JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Even though it says sophomore by her name, Summit Preparatory Academy’s Claire Workman is really just in her first year of high school cross country, but that didn’t stop her from winning the Class 1 state title.
Workman was an eighth grader last fall and was bumped up to a freshman after the first semester. That allowed her to compete at the state track meet, where she won Class 1 titles in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs as a member of the Summit/New Covenant coop. Now eligible to compete for the high school cross country team, Workman blazed a hot path around the Oak Hills Golf Center course Saturday to win the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships Class 1 title in 19:34.73, nearly 46 seconds ahead of second place.
Workman got an early glimpse at the state course when she ran and won the Capital City Cross Country Challenge in October. She learned one important lesson in that race.
“There’s more hills than what you think,” Workman said. “My goal was just to go out and run as fast as I could. Try to keep it as fast as I can without puking.”
In her first cross country season, she was undefeated in seven meets, including the state meet victory. Her only loss in track was a runner-up finish in the 800 at sectionals. Workman said she is trying to be mindful of her early prep success and remain humble.
“I try not to think about it and don’t let it get in my head,” Workman said. “It’s easier to come in thinking no one has any expectations and you’re just doing what you have to do.
Her time already puts her on the short list of elite Class 1 runners, ranking third on the all-time performances’ chart. Cass Midway’s Mackenzie Weis has the fastest Class 1 time at 19:24.91.
Summit is also on the verge of producing an elite team. The five girl squad captured third in the team standings with 111 points after putting three girls in the top 10. Joining Workman up front were sophomores Claire McCune in fourth and Katie McCune in seventh.
Salisbury claimed its second Class 1 title in three years after taking third last fall. The Panthers muscled their way to the top by edging out Crystal City, 97 to 101. The two all-state runners for Salisbury were key, as they both came finished in front of Crystal City’s first scoring runner.
Senior Savannah Ratliff and junior Erinn Fitzgerald crossed the finish line nearly in stride with each other, capturing 15th (21:51) and 16th(21:57), respectively. It was only Fitzgerald’s second time dipping below the 22-minute mark after she set a PR at districts with a 21:29. Ratliff moved up 24 spots after taking 39th as a junior.
“It’s a lot of hard work. Good kids willing to work,” Salisbury coach Robert Kelsay said. “There’s no superstars, it’s just everyone right there together.”
