JOPLIN, Mo. — It was a storybook ending to an incredible cross country career at Joplin High School for senior Ava Doll.
On Saturday, Doll made school history when she crossed the finish line in a time of 17 minutes, 32:45 seconds to finish in first place of the 5,000-kilometer run at the Class 5 state meet at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.
Doll, taking first by 18 seconds, became the Eagles' first individual girls cross country state champion in school history in the process.
WEBB CITY GIRLS TAKE SECOND
The day's action was equally electric for Webb City, whose Cardinals girls squad mounted a fierce team effort to snag second place overall in Class 5—their highest finish since 2022. Powered by senior Brooke Hedger and junior Araceli Perez, Webb City tallied 112 points, just 22 behind champions Lee's Summit West.
Hedger, the Cardinals' anchor, gutted out a fifth-place individual finish in 18:33.50. Perez followed closely in 18th at 19:04.00, while senior Brooke Collard placed 52nd at 19:53.90 and juniors Emma McKinzie (19:55.20) and Olivia Klotz (19:55.80) finished back to back at 55th and 56th. Freshman Taytum Buster took 90th at 20:35.90 and junior Alexis Shuster took 124th (21:20.80).