Cross County Districts
David Lazalde and Alex Guadarrama used a different form of redemption on their way to qualifying for sectionals at the Missouri Class 4, District 6, Cross Country Championships held Oct. 21 at Raymore-Peculiar High School in Peculiar.
Lazalde, just a sophomore, just missed a berth to sectionals at last year’s district championships, finishing in 33rd place. The top 30 finishers advance to sectionals.
At Saturday’s race, Lazalde was never in danger of not moving on, finishing in 21st place in a time of 17:41.89.
“I am very excited to qualify,” Lazalde said. “I really wanted to make it to sectionals because I was just three places from sectionals last year. I am ready to go to state.”
For Guadarrama, this was his last chance to make it to sectionals after not qualifying as a freshman, sophomore or junior. The senior settled in the middle of a group of runners in 25th to 35th place before finishing strong for 24th place in a
time of 17:46.79.
“I am really happy with how everything has turned out,” Guadarrama said. “In the middle of the season I was out two weeks due to injury and I thought my season was done after that. I was really disappointed at that point, but I guess it was all worth it at the end. Hopefully I won’t be done after sectionals. I want to end my senior year on a good note and make everyone proud.”
Guadarrama said he set the goal of qualifying for sectionals at the end of last year’s track season.
“I took a couple of weeks off after track and then I began off-season,” Guadarrama said. “I showed up every day to practice and I knew the way I was running then that sectionals would not be out reach. I knew it was doable because of all the good workouts I had. I showed up six days a week and put in a lot of miles.”
Ryan Riddle of Webb City won the individual title in a time of 15:54.45. Lee’s Summit West had four runners in the top six to win the team title.
Lazalde and Guadarrama led the McDonald County boys’ team to a ninth place finish out of 11 teams. Third for the Mustangs was Jackson Behm in 46th place in a time of 18:51.96 followed by Garrett Spears, 55th, 19:17.02; Elijah Habert, 61st, 19:33.44; Tyler Moritz, 66th, 20:18; and Bryce Berryhill, 73rd, 21:34.85.
Sectionals are set for Oct. 28 at Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton.
Girls
Addy Mick led the McDonald County girls, but failed to crack the top 30, finishing in 40th place in a time of 22:55.03.
Second for the Lady Mustangs was Natalie Staib in 55th place overall in a time of 24:21.28 followed by Andrea Creason, 67th, 28:55.56; Istarlin Aden, 68th, 29:49.94; and Tyler Walker, 70th, 32:51.44.
Miranda Dick of Raymore-Peculiar led a one, two, three finish by the Lady Panthers, covering the 5000 meters in a time of 18:51.96.
Raymore-Peculiar won the team title over Lee’s Summit West, while the Lady Mustangs were ninth.