The Lindbergh High School girls’ cross country team continued its ascent as a state finisher on the legs of senior Colleen Riley last Saturday.
The Flyers finished eighth in the Class 4 state cross country championships after placing ninth in 2009 and 10th in 2008, all with Riley finishing as their top runner.
Riley led Lindbergh with a personal-best 33rd-place finish in a time of 19:47.04 on the five-kilometer course at Oak Hills Golf Center in Jefferson City. Fellow senior Grace Watt finished close behind in 35th with a time of 19:49.96. The state champion, Samantha Nightingale of Blue Springs South High School, timed 17:59.64.
Finishing third for Lindbergh was junior Lindsay Ganter in 71st in 20:28. Senior Connie Bevirt placed 81st in 20:31. Freshmen Maddison Russell and Mel Paridy placed 98th in 20:45 and 102nd in 20:46, respectively. Senior Sophia Meyer finished seventh for the Flyers and 124th overall in 20:58.
Lindbergh advanced to the state meet by winning the District 1 title in Jackson behind a third-place finish by Riley, and the Sectional 1 title at Parkway Central High School over Eureka by two points behind an eighth-place finish by Riley.
Mehlville Senior High School was represented by Senior Hannah Sebold, who finished in 87th with a time of 20:38.
Oakville High School freshman Melissa Brown placed 143rd in a time of 21:10 as the Tigers’ lone qualifier on the girls’ side.
In the boys’ Class 4 state championship, Lindbergh senior teammates Danny Deposki and Taylor Kramer closed out their careers together by finishing 30th and 31st, respectively, with times of 16:34.97 and 16:35.53. Saturday was the third time racing in the state championship for both Flyers. Deposki and Kramer led the Flyers to the title of the Jackson District meet in October.
Oakville junior Jake Bast crossed the line in 93rd with a time of 17:16 as Oakville’s only state qualifier. It was Bast’s third appearance in the state championship.
The lone Mehlville state qualifier, freshman Nick Bewen, debuted on the state course in 122nd with a time of 17:33.
