The Vienna High School boys’ cross country team got in a final tune-up before beginning its postseason run by competing against mostly larger schools at the Fatima Invitational Saturday, Oct 24 in Westphalia.

There were nine full teams in the boys’ field and Vienna placed second overall. Jefferson City Helias Catholic won the team crown with 41 points while Vienna was second with 59 and host Fatima third with 94.

Vienna senior Hunter Schwartze won another race medalist honor, finishing first over the 5,000-meter course Saturday with a time of 16:29.5. Another Eagle top-10 finish was by Bryce Ewers, who was seventh overall at 18:14.11.

Vienna did not have any runners in the girls’ race.

The Eagles are to compete in the Missouri Class 1 District 3 Meet Saturday, Oct. 31 at Van-Far High School in Vandalia.

Other schools in District 3 include Brashear, Bunceton, Calvary Lutheran, Chamois, Christian Fellowship, Clopton, Columbia Independent, Community, Crocker, Glasgow, Green Ridge, Knox County, La Monte, La Plata, Missouri School for the Deaf, New Franklin, New Haven, North Shelby, NE Cairo, Northwest Hughesville, Paris, Russellville, Schuyler County, Smithton, Sturgeon, Van-Far and Wellsville-Middletown.

The top four teams and other top 30 individual runners advance from district competition to the Missouri Class 1 State Championships, to be held Nov. 7 at the  Gans Creek Course in Columbia.

Last year the Eagle boys went on to capture the district meet to reach the Missouri Class 1 State Championships as a full unit. As a team the Eagle boys placed sixth in the 2025 Class 1 team standings, led by all-state performances from Schwartze and Ewers. Schwartze challenged for an individual state title, finishing third overall while Ewers was 30th overall. Schwartze is a two-time all-stater and three-time state-qualifier for the Eagles. In his three seasons at the state meet he finished 32nd individually as a freshman, 13th as a sophomore and third last year.

Lady Eagles who were state qualifiers last year were senior Kaylee Bresnahan and sophomore Sophia Neubert.

Oct. 24 at Westphalia

Fatima Invitational 5,000-Meters

Boys

Team Standings: 1. Jeff. City Helias 41, 2. Vienna 59, 3. Fatima 94, 4. St. Clair 111, 5. Capital City 123, 6. Paris 147, 7. South Callaway 161, 8. New Haven 164, 9. Jefferson City 245.

Individual Top-3: 1. Hunter Schwartze, Vienna, 16:29.5; 2. Ryan Beul, Helias, 16:59.6; 3. Michael Gabelsberger, Fatima, 17:22.6.

Other Vienna Results: 7. Bryce Ewers 18:14.4, 11. Eli Messersmith 18:29.6, 16. Paxten Jeremy 18:42.2, 27. Tanner Hallahan 19:33.8, 40. Kevin Russell 20:27.3, 48. Alex Wieberg 20:50.5, 50. Tyler Hallahan 21:11.0, 91. Dreygen Messersmith 26:51.9, 94. Jordan Hatfield 29:24.9.

Girls

Team Standings: 1. Helias 45, 2. Capital City 68, 3. Fatima 70, 4. Paris 94, 5. St. Clair 106, 6. Linn 150, 7. Stover 150.

Individual Top-3: 1. Paige Loethen, Helias, 20:35.3; 2. Brie Massman, Fatima, 20:55.8; 3. Lexi Massman, Fatima, 20:56.3.