FULTON — Highlighted by their third consecutive district championship, Vienna High School’s (VHS) boys cross country team will make up seven of the 11 harriers that will be representing Maries County this weekend during the 2024 Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Cross Country Championships to be held at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.

Going into the district meet as one of the favorites to hoist yet another championship plaque, David Martin’s Vienna Eagles added a third piece of district championship hardware to their trophy case topping the Class 1, District 3 boys team standings with 57 points just ahead of Paris’ Coyotes who had 63 points.

“We’ve been fortunate over the past few years to have some very good athletes come through Vienna,” Martin said. “Cooper Auten has been a great leader and example for us this season as the lone senior on the roster.”

A trio of Eagle harriers earned All-District honors with their top-30 finishes led by sophomore Hunter Schwartze’s third-place time of 17:55.66.

“It feels great to be a district champion again as a team,” Schwartze said. “Now we’re looking to get back on the podium with another top-four team finish at state.”

Joining Schwartze in the top 30 for Vienna were Auten (7th, 18:33.98) and Bryce Ewers (14th, 19:09.33).

Fellow Vienna Eagles helping the black and gold to another district title included Tyler Hallahan (36th, 20:38.52), Thomas Douglas (41st, 20:54.33), Kevin Russell (44th, 21:02.14) and Ethan Rex (66th, 22:43.96).

Prior to the boys race, a pair of Vienna Lady Eagles also punched their ticket to state by finishing in the top 30.

Senior Marissa Hollis will end her VHS Cross Country career at Gans Creek following a 28th-place time of 25:07.97.

She will be joined by sophomore Kaylee Bresnahan after her 29th-place time of 25:18.55.

Having enough runners to record a team score for the first time in a number of years, Vienna’s Lady Eagles placed fifth as a team with 121 points behind Paris (49), Glasgow (56), Calvary Lutheran (63) and New Haven (76).

Also helping Vienna place fifth as a team were Naomi Clark (51st, 27:36.95), Ava Kloeppel (57th, 28:58.51) and Jezabel Bordonaba (62nd, 31:36.13).

“It was great for us to have a full team on the girls side throughout most of the season,” Martin said. “I look forward to seeing what both are boys and girls can do as our numbers continue to grow.”

Prior to Class 1 racing, Samantha Ridenhour’s Belle Lady Tigers and Tigers hit the Fulton High School course also looking to finish either in the top 30 individually or among the top four teams.

Sophomore Nolie Finnegan punched her second ticket to Columbia in as many years with a fourth-place time of 21:18.93 in the Class 2 girls race at Fulton.

In the team standings, Belle just missed the top four placing fifth with 147 points behind Veritas Christian Academy (84), Whitfield (110), Monroe City (114) and Hermann (115).

Just missing the top 30 and a trip to state was senior Tajel McDaniel with a 31st-place time of 23:34.12.

“Tajel worked so hard this year and it was a bummer to see her outside the top 30,” Ridenhour said.

Other Lady Tigers helping Belle place fifth as a team included Kenadie Bailey (40th, 24:07.17), Ellanor Kent (59th, 25:15.45), Saylor Kent (60th, 25:17.25) and Allania Moore (91st, 29:02.87).

Finnegan will have company in Columbia this Saturday from Garrett Gehlert who posted a 15th-place time of 18:12.98 to punch his ticket to Gans Creek.

“Nolie and Garrett have worked so hard this year and I’m happy to see it pay off with them being able to end their season at the state meet.”

Similar to their Lady Tiger counterparts, Belle’s Tigers placed sixth as a team with 182 points behind South Shelby (55), Hermann (71), Elsberry (76), Russellville (103) and New Bloomfield (104).

Racing on the course for the Tigers along with Gehlert were Miles Frey (36th, 19:01.95), Barrett Finnegan (44th, 19:26.25), David Skaggs (52nd, 19:39.55), Connor Weigel (66th, 20:23.17), Malachi Fredendall (78th, 21:01.96) and Karsin Seifert (98th, 21:57.05).

VHS harriers will run at Gans Creek on Friday, Nov. 8 with the Class 1 Girls race at 9:45 a.m., and the Class 1 Boys race at 11:15 a.m.

Nolie Finnegan and Gehlert will race on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 9 a.m., and 10:30 a.m., respectively.