LINN — Matt Candrl’s Owensville High School (OHS) Dutchmen and Dutchgirl cross country runners had two goals Saturday morning at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 3 Cross Country meet hosted by Linn High School on the Osage County R-2 campus.

Kicking things off with the varsity boys race, Candrl’s Dutchmen entered the meet right on the bubble of qualifying for state as a team ranked fifth with the top four teams advancing.

Seeing Owensville’s first five harriers finish in the top 40, the orange and black led by junior Zach Holtmeyer’s 11th-place time of 17:41.30 were able to earn another week of practice as a team finishing fourth out of 21 scoring teams with 136 points.

“Our guys knew that we had a good chance to get out as a team to state,” Candrl said. “They were able to get out there and run a good race in order to get it done.”

Earning All-District honors for a top-30 finish along with Holtmeyer for the Dutchmen were junior Drake Dietrich (22nd, 18:05.92) and Cristopher Reyes (27th, 18:13.90).

Seeing three guys earn All-District honors in one of the tougher districts is a testament to the amount of work they have put in throughout the season,” Candrl said.

Also helping the Dutchmen claim the final team qualifying spot for state out of Class 3, District 3 were Ty Price (36th, 19:02.80), Grayson Lairmore (40th, 19:13.80), Dylan Dietrich (48th, 19:33.30) and Hunter Anderson (19:33.30).

Joining the Dutchmen in qualifying as a team were Westminster Christian Academy (46), Centralia (55) and Bowling Green (129).

St. James’ duo of Ashton Moreland (3rd, 17:08.10) and Kylar Hodge (20th, 18:04.20) will also represent the Four Rivers Conference (FRC) out of Class 3, District 3.

Running as a part of Owensville’s Class 3 third-place team last fall, senior Hannah Gehlert looked to lead the Dutchgirls back to Gans Creek Saturday morning during the Class 3, District 3 varsity girls race at Linn.

Gehlert punched her ticket individually with an eighth-place finish in a time of 21:02.40.

“Hannah has worked hard all season and it is great to see it paying off with her closing her high school cross country career at the state meet,” Candrl said.

Also helping the Dutchgirls place 10th as a team with 188 points were Leah Hays (49th, 24:10.80), Ella Davidson (61st, 25:04.10), Abbey Quilacio (66th, 25:43.20), Leola Hamann (70th, 25:59.60), Meredith Reed (77th, 27:35.50) and Morgen Schmidt (92nd, 31:14.80).

Four additional state qualifiers from the area joining Gehlert out of the Class 3, District 3 varsity girl’s race include Sullivan’s Vanessa Nolie (7th, 21:02.40), St. Clair’s Lila Hinson (19th, 21:57.40), St. Francis Borgia’s Natalie Becker (27th, 22:21.80) and Borgia’s Reese Roesch (28th, 22:36.10).

Borgia placed third as a team with 133 points enabling teammates Emma Brueggemann, Mackenzie Wolfe, Michaela Browdy, Kaitlyn Rada and Leya Huynh.

Owensville’s Dutchmen will compete this Friday morning at 9 a.m., in the Class 3 Boys Race followed by Gehlert in the Class 3 Girls Race at 9:45 a.m.

Former OHS head football and track coach Randy Crowe will also receive a 25-year service award from MSHSAA during day one Friday morning of the 2025 MSHSAA Cross Country Championships.