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Nevada High, middle school XC teams open season with strong showing in Bolivar
The Nevada High and middle school cross country teams kicked off their respective campaigns at Saturday's 48-school Southwest Cross Country Coaches Association (SWCCC) Richard Clark Invitational in Bolivar.
On the girls' side, the Lady Tigers secured a pair of top 15 medalist finishes. In a five-kilometer race that featured a strong field of 313 student-athletes, Nevada sophomore Avery Morris notched a superb fifth-place finish. Also medaling for the Lady Tigers, was fellow sophomore Allie Rains.
Morris clocked in with an official time of 22:39, and Rains 22.57. The Nevada Middle School squad was also in action, as Aiden Ryan dazzled in the boys' 2,500 meter run, capturing a seventh-place finish — in a field of 232 competitors. Additionally, the NMS boys team placed third overall.
"Two varsity medals at this meet, by Avery and Allie, is quite an accomplishment," said Nevada head coach, Ryan Watts. "(And) Aiden, our lone middle school individual medal winner, also represented us well."
NHS varsity girls' 5K results
• Avery Morris, fifth-place, medalist (22:39); Allie Rains, 13th-place, medalist (23:57); Ashley Mather, 166th (26.07).
Overall winner: Riley Arnold (18:22), Blue Eye High School.
Winning school: West Plains High School.
NHS varsity boys' 5K results
• Mokey Dawn, 177th (20.42); Jaden Theis, 200th (21:03); Braylon Brooks 216th, (21.27); Kaden Padget (DNF); Ethan McGinnis (DNF).
Overall winner: Daelen Ackley, El Dorado Springs (15:45).
Winning school: Nixa High School.
NMS boys' 2,500 meter run results
• Aiden Ryan, seventh-place, medalist (9:24); Shaityn Williams, 26th (10:08); Aiden Watts, 32nd (10:18); Anthony Pizano, 39th (10:29); Lane Lyon, 61st (11:17); Jake Keading 106th (13:37); Matthew Eaton 109th (13:49). Note: Third-place overall team finish.
Overall winner: Jace Shulte, Webb City (8:33).
Winning school: Cherokee Middle School.
NMS girls' 2,500 meter run results
• Averi Dawn, 32nd (11:38); Mary Kate Russell, 76th (13:09); Hayley Mather, 114th (15:05); Morgan Austin 121st (16:07).
Overall winner: Addison Ratcliff, Weaubleau Middle School (10:02).
Winning school: Cherokee Middle School
NHS junior varsity 5K results
• Sean Jones, 109th (24:49); Lane Jones, 122nd (26:02).
Overall winner: Grant Musick, Kickapoo High School (17:24).
Winning school: West Plains High.
Taking into consideration the challenges presented by the global health pandemic, Watts said it was a "bizarre start to the season," but was thrilled with how his squad, comprised of mostly underclassmen, competed. Watts added that this will likely wind up being the "biggest, toughest meet" of the regular-season.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no spectators were allowed, and scoring was done in a non-traditional manner.
"Traditionally, they have separated the classes for team scores and individual scores," Watts explained. "This year, in an effort to shorten the meet, the decision was made to separate the classes for the individual medal winners, and score the teams overall."
Added Watts: "We had a couple key injuries on the varsity boys' side. Both Ethan McGinnis and Kaden Padgett had to exit the race early, due to ankle injuries. But other than that, we made it through, pretty much, unscathed. Which, after such a long layoff between racing, we were pretty worried about injuries. But for the rest of the team, I couldn't have been happier."
Needless to say, Watts was elated with the middle school boys squad's dazzling third-place team finish.
"I was very impressed with how they ran as a team," he said. "Capturing a third-place team finish overall, regardless of class, is pretty neat. Unfortunately, due to injuries, and some other factors, the middle school boys were the only (NHS or NMS) group able to field a full team — in order to get a team score."
Watts said the future is bright for the middle school boys team. "If that group of boys keeps working hard and stays together, they are going to be a strong group in the years to come," he said.
Summed up Watts: "I'm very proud of our first-time runners. We had a few middle school and high school runners make their race debut, so it was good for them to get the first one out of the way — and get the butterflies out. Allie and Avery have picked up where they left off last season, and Ashley continues to improve and lead by example. She started her junior year off with an improved time from a year ago, so that was great to see. We knew we were going to be in a bit of a transition year, but to see how well we ran today, and the potential that this young group has, is very exciting."
Up Next
The Nevada Tiger-Lady Tiger/Cottey College Invitational, Friday at Frank E. Peters Municipal Golf Course in Nevada.