CHS Cross Country travels to Sparta and Du Quoin in Week 4

Posted October 01, 2021 1:00 am

By Jim Beers Contributing writer

The Chester High School cross-country teams traveled to Sparta and Du Quoin in Week 4 to compete in the Sparta Invitational at the World Shooting Complex and the Du Quoin Invitational.

Sparta Invitational

Girls race

Chester entered three Lady Jackets. Maria Nickle was Chester's first finisher. She finished 24th overall out of 43 runners with her time of 25:40.7 and her pace of 8:34 per mile.

Madison Kribs was the second CHS finisher with her time of 30:42.2 and her pace of 10:15 per mile. Madison's place was 36th. Josalynn Anaya finished 42nd with a time of 34:13 and pace of 11:25 per mile.

Four schools qualified for a team score: Centralia Christ Our Rock (1st, 34); Sparta (2nd, 55); Okawville (3rd, 56); and Columbia (4th, 65). The overall winner of the girls race was Sarah McKowen of Centralia Christ Our Rock (1st, 19:28.4, 6:30 pace).

Boys race

CHS entered four athletes in the boys race, Jacob Handel, Blake Farmer, Blake Huffman and Will Welge.

Jacob Handel was Chester's top finisher. Handel finished 12th overall out of 47 runners. His time was 19:31.2 and he turned in a pace of 6:31 per mile. Blake Farmer finished 16th with a time of 19:55.3 and pace of 6:39 per mile.

Blake Huffman finished 27th overall with his 22:08.8 performance and pace of 7:23 per mile. Will Welge crossed the finish line in 46th place. He had a time of 32:52.6 and pace of 10:58.

Five teams competed in the boys race: Columbia (1st, 32); Marissa (2nd, 65); Okawville (3rd, 65); Centralia (4th, 75); and Sparta (5th, 110). The overall winner of the 3.1 mile race was Nick Fehr of Red Bud (1st, 16:20.3, 5:27 per mile).

Du Quoin Invitational

Girls race

A total of 61 girls competed, but the Lady Yellow Jackets had only one competitor. Madi Kribs finished in 55th place with her time of 32:05.6 in the varsity race.

In the team competition five teams qualified for a team score (at least five runners). Pinckneyville was the winner of the girls division with a team score of 34 points. Du Quoin finished 2nd (44) followed by Murphysboro (3rd, 117); Okawville (4th, 129); and Nashville (5th, 134).

The overall individual winner of the race was Olivia Phillips of Du Quoin with her time of 19:22.8.

Boys race>

There were 61 runners in the boys event, including five from Chester: Jacob Handel, Blake Farmer, Blake Huffman, Will Welge and Hunter Decker. This five-man squad qualified Chester for a team score.

Jacob Handel finished 30th overall with a time of 20:32.5. Blake Farmer finished 40th with his 22:04.7 performance. Blake Huffman finished 46th. His time as 24:26. Will Welge finished in 60th place with his time of 31:56. Hunter Decker finished 61st with his time of 32:48.7.

Seven teams qualified for a team score including Pinckneyville (1st, 35 points); Steeleville (2nd, 68); Nashville (3rd, 74); Murphysboro (4th, 145); Okawville (5th, 164); Chester (6th, 237); and Sparta (7th, 241). The overall individual winner of the race was Isaac Teel of Pinckneyville who had a time of 15:40.9.