It was only fitting this group finished as the finest Vienna High School boys’ cross country team in program history.

The Eagles completed a record-setting season with its best-ever finish in the Missouri Cross Country Championships, placing third in the team standings of the Class 1 State Meet. And leading the way for the Eagles was again senior Hunter Schwartze, who closed out his four-time state qualifying career with a fourth-place individual finish.

In the Class 1 boys’ team standings, Kingsville captured the state title with 76 points while St. Joseph Christian was runner-up with 98 and Vienna third with 132.

There were two eye-popping times leading the Class 1 individual chase, as St. Joseph Christian’s Austin Hill won with a sparkling 5,000-meter time of 15:47.0, followed by Gideon Case of Gloria Deo Academy second at 15:48.0. Schwartze battled with Lutheran KC’s Graham Nord for the third-place spot. Nord ended up third with a time of 16:13.6 while Schwartze was fourth at 16:15.6.

For the other Eagle scorers, junior Bryce Ewers finished 43rd overall at 17:34.3; freshman Eli Messersmith 52nd at 17:41.8; sophomore Paxten Jeremy 64th at 17:56.9, and freshman Tanner Hallahan 81st at 18:17.5.

The Vienna boys finished sixth at state as a team in 2025 and fourth in 2023 before topping that by a spot this fall.

This year’s field was extremely fast. For example, Schwartze ran his best time on the state course this year, but placed third overall a year ago with a time nearly 28 seconds slower.

“The boys’ race was incredibly fast this year,” said Vienna coach David Martin. “Everybody that ran last year beat their time from the state race last year, but ended up with a lower individual place. I am really proud of the guys for giving their best effort for the biggest stage. They hung in with Kingsville and St. Joe for most of the race.

“We ended up with our best team finish, with an average finish time of 17:33. We got fourth in 2023 and a team average of 18:17. That is an impressive improvement to move up one spot in the team standings.”

The Vienna girls’ cross country squad sent one runner to the state meet. And sophomore Sophia Neubert finished 114th overall with a time of 23:52.3. It was the second straight year that Neubert made it to the state meet.

“The girls’ race was very competitive this year,” Martin said. “Sophia ran tough. A similar time last year would have gotten her a place in the top 100. If she keeps improving, she is going to lead our girls’ team back to state before she graduates.”

Schwartze said he was satisfied with the way he ended his record-breaking Eagle cross country career.

“I’m not mad at the result,” he said. “But I was trying to get a sub-16 (time). I probably came out a little too hard; I wish I would have slowed it down a little at the beginning. As it turned out it went, I think, by the order of the rankings coming in.

“I felt really good throughout the race. It was perfect conditions; not too hot. That top pack was a good distance from everybody else. The group of three went by me, then we kind of split up.”

Schwartze was very satisfied to be part of the top team finish in school history as a senior.

“The third place is the best in program history,” he said. “We were fourth as a team when I was a freshman. Of course, you are planning to get first. But that group ahead of us was really quick.”

Now it’s on to basketball in the winter and both baseball and track in the spring for Schwartze. But he’s also thinking of where he’s going to run collegiately.

“I kind of want to go to State Fair (a two-year college in Sedalia),” he said. “I think I want to try to go to a two-year school, then hopefully transfer to a mid-major (NCAA Division I) school.”

Missouri Cross Country

State Championships

Nov. 7 at Columbia

Gans Creek Course

5,000-Meters

Class 1

Boys

Top-10 Teams: 1. Kingsville 76, 2. St. Joseph Christian 98, 3. Vienna 132, 4. Lutheran KC 143, 5. Van-Far 159, 6. Mansfield 186, 7. St. Vincent 196, 8. Oak Ridge 235, 9. Meadow Heights 244, 10. Dora 247.

Top-5 Individuals: 1. Austin Hill, St. Joseph Christian, 15:47.0; 2. Gideon Case, Gloria Deo Academy, 15:48.0; 3. Graham Nord, Lutheran KC, 16:13.6; 4. Hunter Schwartze, Vienna, 16:15.6; 5. Maverick Sybert, North Andrew, 16:17.1.

Other Vienna Results: 43. Bryce Ewers 17:34.3, 52. Eli Messersmith 17:41.8, 64. Paxten Jeremy 17:56.9, 81. Tanner Hallahan 18:17.5, 122. Kevin Russell 19:14.7, 146. Alex Wieberg 20:07.1.

Girls

Top-10 Teams: 1. Tarkio 74, 2. St. Joseph Christian 101, 3. Dora 117, 4. McAuley Catholic 143, 5. Hermitage 160, 6. Glasgow 174, 7. Chadwick 195, 8. Faith Christian 205, 9. Paris 218, 10. St. Vincent 224.

Top-5 Individuals: 1. Caroline Fields, Gloria Deo Academy, 19:31.4; 2. Insley Washer, Northland Christian, 19:36.6; 3. Reese Fields, Gloria Deo Academy 19:37.9; 4. Anna Welker, St. Vincent, 19:54.2; 5. Ruthie Arnold, St. Joseph Christian, 20:10.1.

Vienna Result: 114. Sophia Neubert 23:52.3.