Running together has its advantages.

Samantha Ridenhour’s Belle Tiger cross country found this out last Tuesday during the annual Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) Cross Country meet held at Steelville City Park.

Occupying half of the top 10, Belle held off Steelville topping the varsity boys team standings with 25 points compared to 34 for the Cardinals giving the Tigers their first GVC title in almost 25 years.

“Our guys have worked so hard for this throughout the season and I could not be any more proud of them,” Ridenhour said.

With All-GVC honors going to the top eight finishers, Belle occupied five of those spots led by sophomore Malachi Fredendall’s fourth-place time of 19:53.80.

Rounding out the top eight and also earning All-GVC accolades for the Tigers were senior Connor Weigel (5th, 19:57.60), freshman Coltin Hazelwood (6th, 20:07.80), junior Miles Frey (7th, 20:12.50) and sophomore David Skaggs (8th, 20:18.70).

In the varsity girls race, a pair of Lady Tigers earned All-GVC honors led by sophomore Kenadie Bailey who posted a second-place time of 23:13.68 behind race winner Adalei Perkins from Steelville in a time of 22:58.62.

Sophomore Ellanor Kent also earned All-GVC status with a seventh-place time of 24:11.35.

Also on the course for the Lady Tigers during the GVC meet in Steelville were junior Saylor Kent (12th, 28:35.25) and sophomore Allania Moore (14th, 29:49.02).

Belle’s Tigers and Lady Tigers will look to extend their seasons by another week with a top-30 individual finish this Saturday during the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2, District 3 Cross Country meet at Linn High School.

Racing will begin for Class 2 with the boys at 11 a.m., and the girls at 11:40 a.m.