Heavy rains and dropping temperatures contributed to a memorable 2024 Missouri State Cross Country Championships. The Class 3 races were hosted on Saturday, November 9th at the University of Missouri's Ganns Creek Course in Columbia, MO. The course is set on 320 acres just south of Columbia and offers an irrigated 10-meter wide grass running surface that is well groomed for all conditions, permanent start line and finish line structures and course checkpoints. It has been the site of the MSHSAA Championships since opening in 2019. The course hosted the 2021 NCAA Southeast Conference Championships and will host the 2024 NAIA National Championships

Class 1 and Class 5 raced on Friday in sunshine after a dreary week leading up to the event.  Though soggy, the course was in good shape following those events. Rain moved in again overnight and contributed to a very saturated course the following morning. Class 2 boys and girls races were held prior to the Catholic girls taking to the starting line for the Class 3 championships. The downhills and curves had become rather muddy and slick and the inside lined were getting deep by that point. Junior Emma Belk led the Lady Irish with a 71st place finish in a time of 22:01.20, she was followed by senior Peyton Wiseman (80th, 22:20.10), sophomore Elliana Lygrisse (87th, 22:29.60), junior Macie Kelly (115th, 23:22.30) and sophomore Kaya McClanahan (121st, 23:35.60).  Dorothy Reisner and Michelle Truong also completed.  Photos

The boys were able to hold their composure and their balance and run very good races for the conditions. The Irish boys team finished 9th in a field of 16 teams which was a 4 place improvement from last year's finish.  Sophomore Kyle Hathcock, who had finished 3rd in the district race the weekend before running a 17:12 was able to match that time in much worse conditions finishing 15th to capture All-State honors.  During the race he steadily moved up in the pack from about 40th at the 2,000 meter mark to 15th by the end of the race.  Sophomore Gabe Auzias De Turenne, Catholic's second runner in, also made great strides during the course of the race, moving from about 60th at the 2,000 meter mark to finish 39th (17:55.70) which was only 9 places off from the medal stand.  They were followed by freshman Marcus Johnson (86th. 18:40.70), senior Clayton Eck (101st, 18:57.60) and junior Christopher Todd (108th, 19:01.8). Andrew Jones (freshman) and Gavin Pyck (sophomore) also completed for the Irish. 

(photo by Alan Combs)