VIENNA — The morning air was sharp and biting, hovering around 40 degrees as runners from nearly 20 schools lined up at Van-Far High School just outside Vandalia. Frost clung to the edges of the course, and every inhale felt like ice in the lungs. For the Vienna High School cross country teams, it wasn’t just another race, it was districts, a test of grit and for the boys, the chance to extend a championship streak that had already lasted three years. Every step, every breath and every second mattered in Viennas win which was decided by just five points.

Leading the charge for the Eagles was senior Hunter Schwartze. Before the boys’ 5,000-meter race, he admitted to feeling both excitement and nerves.

“I feel very nervous and very excited,” Schwartze said. “The flat ground and hills will help my time today too.”

Schwartze and fellow captain Bryce Ewers were driving forces throughout the race, pushing through the cold and the slick, muddy course. A few times, both were seen kicking mud off their shoes, desperate to keep every stride efficient. After the race, Ewers reflected on the challenge.

“This was a lot flatter than I thought, but still a great course,” he said. “I definitely could have done better. I still did well and had an opportunity to go sub-18, but you know.”

When the scores were posted, the tension was unbearable. Vienna and Van-Far were tied at 61 points. The winner would be decided by a tiebreaker, the 6th place runner times for each school. The numbers showed Thomas Douglas (Vienna) 25 points and Tyler Carlyle (Van-Far) 30 points. Due to Douglas’s time being faster and having less points added to his individual score, he was the one with the final push on the back Vienna needed to edge out Van-Far.

Schwartze led the team with a time of 17:07.11, finishing second overall and earning a trip to Columbia’s Gans Creek course for the state meet on Nov. 8, this Saturday.. Ewers followed at 18:22.59, with Paxten Jeremy rounding out Vienna’s All-State qualifiers at 18:39.79. The rest of the team: Tyler Hallahan, Thomas Douglas and Gage Curler, ran through the cold and mud, their efforts critical in the narrowest of victories.

While the boys celebrated their collective triumph, the girls faced a different test. Vienna didn’t have enough runners to score as a team, but three athletes still earned their spots among the top 30 finishers and a ticket to Gans Creek. Freshman Sophie Neubert, a standout all season, placed 10th overall with a time of 22:56.62.

“I was stiff because of the weather and was only running at around 80 percent,” Neubert said. “I am still proud of my run and the team.”

Freshman Kaitlyn Carpenter crossed in 20th at 24:44.59, while junior Kaylee Bresnahan finished 24th at 24:58.74. Both Carpenter and Bresnahan set personal records despite the cold, muddy conditions. Both runners noted afterward that the weather didn’t slow them down, focusing instead on earning their spots at state. Bresnahan was seen spending over 10 minutes lying down after crossing the line, a testament to how hard she pushed herself at Van-Far. 

Though the girls couldn’t compete as a team, their performances mirrored the boys’ perseverance and determination. Each step was a testament to preparation, grit and the pride of representing Vienna.

Together, the six state qualifiers,  three boys and three girls,  will line up at Gans Creek this Saturday, carrying the weight of not just a season but a community and the unyielding spirit of Vienna. In a sport measured in seconds and endurance, this team showed what it means to push through every obstacle, on every course no matter the weather.