GCC GWhite: Lexington scores 50pts, Sullivan’s Denney 19:13

Pleasant Hill superstar 400/800 runner Brooke Beck kept it close the first 1,000 meters, but after that, Sullivan freshman Mariah Denney left the Gans Creek Classic White race competitors in the dust. The 5^th edition of the meet saw Denney fly to victory for the Eagles in the first race of the day that saw the starter's pistol go off at 8 a.m., Saturday, September 23 in Columbia.

Denney crossed the tape in 19:13.3, winning by 30 seconds and continuing a great freshman campaign for head coach Terry Wood and staff. It was the 2^nd win of the season for Denney, who also claimed the Sullivan Invitational title and added a 3^rd win of the season this week, taking the St. James Invite. The Gans Creek performance was a big improvement over her solid 27^th-place, 19:31 Missouri Southern Stampede Green Division finish the week before.

Denney's 19:13.3 performance would have placed her 2^nd in the Gans Creek Classic Blue race and 11^th in the toughest Gold race. However, those races came 60 and 90 minutes later in warmer conditions. The impressive run by Denney puts her in the mix for bragging rights as the state's top freshman.

Only Angelina Cottone of Tolton Catholic (19:05-8^th Green Division) and Brianna Krueger of St. Charles West (19:13.0-10^th Green Division) had faster marks than Denney among 9^th-graders at Gans Creek. However, that pair had racers in front of them to chase after, unlike Denney. The time puts Denney 5^th on the Class 4 season 5k performance list.

Lexington freshman Addison Smith placed 2nd

Lexington has its own standout freshman. Addison Smith (Lexington moved past Brooke Beck in the 3^rd kilometer and finished in 19:43 to lead a dominant performance from the Minutewomen. Coach Brad Young's Lexington squad placed 2-9-17-30-34 for their top-5, giving them just 50 points. Behind Smith in 2^nd was Tessa Lovell-9^th, Sonya Rodekohr-17^th, Larissa Adkins-30^th, and Claire Riker in 34^th. McKenzie McBee in 71 and Mary-Beth Adkins in 136^th rounded out the top-7 for Lexington.

Tessa Lovell of Lexington

Lexington's Sonya Rodekohr (right, #776) and Odessa's Natalie Doney (left) sprint to the finish in the Gans Creek Classic White race.

The battle for the final two top-3 team trophies was a squeaker with just two points separating 2^nd-4^th. Odessa had just five runners but totaled 147 points to take 2^nd. They were led by medalist Natalie Doney who placed 18^th.

While Addison Smith passed junior Brooke Beck in the middle of the race, Beck didn't let anyone else get by. She just made it under the 20-minute mark, finishing in 19:58.0 to take 3^rd. Beck's Chicks from Pleasant Hill though came up just short of a trophy. They racked up 148 points, taking 4^th behind Clever and their 147 points. Clever was led by seniors Chloe Smith and Riley Britton, who placed behind Beck in 4^th and 13^th for the Bluejays. Smith edged California junior Kenzleigh Goans who placed 5^th.

Chloe Smith of Clever (right, #211) beats California's Kenzleigh Goans to the finish as the pair finished 4th and 5th.

Brooke Beck of Pleasant Hill

Steelville rounded out the top-5 team finishers, scoring 159 points. It was a good day for Lafayette County schools at Gans Creek. Not only did Lexington win the team title, but the Lafayette County Huskers ladies finished 6-14-23-37, giving them 3 medalists. Had they had a fifth runner, they likely would have been in trophy contention. Seniors Cadynce Shipman and Hailey Linebach were 6^th and 14^th while freshman Ella Amos was 23^rd.

Lexington's Sonya Rodekohr (right) and Odessa's Natalie Doney (left) sprint to the finish in the Gans Creek Classic White race. Rodekohr finished in 17th while Doney was 18th for the 1st and 2nd-place finishing teams.

Seventeen schools had enough runners for team scores. One-hundred and eight-two ladies started the race and 181 finished.