Semoball

Notre Dame's Hanners, Jackson's Buffington take top spots at SEMO Conference cross country meet

Jackson's Brent Werner and Kyle Kester lead Cape Central's Jared Neikirk in the boys race during the SEMO North Conference cross country championships Thursday in Dexter, Missouri.
Brian Rosener ~ Daily American Republic

DEXTER, Mo. -- Katie Hanners got a surprise at the finish line Thursday during the SEMO North Conference cross country championships.

It was her winning time of 18 minutes, 30 seconds.

"That's been my biggest goal to run in the 18s," the Notre Dame senior said. "I never realized I was going to be that far under 19.

Notre Dame's Katie Hanners reacts as she crosses the finish line, winning the SEMO North Conference cross country championships Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, in Dexter, Missouri. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Brian Rosener)

"It just felt like I worked so hard for this, and I finally got it."

A cool day and a fast 5,000-meter course led to lower times for everybody as Jackson's Ean Buffington led the boys in 16:09.

"It was a very fast course," Buffington said. "I wasn't expecting to run anything like that."

The two runner won differently, with Buffington taking an early lead and Hanners running with teammate Alaina Baumgart until the midway point.

Baumgart, the defending champ, finished third in 19:17 as Notre Dame and Jackson split the top four spots.

The Indians, however, took the team title by eight points. The difference was Jackson's Nos. 4 and 5 runners.

"We knew it was going to be close," Jackson coach Andrea Talley said. "We knew it could go either way, depending on how the day went with various runners. ... It was just a good day for us."

Kaylee Wilson led Jackson in second place at 18:59, while Megan Barnum was fourth in 19:23, followed 4 seconds later by Faith Littleton.

The teams were tied after three runners as Notre Dame's Bailey Beussink was seventh in 19:37, but Jackson's Kennedy Bauer was 2 seconds faster and Ana Compton's 19:41 for eighth put the Indians ahead.

Notre Dame's Alleigh Emmendorfer also earned all-conference honors in 10th place at 19:46 and Anna Brandtner was 12th.

Jackson won with 25 points, followed by Notre Dame (33 points), Poplar Bluff (87) and Cape Central (101).

"That's what we've been emphasizing with our team," Hanners said. "Those (Nos.) 4, 5 (runners), cannot stress how important it is.

"It takes five to do it. I think sometimes that gets overlooked."

Jackson's boys took the top three spots to win the title for a third straight year with 24 points. Notre Dame was second at 43, followed by Cape Central (84), Poplar Bluff (92) and Dexter (130).

"I'm really happy with how we did," Buffington said. "One-two-three, that was kind of our goal going in, and it was great to see that happen."

Buffington was followed across the finish line 20 seconds later by Brent Werner in 16:29. Kyle Kester was third in 16:32, beating Cape Central's Jared Neikirk by 2 seconds.

Notre Dame's Benton Keran was fifth in 16:43 followed by teammate Blake Morris a second later. Grant Grove (17:17) finished eighth for the Bulldogs while Clayton Eftink (17:19) earned all-conference honors in 10th.

Katie Hanners of Notre Dame, center, and teammate Alaina Baumgart, left, run together during the SEMO North Conference cross country championships Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, in Dexter, Missouri. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Brian Rosener)

Scott Pettis (17:12) took seventh for Jackson and Ethan Walz (17:20) was 11th.

Central's Isiah McMullen placed ninth in 17:18.

The course circled Dexter High School with a few short hills and lots of long stretches with few sharp turns, allowing runners to keep up their speed.

Still, Hanners cut 45 seconds from her personal-best time for 5,000 meters.

"It's a great course," she said. "It's a wonderful course. It's the weather, and I think I had a really great attitude going into the race."

BOYS

Team scores -- 1. Jackson 24; 2. Notre Dame 43; 3. Cape Central 84; 4. Poplar Bluff 92; 5. Dexter 130

CAPE CENTRAL -- 4. Jared Neikirk (16:34); 9. Isiah McMullen (17:18); 22. Philip Francis (18:44); 24. Paul Rabanni (19:30); 25. Brad Orenstein (19:31.13); 26. Stasis Williams (19:31.51); 31. Dallas Buchanan (20:08)

DEXTER -- 19. Dawson Kasting (18:41.69); 23. Lucas Goodrich (19:21); 27. Sean Rybolt (19:35); 28. Trenton Dean (19:40); 33. Coby Powers (20:32); 34. Nate Drivas (20:50); 35. Matt Chesser (21:02)

JACKSON -- 1. Ean Buffington (16:09); 2. Brent Werner (16:29); 3. Kyle Kester (16:32); 7. Scott Pettis (17:12); 11. Ethan Walz (17:20); 15. Gavin Jones (18:13); 21. Clay Rinehart (18:42)

NOTRE DAME -- 5. Benton Keran (16:43); 6. Blake Morris (16:44); 8. Grant Grove (17:17); 10. Clayton Eftink (17:19); 14. Bryson Kiehlhofner (18:00); 16. Evan Landewee (18:21); 17. Ben Pfau (18:38)

POPLAR BLUFF -- 12. Wesley Moore (17:25); 13. Brantley James (17:50); 18. Denarius Moore (18:40); 20. Josh Myers (18:41.95); 29. Preston Jenson (19:45); 30. Ben Till (19:46); 32. Austin AuBuschon (20:21)

GIRLS

Team scores -- 1. Jackson 25; 2. Notre Dame 33; 3. Poplar Bluff 87; 4. Cape Central 101

CAPE CENTRAL -- 19. Morgan Kluge (21:56); 20. Allison Davis (22:10); 22. Andrea Lopez (22:47); 24. Mattie Huff (23:14); 26. Allison McDonald (23:18); 29. Elizabeth Ustinov (26:47); 32. Carie Flannigan (29:01)

DEXTER -- 15. Emily Ladd (21:23); 16. Margo Nea (21:29); 30. Shelby Smith (27:58); 31. Jonni Hill (28:02)

JACKSON -- 2. Kaylee Wilson (18:59); 4. Megan Barnum (19:23); 5. Faith Littleton (19:27); 6. Kennedy Bauer (19:35); 8. Ana Compton (19:41); 9. Courtney Hahs (19:42); 17. Margo Motes (21:42)

NOTRE DAME -- 1. Katie Hanners (18:30); 3. Alaina Baumgart (19:17); 7. Bailey Beussink (19:37); 10. Alleigh Emmendorfer (19:46); 12. Anna Brandtner (20:30); 14. Kennedy McGhee (20:59); 18. Claire Morrill (21:50)

POPLAR BLUFF -- 11. Katie Sliger (19:58); 13. Katelyn Moeller (20:57); 21. Brooke Slayton (22:16); 23. Mackenzie Dowd (22:50); 25. Kristin Cooper (23:17); 27. Paige Bradley (23:37); 28. Peyton Moore (23:44)

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