Sikeston, Kelly cross country runners fare well at Jackson

JACKSON -- The Sikeston cross country team participated in the Jackson Invitational on Saturday.

Runners competed against others of similar age and experience in the meet which was contested in five classes: 7th-8th graders, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Four Bulldog runners, freshman Matt Rushing and 7th and 8th graders Michael Botkin, Frankasia Howard and Tyanna Townsend, medaled, which required a 10th-place or better finish.

Rushing captured seventh place, in a field of 60, in the freshmen division. He covered the 1.95-mile course in 12 minutes, .06 seconds.

"This was an extremely competitive freshmen race that included many teams from the St. Louis area," said Sikeston coach Gary Williams.

Kelly varsity medalists (kneeling): Sarah Ruff and Rusell Caroll and (standing) Michael Glastetter and Jordan Felter.

Kelly varsity medalists (kneeling): Sarah Ruff and Rusell Caroll and (standing) Michael Glastetter and Jordan Felter.

In a field of 30 boys, Botkin placed eighth with a time of 11.13 on a 1.5-mile course.

Howard and Townsend finished seventh (12.14) and eighth (12.17), respectively, in the girls division on the 1.5-mile course.

Said Williams, "It was impressive that they could place so high in a division which also included older runners."

Another Sikeston runner Cody Anderson narrowly missed medaling with a 13th-place finish.

Williams said interested seventh graders may still turn out for the cross country team.

Sikeston's next cross country meet is the Kelly Invitational on Saturday.

The Kelly cross country team saw eight out of its 19 runners earn a medal on Saturday at Jackson. In the senior division, only Michael Glastetter competed and medaled as he placed 15th with a personal record time of 13:31.

In the junior division, Kelly placed fourth as a team with 82 points. Russell Carroll took 14th place with a time of 14:01. He was followed closely by Jordan Felter at 14:04 to place 15th. Both were good enough to medal. Derek Brucker finished 23rd with a time of 14:47, followed by Nolan Lewer (30th, 15:20) and Brandon Ayers (44th, 16:51).

In the freshman division, Chris Cooper placed 12th with a time of 12:32. And in the 8th grade boys division, Kelly placed first as a team. Levi Felter took first with a time of 9:29, Dalton Miller took second with a time of 9:44 and Eric Turley took third with a time of 10:17.

On the girls side, Kelly's 10th grade girls placed fourth with 59 points. Sarah Ruff took fifth with a time of 16:44. Samantha Barber took 21st with a time of 18:24. Lauren Gean finished 33rd with a time of 19:30.

In the freshman division, Kathleen Ray finished 30th with a time of 17:21. Elizabeth Ray took 43rd with a time of 19:16. Shirley Weed took 44th with a time of 19:26.