Angels Flying
The 2023 St. Joseph's Academy Angels appear to be headed for a 2nd-ever state cross country trophy. Stay tuned for more about their first trophy and their two-sport star who led the way. Coach Scott House's Angels might even now be the favorites to win the Class 4 state crown after claiming the Gans Creek Classic Blue team title.
St. Joseph's sophomore Savannah Amann has supporters cheering her on 3,060 meters into the Girls Blue race in which she finished 3rd and led the Angels to victory.
After sitting 4th and 2nd at the 1k and 2k marks, St. Joe's took the lead in the 3rd kilometer. They increased a 10-point lead to 25 at 4k and finished with 103 points for a final 28-point margin of victory. The Angels were led by their #1, sophomore Savannah Amann. Two weeks after getting the individual title and leading her team to victory in the Forest Park XC Festival's 2nd most competitive race, the Gold division, Amann placed 3rd and led the Angels to the Gans Creek Classic Blue title.
The St. Joseph Academy girls claimed the Blue Division title, with their top 3 runners in the fore, mid, and background. In 3rd at 1130 meters is Savannah Amann (front left), while teammate Lucy Rines trails in 4th, and Margaret Boedefeld chases in 12th (back left).
Amann was in 3rd nearly the whole race, sitting in bronze medal position at each of the 5-kilometer markers. Freshman teammate Lucy Rines wasn't far behind, taking 5th in 19:42. All five scorers for St. Joseph's were underclassmen. Sophomore Margaret Boedefeld was 23rd to give the Angels 3 top-25 medalists, while sophomore Riley Villicana was 40th, and freshman Natalie Roxas finished 48th. Juniors Sadie Neff and Macie Diguiseppe rounded out the squad placing 66th and 161st in the field of 283 racers and 36 full teams.
It was a repeat performance for St. Joseph's. The Angels captured the 2022 title with 91 points. Amann led the way with a 13th-place finish. Last season ended with a 10th-place Class 4 state finish for the Angels.
Four Kearney Bulldogs can be seen in their purple uniforms, all in the top 30, 1,150 meters into the Girls Blue 5k. Kearney would go on to take 2nd behind winner St. Joseph's Academy.
Kearney coach Jeff Roberts looks up at the scoreboard, waiting for the girls in the blue division 5k race to come thru the 3k mark.
Jeff Roberts perennial
power Kearney squad led for the first 2-kilometers, before settling in and
finishing 2nd with 131 points. The Lady Bulldogs were led by medalists
senior Heidi Adams, and junior Olivia Brock in 12th and 21st
in 20:15 and 20:47. Kearney finished with six in the top 50. Ryan Banta's
Parkway Central Colts continued a strong season, finishing 3rd with 150 points to get the final team trophy. The Colts had three in the top 26. Seniors Sarah Williams and Lila Solomon were medalists, taking 18th and 25th while sophomore Madeline Qian was 26th.
The team trophy battle was on at the mile mark of the girl's blue 5k with Kearney and Parkway Central athletes visible.
Kearney senior Heidi Adams finishes 12th to lead the Lady Bulldogs to the 2nd-place team trophy.
Parkway Central senior Sarah Williams finishes 18th to lead three Colts to top 26 finishes and the Girls 3rd-place team trophy.
Jim Lohr's MICDS girls are led by a 1-2 punch that should contend for Class 4 All-State honors. Junior Grace Coppel finished 6th in 19:49 while freshman Frances Applegate was 10th in 20:01. The pair ran together from nearly start to finish. Senior Kate Williamson placed 98th to give the Lady Rams six top-100 finishers.
With coach Jim Lohr (front, right-center) looking down the course, MICDS' Grace Coppel (left) and Frances Aplegate (right) race together 3,100 meters into the Girls Blue 5k en route to 6th and 10th-place finishes to lead the Lady Rams to a 4th-place team finish.
Mid-Missouri
squads Southern Boone County (Class 3), and Jefferson City (Class 4) finished 5th
and 6th while Class 4's North Point, Rolla, and Hannibal were 7th,
8th, and 9th, ahead of 10th-place Blair Oaks
(Class 3). Thirty-six teams totaled scores in the race.