The tie stands.
Herculaneum (Class 3) and West Plains (Class 4) each took aim at winning a state-record 14th state championship in boys cross country Saturday at Gans Creek in Columbia. But only the Blackcats made it to the awards podium, settling for fourth place with 139 points.
It’s the 28th team trophy for Herculaneum, while the Zizzers (fifth on Saturday) have 37 state awards on display. The Blackcats set a bunch of personal records in the Class 3 race but couldn’t quite catch champion St. Michael the Archangel of Lee’s Summit (112), which edged El Dorado Springs (114) in second and third-place Centralia (133).
Herculaneum won the Class 3 crown in 2021 and was second last year.
“I don’t think we had a bad day,” said Blackcat head coach Kyle Davis, who’s guided the school’s boys and girls to state championships. “The place wasn’t what we wanted, but our top five scorers ran lifetime bests. I told them we have to take what our best on the day gives us. And I’m shocked that was fourth, but other teams come to compete too, so I guess we’ll take the podium.”
Three seniors crossed the finish line to lead Class 3. Bowling Green’s Ben Chance won in 15:25.2. East Newton High’s Chase Sorrell was second in 15:32.8 and Herculaneum’s Sam Vaughn moved up from ninth last year to third in 15:37.
“Everyone of us gave it the best we had,” said Vaughn, who finished second at the Jefferson County Activities Association championships last month. “Obviously, we really wanted that 14th (state title), but like coach said, everybody smashed their PRs. You can’t be frustrated when that happens.
“Conditions were perfect. We went out super-fast; we were rolling. It was a race from the get-go. Everybody hammered it.”
“Sam put himself in position to do it,” Davis said. “He ran a giant race. We knew (St. Michael) were the favorites. They ran steady all year, so that’s about right. El Dorado Springs and Centralia, we respected them and they performed.”
Herculaneum junior Nate Wright, 17th in 2022, trimmed a full minute off his time with a sixth-place run in 15:58.8. Wright is the nephew of Festus boys cross country head coach Bryant Wright, who guided the Tigers to their 11th state title on Nov. 4.
“He’ll get a lot faster, but he ran a phenomenal race,” Davis said.
With Vaughn and seniors Ashton Parrish (62nd, 17:23.5) and Tye Greenlee (140th, 18:28.3) graduating, Wright will take over as team leader, and sophomore Liam Piet (59th, 17:21.3) will help keep the Cats focused on another trophy bid in 2024.
“He (previously) wasn’t in our top five and he was our third today and ran a 40-second PR,” Davis said.
Sophomores Brandon Marshall (69th, 17:28.3) and Nathan Clampett (124th, 18:05.7) also should help Herky stay in the title hunt next season. The trophy case at Herculaneum has three more state statues thanks to Vaughn’s contributions.
“The thing I love most about running for Herky is the tradition, with everything behind us,” Vaughn said. “I don’t think there’s any other program in Missouri that gets the support that we do from the alumni. They check in from 40 or 50 years ago and it’s awesome to think about.
“It’s been fun. Bittersweet. You don’t want it to end, but I’m happy to experience it all and it’s been a huge part of my life.”
The Herculaneum girls qualified for state and finished 11th with 255 points. Davis’s daughter, sophomore Claira Davis, was the top Blackcat, placing 55th in 20:42.6. St. Charles West sprinted past the field with 55 points for the Warriors’ second straight state title. The other team trophies went to Westminster Christian Academy (second, 142), Lutheran St. Charles (third, 149) and Lexington (fourth, 161).
Southern Boone County senior Alexandra Volkart won the Class 3 girls race in 18:27, two seconds faster than Cape Girardeau Notre Dame senior Lauren Eftink (18:29).
Selsor wins second Class 2 state medal
Jefferson sophomore Emerson Selsor finished second in 19:29.7 in the Class 2 girls race Nov. 3. It’s best finish in school history for the boys or girls. Jordan Heacock was ninth for the Blue Jays in 2015.
“I didn’t know that was a thing until after the race,” Selsor said. “It’s exciting.” She shaved almost two minutes off her 2022 performance and moved up 18 spots. Selsor set a PR of 19:13 this year at Northwest.
Brentwood sophomore Kensington Curd won in 19:24.3 and North Platte’s Chloe Heckman was third in 19:35.4.
“I stayed with (Curd) most of the race,” Selsor said. “She pulled ahead toward the end. That was my strategy. She’s very good, and I’ve raced her before.”
Juniors Ayla Karch (44th, 22:05.9) and Payton Easter (58th, 22:29.1) also ran for Jefferson.
The Grandview girls qualified for state as a team for the first time and finished 10th in Class 2 with 199 points, 88 behind winner Lafayette County. The Eagles had two medal winners, sophomore Maialen Unamuno Musatadi (28th, 21:18.1) and junior Katelyn Terrell (29th, 21:21.2).
The St. Pius X boys also were making their first state appearance and wound up 15th in Class 2 with 273. Woodland won the title with 96. Lancer sophomore Jayden Metzler claimed his first state medal, coming in 15th in 17:12.7. He was 96th at state a year ago.