California High School cross country took 13 runners to the Class 3 District 3 Meet at South Callaway High School on Saturday. The course California ran was 3.1 miles in lenght and a spot in the Class 3 State Tournament was up for grabs.
Out of 115 girls who raced in the Class 3 District 3 5K, Kenzleigh Goans had California's best run with a time of 20 minutes and 23.69 seconds (20:23.69). Which was good for fifth place overall and earned Goans a trip to the State Championships in Columbia.
The other finishers in the girls 5k were Allie Heather, who finished 54th place with a time of 23:39.03. Hillary Roney finished 72nd place with a time of 24:35.42. Abbigail Stuedle finished 88th place with a time of 25:50.12. Emma Farmer finished 95th place with a time of 26:37.98. Evelyn Ponce finished 98th place with a time of 27:01.92 and Ava Bryant finished 108th place with a time of 28:23.04.
Out of 136 boys who raced in the Class 3 District 3 5K, Damien Pace was California's best runner. Finishing 59th place with a time of 19:37.07. Andrew Reed finished 66th place with a time of 19:48.35. Connor Farmer finished 83rd place with a time of 20:23.09. Caleb Howard finished 90th place with a time of 20:42.11. Jackson Barnard finished 104th place with a time of 21:43.45 and Fransisco Martinez finished 134th place with a time of 27:25.94.
Head coach Kenny Goans said the competition was some of the fiercest California has seen all season and it wasn't going to be a big challenge to qualify for the state meet. Although his daughter Kenzleigh was the only runner who qualified for state, he is still proud of all his runners for their hard work and dedicaiton to the team throughout the season.
"Our district is one of the toughest in the state and has a ton of solid runners. I was proud of our teams' efforts not just for this meet but throughout the season. Coach Baker and I love working with these kids who put in so much work. Cross country is such a physical and mental sport and definitely takes heart to endure for five months," Goans said.
Kenzleigh Goans will represent California at the Class 3 State Championships at Gans Creek in Columbia. She will run at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Democrat photo/Evan Holmes
Allie Heather finished 54th place in the girls 5K at the Class 3 District 3 meet with a time of 23:39.03.
Democrat photo/Evan Holmes
Andrew Reed finished 66th place in the boys 5K at the Class 3 District 3 meet with a time of 19:48.35.
Democrat photo/Evan Holmes
Fransisco Martinez finished 134th place at the Class 3 District 3 meet with a new personal-best time of 27:25.94.
Democrat photo/Evan Holmes
Ava Bryant finished 108th place in the girls 5K at the Class 3 District 3 meet with a time of 28:23.04.