NIXA, MO — The MSHSAA Class 5 District 2 Cross Country Championships took place over the week with runners from Webb City, Carthage, and Joplin all taking part.
Joplin’s Ava Doll led the pack and Webb City secured a strong second-place team finish in the girls 5,000-kilometer run.
Joplin’s Ava Doll Takes the Crown
Joplin senior Ava Doll dominated the field, claiming first place with an impressive time of 17 minutes, 46.01 seconds. Her commanding performance set the tone for Joplin’s effort, though the team finished fifth overall with 160 points. Other notable Joplin runners included Eliana Lujan (20:27.63, 33rd), Madelyn Kehrer (20:42.13, 39th), Shelby Fields (20:46.06, 44th), and Aly Modras (20:55.34, 47th).
Webb City Runners Power to Second Place
Webb City’s girls’ team delivered a stellar performance, finishing second overall with 60 points, just behind St. Teresa’s Academy. Senior Brooke Hedger led the Cardinals with a third-place finish in 18:08.46, followed closely by Araceli Perez in fifth at 18:42.81. The team’s depth was showcased by Brooke Collard (19:17.27, 11th), Emma McKinzie (19:29.98, 16th), and Olivia Klotz (19:45.84, 25th), with Tatym Buster (20:09.08, 31st) rounding out their scoring.
Carthage Shows Grit in Eighth-Place Finish
Carthage’s girls secured eighth place with 221 points, led by Zeilah Cifuentes, who finished 14th in 19:23.82. The Tigers showed resilience with Stefany Lopez Reyes (20:45.59, 43rd), Laney Daniel (20:49.02, 44th), Hadley White (21:18.37, 56th), and Lauren Carney (22:21.12, 71st) contributing to the team score. Genesis Fuentes-Elias (22:32.38, 73rd) and Jaylynn Pugh (22:43.59, 75th) also added depth. Despite a 2:57 split, Carthage’s runners averaged 20:55, reflecting their competitive spirit.