Scenes from the first day of the Missouri State Cross Country Championships
Fans dressed in dinosaur costumes wait to cheer on their team during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Eureka prepares to receive its state championship trophy during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Eureka receives the state trophy during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Marquette senior Maleah Eggers during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
SLUH senior August Talluer during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Troy junior Jocelyn Haynes during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jackson senior Annika Barks during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. JosephÕs Academy junior Savannah Amann during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Timberland junior Westin Hess during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Parkway West junior Wade Patten during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Marquette sophomore Luke Hoefferle during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The start of the boys race at the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Lafayette freshman Ezekiel Hagen during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Troy junior Jocelyn Haynes during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Fort Zumwalt West junior William Doyle during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Liberty senior Ayden Taylor during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Kirkwood senior Logan Dahm during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
North Point junior Hunter Stahl during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. JosephÕs Academy junior Savannah Amann during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Lafayette senior Matthew Minton during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Parkway South junior Natalie Lena during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
SLUH sophomore Jackson Miller during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Kirkwood Emma Maric (right) and junior Amelia Baumgartner during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Eureka celebrates during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Liberty celebrates with Bella Navaro-Sanchez during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
LeeÕs Summit West junior Landon Wegleitner during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Liberty sophomore Bella Navaro-Sanchez (right) and Liberty North freshman Lucinda Wright during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Kirkwood senior Graham Stevener (center) during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The 1K marker of the boys race at the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The start of the girls race at the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Westminster senior Anna Drochelman during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The 1K marker of the girls race at the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Lindbergh senior Cristina Soto during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Lafayette sophomore Alexis Sanderg (1708) during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Cor Jesu junior Mary McKenzie during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. JosephÕs Academy Lucy Rines during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Cor Jesu junior Mary McKenzie during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Francis Howell Central senior Reese McDevitt during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Francis Howell freshman Jinel Holloman during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Liberty junior Kailey Lawrence (1719) embraces teammate Bella Navaro-Sanchez (right) after she won the state championship during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Eureka senior Daphne Bishop embraces teammate Madison Schepis in celebration during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Liberty sophomore Bella Navaro-Sanchez (1722) leans over the line in front of Liberty North freshman Lucinda Wright to win the Class 5 individual girls cross country state championship by one-tenth of a second Friday at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo.
Eureka runners capture the moment Friday after winning the Missouri Class 5 girls cross country team state championship for the first time in program history at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.
Eureka assistant coach embraces freshman Madison Schepis after the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Kirkwood senior Graham Stevener is the Post-Dispatch All-Metro boys cross country runner of the year. Stevener was the Class 5 state runner-up with an area-best time this season, which was his first in the sport. He has signed with Tulsa.
Rockhurst senior Henry Acorn celebrates as he crosses the finish line during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
SLUH holds the runner-up trophy after the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Eureka senior Daphne Bishop and freshman Madison Schepis welcome their teammates in celebration during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
SLUH senior August Talleur crosses the finish line during the Class 5 state championship cross country meet on November 8, 2024 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Paul Halfacre
Sports Reporter
"It's so exciting," Eureka's Daphne Bishop said. "It feels so fake because we’ve been working for this for so long and we finally did it."
"My teammates told me it’s like any other race," Liberty sophomore Bella Navaro-Sanchez said. "Just push through and stay strong."
The senior gave the Pioneers their second consecutive individual state runner-up.