Ladycat runners are Big 8 champions

One point separated the Cassville Ladycats from the Carl Junction Lady Bulldogs at the Big 8 Conference Cross Country Championships at Monett on Thursday. Chris Shore's Ladycat runners defeated CJ 47-48 to claim the 2010 conference title. Monett weighed in at third with 52 points, and Lamar scored 65 for fourth place in the team standings.

East Newton captured the boys crown, scoring 33 points. Monett was second with 38, Lamar took third with 85, Seneca scored 93 for fourth, and Carl Junction was fifth with 110.

Monett's Hannah Martin and Madeleine Weber took the top two positions in the girls race with Martin winning on the hilly 5K course in 21:45.

Cassville, with just the minimum five runners to qualify as a complete team, packed four runners in the top 15. Deborah Kern led the 'Cats on this day, placing fourth. Jessica Barrientos, the experienced senior, was fifth. Reba Dupont and Sydney Beuterbaugh placed 13th and 15th respectively, and Destinee Naugle held on to 19th position to secure the team victory.

In the boys race, Monett's Chris Renteria held off East Newton's Brett Sherwood for the individual title, running 17:44. But the Patriots put five runners in the top 13 to fend off the Cubs for the team trophy.

Cassville's Taylor Dodson placed 18th with teammates Jordan Shore in 27th, Walker Perez in 31st and Chris Hinebaugh in 33rd.

"I am really proud of our girls," said Cassville's Chris Shore. "They knew they were going to have to step up and run their best, and they did it."

Both Kern and Barrientos were named first team All-Conference, and Dupont received second team recognition.

Six of the Big 8 teams will be in action in district cross country meets on Saturday, Oct. 30. Carl Junction, Cassville and Monett will compete in the Class 3 District 6 meet at Bolivar. East Newton will host the Class 2 District 5 meet, which includes Lamar and Seneca.