Helias takes Fulton Invitational crown, Hornets finish second

Ladybirds, Lady Hornets finish in top 10

Over 20 teams made the trek to Fulton for the annual Fulton Cross Country Invitational and the Hornets narrowly missed coming out on top at their own tournament.

The Hornets placed second with 98 points behind Helias Catholic who took home first with a score of 72. Senior Mason Gaines finished second overall with a time of 16 minutes and 52 seconds, 10 seconds behind Mexico's Alex Dukes.

Junior Brock Fisher finished in seventh at 17:42.3, Senior Nathan Quick narrowly missed the top 20 with a 22nd finish in 18:39.5, Senior Gabriel Luebbert finished at 30 with a 18:52. 6 and senior Haydon Windsor rounded Fulton's top finishers on the men's side at 49th with a 19:34.7.

The North Callaway Thuderbirds also participated and finished in 20th overall just ahead of Southern Boone with 504 points.

Junior Khobi Kellerman led the Thunderbirds at 65th with a 20:09, Junior Ean Rohrbach finished at 105 with a 21:39.4, Freshman Grant Eichman finished at 108th with a 21:48.8, Freshman Joseph Crawford finished at 132 with a 23:36, and junior Joshua McCown rounded out the Thunderbirds top five finishers at 24:25.2 at 135th.

On the girls' side Helias placed first with 32 points with North Callaway finishing in seventh and Fulton finishing at tenth. Senior Kyla Bertschinger was the Ladybirds' top finisher at 11 in 21:52.9, senior Reyna Schmauch finished at 13th in 21:57.2, freshman Kaleigh Moore finished at 15th in 22:05.8, freshman Julisa Moreno finished at 87th in 27:25.8, sophomore Brianna Douglas was two spots behind at 89th in 27:35.7.

For the Lady Hornets, freshman Kayanna Gaines was the top finisher at 30th with a 23:19.4, junior Maitane Sandonis finished just out the top 50 at 53 with a 24:47.8, Senior Nicole Efferson finished at 64th in 25:53, sophomore Caitlin Sievert finished at 72 in 26:08.6, and senior Adrea Shadbolt rounded out Fulton's top finishers at 76 with a 26:28.7.

The Hornets will travel to St. Louis for the Hancock Invitational at 7:15 a.m. Saturday. North Callaway will participate in the Elsberry Invitational on Sept. 25.