Shemonia blisters juniors at Jackson Invite cross country meet

A friendly rivalry has arisen between two local cross country runners.

Scott City junior Brandon Shemonia and Central's Roy Leighton displayed their talents Saturday at the Jackson Invitational.

And it was quite a display.

Racing in separate races because of the structure of the meet, where all freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors race against their own grade, the two local standouts didn't race head to head.

But that didn't stop them from putting on a show.

Central senior Eric Schott pushes past Kirkwood's Will Rohlfing as they close in on the finish line during Saturday's senior boys race at the Jackson Invitational. (Laura Simon)

Shemonia turned the boys junior race into a one-man show.

Shemonia turned the corner down the final stretch with nobody in sight behind him. The junior finished in 12 minutes, 12 seconds. The next closest, Crystal City's Timmy Williams, crossed the line 61 seconds later.

"He really, really ran a good race today," Scott City coach Travis Schiwitz said. "He said he didn't feel good at the end of the race, so I guess he's doing what he's supposed to do."

Added Shemonia: "I wanted to run the first mile around five flat or a little faster to get my legs warmed up. The second mile I was just trying to stay on pace and then kick it past the 2 mile."

The Scott City junior ran nearly two-thirds of the race by himself, clearly ahead of the pack.

Notre Dame junior Elizabeth Kiblinger approaches the finish line Saturday.

"Running by yourself is a lot more mental," Shemonia said. "You have to force yourself to keep running. It's more running against the clock."

Shemonia's mark of 12:12 nearly was eclipsed by local rival Leighton.

Leighton cruised to the senior boys title in 12:14.

"At the start, I wasn't expecting to go that hard," Leighton said. "There was a good guy up front, Farmington's Colton Wooldridge. He picked up the pace and held it. I just pushed it on the back stretch."

Leighton was well aware of Shemonia's time.

"I wanted to win, but I knew Shemonia was running in the junior race," the Central senior said. "I wanted to beat his time. I got close."

Central coach Mark Hahn was pleased.

"It looked like he knew what he was doing," Hahn said. "We expect him to do the little things right."

While the two rivals put on a show, other local runners enjoyed solid finishes.

Notre Dame's Nate Lincoln came in seventh during the boys junior race, while Central's Brandon Bryant followed him in eighth.

Lincoln said the first mile was a cluster before the pack started to separate.

"The first mile everybody was stuck in a big group," he said. "As the race went on, Shemonia took off. He's a really good runner. I was trying to stick with him, but it wasn't happening."

The Bulldogs junior was impressed with the talent at this year's meet.

"At the mile, everyone started to pass me," Lincoln said. "I thought, 'Holy cow, a lot of good runners showed up at Jackson this year.'"

Bryant was pleased with his performance.

"I thought it went very well," he said. "It was great conditions and it's a nice course. I was happy with it. My team and coaches really helped push me on."

In the girls senior race, Jackson's Tori Parry finished second, while Central's Jordyn Richmond placed third and the Tigers' Mary Dohogne came in sixth.

Parry said her goal just was to keep up.

"I started by Mary Dohogne," Parry said. "I was just trying to keep pace with her. Right around the second mile, I felt pretty good. I just didn't have enough."

Dohogne was running with a foot problem, but the Central senior turned in a solid performance.

"I felt good for a mile," Dohogne said. "Then it kind of threw me off. I didn't keep pace and I slowed down quite a bit."

Dohogne was impressed with her teammate Richmond.

"She ran like a stud," Dohogne said. "She was right behind me for a while, then she had quite a kick."

Richmond was a little confused near the end of the race. The senior thought it was a standard 3.1-mile course and was expecting to make another loop before a race volunteer flagged her toward the finish.

"I was a little surprised we didn't do another loop," Richmond said. "I was flagged to the finish, but I ran really well. I felt wonderful."

Hahn was pleased and encouraged with his girls' performances.

"They ran well," Hahn said. "But there is a lot of room for improvement with both of them, which is encouraging."

Seniors

Boys

Top five team standings -- 1. Central; 2. Farmington; 3. Jackson; 4. Kirkwood; 5. Oak Ridge

Top 10 -- 1. Roy Leighton, Central, 12:14; 2. Colton Wooldridge, Farmington, 12:21; 3. Eric Schott, Central, 12:24; 4. Christian Oldham, Kirkwood, 12:52; 5. Ethan Holcomb, ND, 12:56; 6. Collin Summers, Central, 13:10; 7. Will Rohlfing, Kirkwood, 13:11; 8. Riley Talbut, Jackson, 13:18; 9. Caleb Elam, Oak Ridge, 13:22; 10. Luke Robinson, Mehlville, 13:25

