COLUMBIA — By the time the rain stopped and all of the races were completed during the 2024 Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Cross Country Championships on Gans Creek’s Cross Country Course in Columbia Saturday, Owensville High School (OHS) harriers were partying like it was 1995.

Placing third in the Class 3 Girls team standings with 173 points, Matt Candrl’s Owensville Dutchgirl cross country team claimed their first piece of cross country team state hardware since Jim Collier’s 1995 Dutchmen harriers placed third in Class 3 at the Oak Hills Golf Center in Jefferson City.

“We’ve been in the top 10 four times in my 19 years here in Owensville but never on the podium until today,” Candrl said. “I’m so proud of the girls because they believed and they did what they needed to do to make it happen.”

Coming into Saturday as a three-time All-State athlete in cross country, senior Ilene Limberg looked to join former Dutchgirl harrier Sophia Ashner as a four-time All-State athlete in cross country with a top-30 finish.

Conquering the rain and muddy course conditions, Limberg cemented her place as one of the best cross country runners to grace the halls of OHS with a third-place time of 19:11.70.

Limberg’s finish was also the highest ever by an OHS Cross Country runner topping Ashner’s fourth-place finish during the 2017 MSHSAA Cross Country Championships at Jefferson City’s Oak Hills Golf Center.

“Ilene showed off her guts and desire to be the best that she could be on a day less than ideal for running,” Candrl said. “She wanted her best time and equaled it. Without her, what happened this season would not have been possible.”

Senior Brynn Wright was in the top 30 and in contention for a state medal during the first half of the race before falling back and settling for 33rd place in a time of 21:11.80.

“She was there and so close to getting into the top 30,” Candrl said.

Nearly six seconds behind Wright was Dutchgirl senior Abbie Gibson who crossed the finish line in a 37th-place time of 21:17.10.

“Abbie put a really great surge on late in the race helping improve our team score,” Candrl said.

Junior Hannah Gehlert was the next OHS harrier in orange and black across the muddy finish line in a 56th-place time of 21:42.00.

“Hannah ran a great race and did a good job fighting through the mud on the course,” Candrl said.

Senior Ali Daniels sealed the deal on Owensville’s third-place team trophy crossing the finish line as OHS’ fifth runner in a 127th-place time of 23:46.60.

“I was just really happy for the race to be over,” Daniels said. “I told myself to stay strong and to do it for the team.”

Rounding out the Dutchgirl state cross country contingency were senior Elaina Lebish (137th, 24:19.20) and Leola Hamann (138th, 24:28.20).

“It feels really good knowing that I’ll be on the gym wall,” Lebish said. “I’ll forever be thankful to Brynn and Ali for them coming out for cross country as seniors.

Limberg was not the only Four Rivers Conference (FRC) girl to earn All-State honors in cross country.

New Haven senior Janelle Cronin placed 30th in the Class 1 Girls race held Friday morning in a time of 22:03.00.

Another coach with Owensville area ties also claimed state hardware over the weekend.

Former Gerald Elementary School (GES) Principal Eric Smith helped Eureka’s Lady Wildcats to a MSHSAA Class 5 Girls team title last Friday in Columbia.

Smith is currently an assistant cross country coach at Eureka High School.