Friday was a day of champions for Jefferson County cross country runners.
The Festus boys won their seventh straight state championship and ninth overall after leaving second-place Webb City (97 points) and third-place West Plains (97) in the dust with 45 points to capture the Class 4 state title at Gans Creek Course in Columbia. The Tigers (2014-2020) tied Herculaneum (1977-1983) for the most consecutive state titles. Festus won its previous eight titles in Class 3, but was moved to Class 4 when the Missouri State High School Activities Association added a fifth class this year.
West Plains senior Riley Simpson led the boys Class 4 the whole way and won in 15:39.5. Festus sophomore Cullen Krieg was second in 15:56.5.
St. Pius X senior Rita Eimer won the first boys or girls state cross country championship in school history when she edged past West Platte freshman Julia Pattison by two seconds with the Class 2 winning time of 19:37.2. The Lancers also claimed their first team trophy by finishing third with 128 points. Arcadia Valley won the girls title with 86 points.
In the first two days of competition, the county has won two team trophies and produced 10 individual medalists. The Classes 1 and 5 boys and girls state meets are Saturday at Gans Creek.
Find all of the county state cross country coverage in Thursday’s Leader.