Local top two individuals

Notre Dame -- 5. Ethan Holcomb, 12:53; 20. Lance Essner, Notre Dame, 13:55

Kelly -- 31. Stephen Schott, 15:24

Advance -- 38. Kyndel Page, 15:49; 47. Hunter Shoemaker, 16:19

Woodland -- 49. Hayden Mayfield, 16:26; 52. D.J. Belcher, 17:23

Delta -- 18. Zach Riegert, 13:34; Austin Seabaugh, 14:23

Jackson -- 8. Riley Talbut, 13:15; 15. Brock Nanney, 13:32

Oak Ridge -- 9. Caleb Elam, 13:23; 19. Stephen Bolen, 13:57

Central -- 1. Roy Leighton, 12:14; 3. Eric Schott, 12:24

Girls

Top five team standings -- 1. Kirkwood; 2. Central; 3. Farmington; 4. Poplar Bluff; 5. Seckman

Top 10 -- 1. Beth King, Kirkwood, 14:56; 2. Tori Parry, Jackson, 15:08; 3. Hannah Sebold, Mehlville, 15:14; 4. Jordyn Richmond, Central, 15:36; 5. Ashley Kotcherside, Hillsboro, 15:40; 6. Mary Dohogne, Central, 16:04; 7. LeAnna Sanders, Kirkwood, 16:05; 8. Sierra Horton, Kirkwood, 16:06; 9. Allison Huskey, PB, 16:21; 10. Jetaime Hovis, Farmington, 16:30

Local top two individuals

Central -- 4. Jordyn Richmond, 15:37; Mary Dohogne, 16:04

Jackson -- 2. Tori Parry, 15:09; 51. Nicole Steele, 21:46

Delta -- 43. Lisa Henderson, 20:02

Notre Dame -- 15. Ashley Schmittzehe, 16:52

Oak Ridge -- 59. Virginia Erwin, 29:02

Woodland -- 23. Molly Arnzen, 18:34; 20. Haley Morris, 18:24

Juniors

Boys

Top five team standings -- 1. Kirkwood; 2. Poplar Bluff; 3. Scott City; 4. Seckman; 5. Notre Dame

Top 10 -- 1. Brandon Shemonia, Scott City, 12:12; 2. Timmy Williams, Crystal City, 13:13; 3. Michael Murphy, Kirkwood, 13:18; 4. Evan Morgenson, Seckman, 13:21.54;5. Luke Pelton, Poplar Bluff, 13:12.84; 6. Daylan Davis, Meadow Heights, 13:22; 7. Nate Lincoln, ND, 13:29; 8. Brandon Bryant, Central, 13:35;9. Bailey Davidson, PB, 13:36; 10. Sean Campbell, Kirkwood, 13:37

Local top two individuals

Scott City -- 1. Brandon Shemonia, 12:12; 17. Luke Keesee

Meadow Heights -- 6. Daylan Davis; 38. John Love

Woodland -- 28. Aaron Yount, 14:57; 47. Dakota Long, 16:08

Oak Ridge -- 58. Ben Stewart, 16:34

Kelly -- 26. Juan Campos, 14:51

Central -- 8. Brandon Bryant, 13:35; 11. Arman Clark, 13:37

Delta -- 40. Jeremiah Piekert, 15:42; 65. Frankie Rozmirsy, 18:21

Notre Dame -- 7. Nate Lincoln, 13:29; 19. Adam Raines, 14:15

Girls

Top five team standings -- 1. Kirkwood; 2. Jackson; 3. Farmington; 4. Mehlville; 5. Notre Dame

Top 10 -- 1. Hannah Richardson, Kirkwood, 14:43; 2. Taylor Dickerson, Jackson, 15:08; 3. Libby Luciani, Kirkwood, 15:11; 4. Katherine Sitzes, Farmington, 15:31; 5. Elizabeth Kiblinger, ND, 15:42; 6. Lindsey Seabaugh, Jackson, 15:56; 7. Emily Harris, Farmington, 16:00; 8. Laura Chavez, Central, 16:11; 9. Alyssa Lockerline, Kirkwood, 16:18; 10. Zhao Ni Dirnberger, Jackson, 16:23

Local top two individuals

Jackson -- 2. Taylor Dickerson, 15:09; 6. Lindsey Seabaugh, 15:56

Notre Dame -- 5. Elizabeth Kiblinger, 15:42; 15. Alicia Landewee, 17:23

Central -- 8. Laura Chavez, 16:11

Delta -- 21. Renae Bartals; 39. Shannon Ledbetter

Meadow Heights -- 48. Kelly Henson; 35. Jessica Barmore

Sophomores

Boys

Top five team standings -- 1. Kirkwood; 2. Notre Dame; 3. Seckman; 4. Jackson; 5. Hillsboro

Top 10 -- 1. Ben Neuhaus, Kirkwood, 13:11; 2. Michael Rath, Kirkwood, 13:13; 3. Eric Essner, Scott City, 13:16; 4. Josh Johnson, ND, 13:23.10; 5. Ethan Seyer, Oak Ridge, 13:23.84; 6. Andrew Bennet, Kirkwood, 13:34; 7. Greg Fargo, Kirkwood, 13:41; 8. Corvin Schoen, Oak Ridge, 13:52; 9. Cole Ross, ND, 13:56; 10. Braden Bien, Advance, 13:59

