Sikeston team takes third at Notre Dame Invitational

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Three freshman, a junior and two seniors, one of which never ran before this year came together to be the first team from Sikeston to compete in a cross-country meet in ten years.

Sikeston placed third out of the five teams that competed.

"What place we got isn't as important as the fact that we fielded our first team in a meet in 10 years," said Sikeston head coach Gary Williams.

Three individuals brought back medals in the varsity competition. Dale Ham ran a personal best of 17.03 over a full 5000 meter course to win the varsity race.

"Dale is really starting to come on strong and beat two runners that beat him earlier in the year," said Williams. This was Ham's first individual title in cross-country.

Kelly's varsity cross country team took second place in the Notre Dame Invitational.

Kelly's varsity cross country team took second place in the Notre Dame Invitational.

"He went out hard and pulled away from the other runners in the race at the two mile mark," said Williams. "Dale continues to be one of the best runners in Southeast Missouri and one of the best in the Class 3 state division."

Clay Lincoln was placed into his first varsity competition where he continued to excel finishing in 17:29 for 5th place. In the last three weeks, Lincoln has gone from freshman, to junior varsity to varsity competition.

"Clay seems to run up to the competition he is placed in," said Williams. "No freshman from Sikeston has ever run this fast in a 5000 meter race."

Sikeston's final medal winner was Jonathan Wiley. Wiley's time of 18:55 cut almost two minutes off his personal best and got him 13th place medal.

"There are probably many kids in Sikeston like Jonathan, that never did a sport in the fall, that could be successful at cross-country," said Williams. "Hopefully next year we will get more of these kids out to continue the improvement of the program."

Sikeston's next meet is in the 29-team Potosi Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 12.

The Kelly Hawks also competed in the invitational, taking second place with 56 points.

The Hawks had seven athletes medal on the boys side. Trey Simmons (7th- 18:11), Michael Glastetter (9th- 18:21), Jordan Felter (14th- 19:01), Blake Lee (15th- 19:08), Brandon Ayers (16th- 19:30), Nolen Lewer (17th- 19:45) and Derek Brucker (20th- 20:14).

On the girls side, Kelly finished in second by Notre Dame with 45 points.

Medalists on the girls side were Kristina New (8th- 27:01), Patricia Quillman (9th- 28:30), Natalie Walter (10th- 29:15), Cara Klipfel (11th- 30:37) and Natalie Scherer (12th- 33:32).