sam Bryant, Carbondale; Ali Yuen, Central, 22:49; Casey Hatton, Jackson, 22:55; Abby Bostic, Fox, 22:58; Amber Crites, Jackson, 23:02; Taylor Jensen, Farmington, 23:03; Jessica Brandon, Notre Dame, 23:04; Stefania DelRio, Carbondale; Diane Strong, Jackson, 23:15; Emily Messmer, Notre Dame, 23:16; Hillary Self, Northwest, 23:19; Rebekah Schneider, Northwest, 23:20; Maddison Baker, Dexter, 23:34; Hannah Baker, Dexter, 23:37; Cassidy Whitener, Farmington, 23:43; Jessica Triller, Notre Dame, 23:59; Ashley Wallace, Northwest, 24:02:00; Lizzie Kohlbaker, Dexter, 24:06:00; Lauren Castleman, Notre Dame; Charlotte Schaffner, Central, 24:20:00; Hannah Lant, Carbondale; Kari Parson, Farmington, 25:45:00; Tori Strohmeyer, Fox, 25:00:00; Emily Nell, Farmington, 27:23:00; Kayla Allen, Farmington, 28:20:00; Btriiney Thomas, Farmington, 28:21:00.

Boys

Team results

1. Notre Dame 39; 2. Farmington 92; 3. Northwest 110; 4. Jackson 115; 5. Fox 135; 6. Cape Central 159; 7. Carbondale 161; 8.Saxony 194; 9. Kelly 217.

Individual results

Logan Davis, Notre Dame, 16:35; Travis Blalock, Poplar Bluff,16:38; Lucas Cherry, Carbondale, 16:42; Dillon Klaffer, Notre Dame, 16:50; Wynn McClellan, Notre Dame, 16:55; Greg Gibson, Jackson, 17:11; Tyler Amick, Northwest, 17:20; Ben Beussink, Northwest, 17:24; Cody Kern, Notre Dame, 17:29; Cole Bradley, Central, 17:42; Ben Schwalenberg, Farmington, 17:44; Ryan Hathaway, Farmington, 17:49; Naes, Fox, 17:54; Jason Kohlbaker, Dexter, 17:55; Houston Hargiss, Farmington, 17:56; Lewis, Fox, 17:57; Andrew McLean, Farmington, 18:04; Nathaniel Huffman, Carbondale, 18:07; Cody Green, Jackson, 18:12; Jacob Zehner, Northwest, 18:16; Matt Reinagel, Notre Dame, 18:17; Roy Leighton, Central, 18:21; Cody Moore, Notre Dame, 18:22; Ross Gage, Saxony, 18:23; Aaron Flowers, Northwest, 18:26; Cadwalender, Fox, 18:30; Chad Callahan, Northwest, 18:34; Jared Foust, Jackson, 18:35; Eric Schott, Central, 18:36; Perry Hazelwood, Jackson, 18:41; Jared Lammert, Northwest, 18:42; Chris Hurst, Jackson, 18:44; Justin Almon, Northwest, 18:46; Ben Cahill, Jackson, 18:52; Andrew Etzoldt, Saxony, 18:55; Dustin Spooler, Jackson, 18:55; Luke Keyer, Farmington, 18:56; Sam Kluessner, Saxony, 18:58; Hall, Fox, 18:59; Anthony Lanse, Carbondale, 19:00; Mave, Fox, 19:05; Popsky, Fox, 19:06; Jordan Pope, Central, 19:07; Geoff Smith, Farmington, 19:09; Mike Warren, Kelly, 19:10; McIntosh, Fox, 19:16; Bryant Steffens, Saxony, 19:25; Tommy Bridges, Kelly, 19:30; Cody Moon, Carbondale, 19:32; Chris Roth, Saxony, 19:33; David Lee, Carbondale, 19:34; Sam Nelson, Kelly, 19:35; Rhett Obermann, Saxony, 19:51; Dana Milam, Carbondale, 19:52 Alex Crawford, Central, 19:56; Kaz Lange, Oak Ridge, 19:57; Benjamin Rhodes, Woodland, 19:58; Erik Kios, Carbondale, 20:01; DJ Brown, Central, 20:06; Corey Fowler, Central, 20:11; Nate Middleton, Advance, 20:13; Timothy Abner, Woodland, 20:35; Omar Compos, Kelly, 21:04; Kevin Anderson, Dexter, 21:16; Cody Vangennip, Advance, 21:23.