ST. LOUIS – A handful of the state’s elite cross country runners tested their mettle against a mostly collegiate field Saturday in the Junior division of the USA Cross Country Championships at Forest Park.
Eureka freshman Hannah Long again showed why she creates a buzz when she runs. Long was able to shadow the lead pack early through the 6k race, and she powered her way to a 13th-place finish in 22:07 despite the extremely cold and windy conditions.
“I was excited about it because I get good competition and get to push myself really hard,” Long said. “I don’t think I’ve run in this good of a field before, but it’s a good experience.
“I had never run a 6k before. I didn’t really have a goal; I just wanted to run it and see what it’s like.”
The race returns to Forest Park again next year for a chance to qualify for the World Championships, and Long said she already has plans to move up in the field and grab a spot on the national team.
“Since I did it this year, next year I think I’ll definitely be ready for it,” Long said.
Nerinx Hall freshman Sophia Racette said she approached the race as a chance to enjoy herself and learn a little about running a 6k.
“I just wanted to come in and have a good race,” said Racette, who finished 26th in 23:12. “I was intimidated because I knew they would be fast, but I’ve also run here before, and I knew that going out too fast would ruin my race. So I decided not to go out with them and just focus on running my own race, and it worked out.”
Herculaneum junior Kaitlyn Fischer finished 30th (23:56) and Ste. Genevieve sophomore Shelby Werner was 35th (25:01). Maryville freshman Ashley Schmittzehe, a 2011 graduate of Cape Girardeau Notre Dame, took 36th in 25:12. Courtney Frerichs, a Nixa graduate who now runs for UMKC, came in 14th in 22:08.
In the Junior Men’s 8k, Cape Girardeau Central junior Billy Leighton led the high school contingent in 24th (26:30).
“I just wanted to go out and compete and have some fun,” Leighton said.
Similar to his Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional race, Leighton opted for a fast start. Leighton surged to the front of the field and spent most of the first kilometer next to the college runners.
“About the first mile I was right next to the leader, but it’s a bit different than a 5k,” Leighton said. “I got a little excited at the start and was leading for a while, and then I paid for it the last few miles.”
SLUH senior Nathan Rubbelke joked to his other high school runners that he would finish last. That was not the case as he came in 39th in 28:48.
“Since this was in town, I said why not run it?” said Rubbelke, who said he will make his college decision between Creighton and SLU this week. “I wanted to get ready for college racing and the 8k. My legs didn’t have it today, but it was cool to line up with guys from Syracuse and Georgetown.”
Glendale junior Chris Mooneyham finished 27th in 27:03, and Kickapoo junior Ian Frazier was 33rd in 28:17.
The race served as the time trial to form the U.S. team for the NACAC (North America, Central America, and Caribbean) Cross Country Championships scheduled for March in Trinidad and Tobago. The top five finishers earn a spot on the U.S. team, and the next five have a spot as an alternate.
University of Missouri freshman Courtney Wood just missed cementing a spot on the Junior Women’s team with a sixth-place finish (21:35). Wood, a 2011 Neosho graduate, finished fifth at the Missouri Class 4 state cross country meet as a senior.
“I’ve been training hard workouts and doing my mileage this winter to get ready for track, and this race happened to show up and I wanted to do it,” said Wood, who is redshirting this indoor season. “I’m happy to be part of it, and I feel I can only get stronger.”
Shannon Osika from the University of Michigan took home the individual honor in the Junior Women’s race in 21:04. Syracuse freshman Jace Lowry won the Junior Men’s race in 24.54.
