COLUMBIA — Finishing in the top 30 during the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2, District 3 Cross Country meet at Linn High School back on Saturday, Nov. 1, Belle Lady Tiger sophomore Ellanor Kent earned the right to compete this past Saturday in the Class 2 Girls race during the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships held on the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.

Among 172 state qualifying runners, Kent started the Class 2 girls race in 43rd place at the one-kilometer split before the rest of the experienced field caught up to her as the race went on.

Kent wound up placing 78th in a time of 22:06.40 which was just inside the top half of the field.

“Ellanor has worked so hard to be able to end her sophomore season on the state course,” Belle High School head cross country coach Samantha Ridenhour said. “Although she was our only state qualifier, I’m already excited for next year as we have all of our girls returning in addition a solid group of boys coming back.”

Part of that group of boys coming up as freshman next fall include Jackson Prater who only lost one race all season before winning a state championship at the Missouri Middle School Cross Country Championships on the last Saturday in October at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland.

Steelville freshman Adalei Perkins also represented the Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) in Columbia placing 52nd in a time of 21:40.70 in the Class 2 Girls race.

During the Class 2 Boys race, Steelville senior Landon Rutledge capped his Cardinal cross country career with All-State honors following his 22nd-place time of 16:50.50.