VIENNA — The chill of early November didn’t slow the Vienna Cross Country team as they made the hour-long drive to Gans Creek in Columbia on November 8. The Class 1 State Championships, hosted by the Missouri State High School Activities Association, brought together schools for a day of racing, strategy and sheer determination. For Vienna, it was a roller-coaster season coming to a dramatic, heart-pounding climax.

By the end of the 5,000-meter boys’ race, Coach Dave Martin had placed two medals around two eagle-students necks as they had etched their names into the history books. Junior Captain Hunter Schwartze claimed bronze out of all runners with a time of 16:43.10, trailing only Austin Hill of St. Josephs Christian and Kellen Robertson of the School of the Ozarks, as well as Sophomore Bryce Ewers who earned himself an All-State medal.

Ewers finished 30th in 17:38.90, narrowly outpacing the 31st-place runner by less than a second to secure his first All-State honor.

“I’m happy. I am a sophomore and got 30th place, just have to go for more next year,” Ewers said. “The competition here is more… it’s more crazy. You have to push yourself with the other runners. You’re not thinking about anyone else, all you’re doing is trying to compete as a team.”

The rest of the boys rounded out a strong team effort. Freshman Paxten Jeremy ran 61st in 18:18.50, Kevin Russel placed 113th in 19:25.40, Tyler Hallahan 115th in 19:26.60, and Thomas Douglas 132nd in 19:49.70. Collectively, the Eagles placed sixth overall as a team out of 16 schools, proving that Vienna, a small town, could withstand Missouri’s elite programs.

The atmosphere at Gans Creek was nothing short of championship-level excitement. By 9 a.m., cars filled four sprawling parking lots, police officers managed traffic and crowd control and volunteers checked press credentials and distributed wristbands to spectators. Coaches shouted directions and encouragement along the course, sometimes competing with themselves to be heard over the roar of parents calling out names, while the runners stayed locked in a battle against each other and the clock. Every step, every stride mattered and for Vienna’s athletes, the energy was electrifying.

The girls also took to the course with determination and heart. Freshman Sophia Neubert, in her first-ever appearance at this level, placed 64th overall in 23:23.00, the top finisher for Vienna. Kaylee Bresnahan followed in 86th (23:56.00), with Kaitlyn Carpenter close behind at 88th (23:57.70). Out of 158 runners representing 15 teams, the girls didn’t place on the podium, but their performances highlighted growth, perseverance and the promise of future seasons.

For Vienna XC, the trip to Gans Creek was more than just a race. It was a full-scale championship experience: the long bus ride from the place these students call home, the adrenaline-charged walk from crowded parking lots to the course, the roar of coaches and parents, the strategic pacing and the neck-and-neck battles along every hill and straightaway.

When the dust settled, Vienna returned home with two All-State qualifiers, a bronze medal, and a sixth-place team finish. The Eagles proved that even small towns can produce athletes who compete at the very highest level, and for a program with a roller-coaster season, the results were nothing short of spectacular.