The high school cross country season continues to heat up but temperatures Saturday in Jefferson County for the Festus Bowles Invitational were mostly mild. While a handful of All-State runners had the weekend off of racing, some were on hand in Festus to cheer on their teammates.
Siblings was the theme of the day in Festus. Siblings went 1-2 in both of the varsity races. Hillsboro senior twins Josh and Jonah Allison went 1-2 and were followed by Jimmy Mann to give the Hawks a 1-2-3 finish. With a few standouts from other teams sitting out and others recovering from injury, Hillsboro showed why they are the favorites in Class 4 in the state.
Hillsboro put 5 in the top-7, 6 in the top-9, and 7 in the top-13, scoring just 19 points for the win. Festus, running without Ian Schram and two others working their way back from injury, placed 2nd with 51 points, while Webster Groves, Lutheran-St. Charles, and Lafayette were 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
In the varsity girls race, with star Grace Tyson off for the weekend, sisters Natalie (junior) and Elissa (senior) Barnard went 1-2 to lead Lafayette Lancers to the team title with 39 points. Washington's Julia Donnelly was 3rd, ahead of Lutheran-St. Charles's Grace Schaff, and host Festus' Abigail Schnable.
Webster Groves took runner-up honors with 90 points, while Festus and Seckman were 3rd and 4th with 94 and 105 points.
1-2-3
Hillsboro senior Gavin Vaughn and his hair fly to the finish of the varsity race, taking 6th.
All Out!