Missouri Southern Stampede 2012

Heavy rains turned the Southern Stampede into a mud fest Saturday. That slowed the times a little on the Missouri Southern course, but the performances did not wane much. Liberty entered the races with a lot of experience running in sloppy conditions as every one of the Blue Jays’ first four races this season have been marred by rain and mud. That likely helped the Blue Jays finish as the top Missouri school in both the boys’ and girls’ varsity races.

The rains that had been coming down all night picked up in intensity Saturday just before the Southern Stampede girls’ varsity race on the campus of Missouri Southern.  A small stream began to grow, stretching across the course just a few meters out from the starting line. The runners would have to slog through the shin-deep water again just before crossing the finish. The wet, muddy conditions added some time to the performances, but they did not prevent quality racing.

The Missouri Southern course was completely soaked and full of puddles, streams and muddy pits by time the varsity boys began their Southern Stampede race. And nearly everyone seemed to enjoy the sloppy conditions. Glendale’s Chris Mooneyham, who won in 16:24, seemed to especially like the mud. He was five seconds ahead of Broken Arrow (Okla.) senior Kyle Broaddrick (16:29).