Top two local individuals

Notre Dame -- 3. Josh Johnson, 13:23; 9. Cole Ross, 13:56

Meadow Heights -- 23. Steven Bright

Delta -- 24. Dwight Nance, 15:04

Jackson -- 16. Nate Martin, 14:12; Trey Moss, 15:10

Kelly -- 53. Alan Lowe

Oak Ridge -- 5. Ethan Seyer, 13:23; Corvin Schoen, 13:53

Scott City -- 3. Eric Essner; 21. Jesse Sanders

Advance -- 10. Braden Bien, 14:00; 31. Tyler Middleton, 15:49

Woodland -- 61. Daniel Thomsen, 20:00; 66. Caleb Long, 23:44

Central -- 49. Timothy Heinsman, 16:54; 51. Layne Wilson, 16:55

Girls

Top five team standings -- 1. Kirkwood; 2. Jackson; 3. Seckman; 4. Central; 5. Farmington

Top 10 -- 1. Jane Edmunds, Kirkwood, 15:52; 2. Sam Dayrof, Kirkwood, 15:55; 3. Breanna Conklin, ND, 16:05; 4. Maggie Teson, Kirkwood, 17:05; 5. Paige Blasbery, Kirkwood, 17:26; 6. Kasey Eases, Seckman, 17:27; 7. Amanda Darby, Hillsboro, 17:28; 8. Carlie Bolen, Oak Ridge, 17:55; 9. Chloe LeGrand, Central, 18:12; 10. Xiao Shu Dirnberger, Jackson, 18:37

Top two local individuals

Notre Dame -- 3. Breanna Conklin, 16:05

Scott City -- 24. Miranda Brashear

Woodland -- 31. Courtney Kell, 23:22; 34. Erin Cordele, 31:03

Jackson -- 10. Xiao Shu Dirnberger, 18:38; 11. Kylie Christensen, 18:42

Central -- 9. Chloe LeGrand, 18:13; 12. Mallory Dickson, 18:45

Oak Ridge -- 8. Carlie Bolen, 17:56

Freshmen

Boys

Top five team standings -- 1. Jackson; 2. Seckman; 3. Kirkwood; 4. Mehlville; 5. Farmington

Top 10 -- 1. Matt Gibson, Jackson, 11:24; 2. Nick Bewen, Mehlville, 11:34; 3. Tom Burchman, Farmington, 11:36; 4. Jake LeGrand, Oak Ridge, 11:39; 5. Trey Pratt, Mehlville, 11:48; 6. Jacob Meadors, ND, 12:00; 7. Mike Hardway, Seckman, 12:01; 8. Parker Schellenberg, Kirkwood, 12:03; 9. Luc Alden, Seckman, 12:07; 10. Alec Creek, Kirkwood, 12:08

Top two local individuals

Jackson -- 1. Matt Gibson, 11:24; 15. Kyle Slinkard, 12:15

Advance -- 61. Ben Trout, 14:28

Oak Ridge -- 4. Jake LeGrand, 11:38; 25. Ryan Below, 12:35

Meadow Heights -- 49. Chris Bollinger; 40. Ryan Foltz

Delta -- 47. Jesse Nance, 13:24; 75. Wyatt Kidd, 15:24

Central -- 13. John Ayase, 12:11; 42. Austin Pittman, 13:11

Scott City -- 60. Craig Rhyne

Woodland -- 11. Austin Stouse, 12:09; 52. Garret Faulkner, 13:40

Notre Dame -- 6. Jacob Meadors, 12:00; 33. Nick Pfau, 12:51

Girls

Top five team standings -- 1. Farmington; 2. Notre Dame; 3. Kirkwood; 4. Dexter; 5. Oak Ridge

Top 10 -- 1. McKenzie Elam, Oak Ridge, 12:48; 2. Maddie Baumgart, ND, 13:01; 3. Tabitha Griffin, Farmington, 14:09; 4. Elsie Anderson, ND, 13:48; 5. Jessica McKenzie, Farmington, 14:04; 6. Samantha Parson, Farmington, 14:05; 7. Madeline McEvoy, Kirkwood, 14:18; 8. Haley Davis, Hillsboro, 14:21; 9. Jess Williams, Kirkwood, 14:23; 10. Karolyn Reilly, Kirkwood, 14:47

Top two local individuals

Meadow Heights -- 54. Jessie King

Delta -- 42. Kimberly Horman, 17:31

Oak Ridge -- 1. McKenzie Elam, 12:49; 21. Kendra Kohler, 15:47

Scott City -- 63. Ellie Potter

Jackson -- 30. Brittany Hazelwood, 16:30

Woodland -- 32. Lindsey Craft, 17:50; 57. Cheyanna Bass, 21:00