Gaines, Hornets win own Fulton Invitational

Fulton junior Mason Gaines secured the individual title to direct the Hornets cross country team to the championship of its own 31st-annual Fulton Invitational at the high school athletic complex on Saturday.

Gaines was victorious with a time of 16 minutes, 39.46 seconds as Fulton prevailed with 70 points. Junior Gabe Luebbert also came in 16th for the Hornets in 17:49.91 and junior Nathan Quick was 17th in 17:50.53.

Sophomore Brock Fisher finished 21st in 17:51.74 for Fulton, while senior Tanner Steffen placed 23rd in 17:59.01.

North Callaway also competed at the meet and took 19th place as a team with 500 points. Sophomore Khobi Kellerman finished 48th in 18:55.82, followed by sophomore Ean Rohrbach (104th, 20:37.41), sophomore Ivan Roesner (134th, 22:06.47), sophomore Joshua Craghead (137th, 22:29.65), and junior Jared Bailey (144th, 23:03.79).

In the varsity girls' division, freshman Daelyn Schmauch came in fifth in 20:12.99 as North Callaway also placed fifth as a team with 161 points. Junior Reyna Schmauch was 11th in 20:57.76 for the Ladybirds, while junior Kyla Bertschinger took 29th in 22:15.51.

Junior Brooke Fischer also placed 73rd for North Callaway in 24:41.20 and freshman Brianna Douglas was 74th in 24:41.47.

Fulton, meanwhile, finished 15th as a team with 367 points. Junior Nicole Efferson took 55th in 23:38.83, followed by junior Olivia Rice (87th, 25:35.20), sophomore Mollie Huff (92nd, 25:46.49), junior Adrea Shadbolt (99th, 26:20.12), and senior Katie Lowry (102nd, 26:30.85).

Fatima scored 40 points to collect the girls' team title.

Fulton runs in the Boonville Invitational at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

North Callaway competes in the Elsberry Invitational at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26.