Kelly cross country team fares well in Notre Dame Invitational

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Kelly's cross country team ran in the Notre Dame Invitational on Saturday, taking fourth place out of eight teams in the varsity boys race.

Trey Simmons finished 11th overall with a time of 17:50, and Michael Glastetter came in 12th at 17:57. Both were medalists.

Jordan Felter finished 23rd, Derek Brucker came in 26th, Tim Ingram ended 37th and Brandon Ayers came in 39th.

"You can tell with all the PRs these kids have set that they're working real hard," said Kelly coach John Merrick. "A couple of kids that weren't medalists, but that are working extremely hard are Derek Brucker, who has set two PRs this year, Jordan Felter, who has also set two PRs, and Brandon Ayers, who has also worked hard for us this year."

In the varsity girls race, Kelly came in fourth place. Emily Strobel took 12th overall with a time of 23:46 and Lauren Gean came in 14th at 24:01. Both runners were medalists.

Samantha Barber took 22nd, Nikki Weiney came in 29th and Leigh Ann Bucheit came in 33rd.

"The girls have improved a whole lot, each time out," said Merrick. "Now they've gotten used to the conditioning and running, they are seeing their times come down. We are really pleased with the whole group."

In the junior varsity boys race, Nathan Burford took 21st, Spencer Ayers came in 24th and Brian Robinson took 35th.

In the junior varsity girls race, Stephanie Payne finished 15th with a time of 25:37 to become a medalist. Janessa Burford took 34th, Ashley Seyer came in 43rd and Ashley Nall took 46th.

Kelly's cross country team will run in Potosi on Saturday.

"For the next couple of weeks, Nolan Lewer and Russell Carroll will probably be out," said Merrick. "We're hoping we can get them healthy for districts. The other kids have stepped up and worked real hard with them out."