Area cross country runners looking to complete the Gasconade County Cross Country hat trick started their quest last Tuesday during the Hermann Cross Country Invitational at Loutre Shore Country Club north of Hermann.

Starting with the middle school boys race, St. James’ Ashton Moreland topped the field with a first-place time of 12:20.81.

Hermann’s duo of Lance Uthlaut (15th, 13:27.01) and CJ Mires (17th, 13:41.21) were the lone county harriers to secure medals in the middle school boys race.

Robbie Rodriguez led Owensville’s Dutchmen with a 28th-place time of 14:30.88. He was followed by fellow Owensville Middle School (OMS) sixth grader Max Altemeyer in a 32nd-place time of 14:48.50.

Finishing right between them was Hermann’s Liam Brown in a 30th-place time of 14:36.26.

Also helping Hermann place seventh as a team were Eli Kohlbusch (42nd, 15:33.08), Andrew Calvert (44th, 15:47.94) and Benjamin Morris (45th, 15:51.80).

Hunter Anderson was the third OMS Dutchmen across the finish line with a 49th-place time of 16:43.35.

Other OMS Dutchmen helping them place eighth as a team were Dylan Dietrich (62nd, 18:18.27), Ricky Ringeisen (63rd, 18:24. 38) and Merlin Ramirez (64th, 18:47.64).

Washington’s Blue Jays topped the middle school boys team standings with 45 points.

Next in the middle school girls race, fans saw a lot of blue with eight Hermann Lady Bearcats in the top 27.

They were led by Lorena Uthlaut’s eighth-place time of 15:31.47.

Norah Eggen was Hermann’s second medalist placing 12th in 16:07.95.

Tenley McFadden made it three Lady Bearcats with medals taking 14th in 16:22.81.

Brylie Haver made it a quartet of Lady Bearcat medalists placing 17th in 16:40.99.

Owensville’s Madalyn Pigg grabbed one of the final 20 medals with a 19th-place time of 16:58.93.

Also helping Hermann place second in the middle school girls team standings behind Pacific were Emma Manning (22nd, 17:21.79), Katie Boedges (23rd, 17:34.31) and Reagan Kahler (24th, 17:41.82).

Annalise Dryer was the next Dutchgirl to cross the finish line in a 28th-place time of 18:19.78.

Fellow Dutchgirls helping OMS place seventh as a team were Haley Boland (37th, 19:44.88), Tristyn Weirich (43rd, 22:17.92), Ella Barker (47th, 23:02.68) and Addison Sieckmann (48th, 23:02.72).

Taking up nearly half of the top 15, Owensville’s junior varsity Dutchmen took home top honors in the team standings with 19 points.

Freshman Ty Price won the race in a time of 20:11.08 followed by Westin Kramme’s second-place time of 20:20.91.

Also earning medals for the JV Dutchmen at Hermann were Braden Perkins (4th, 20:27.05), Drake Dietrich (5th, 20:31.47), Tristan Strothkamp (7th, 20:51.29), Kylen Menz (12th, 21:14.39) and Bryce Kramme (13th, 21:34.16).

Hermann’s Chase Branson (6th, 20:45.45) and Isaiah Brown (14th, 21:34.72) also medaled for the JV Bearcats.

Five county varsity boys earned medals led by Owensville freshman Zach Holtmeyer’s second-place time of 17:46.34.

Felix Guerrero was right behind Holtmeyer taking third place in 17:51.68.

Hermann’s trio of Nolan Kopp (7th, 18:23.42), John Hiatt (11th, 18:39.98) and Conner Manning (13th, 18:52.27) also medaled.

Hermann (68) and Owensville (75) placed third and fourth respectively in the varsity boys team standings.

Capping the afternoon of racing from Hermann was the varsity girls.

Owensville’s Ilene Limberg led county runners with a third-place time of 20:29.95.

Hermann’s Amelia Uthlaut led the Lady Bearcats with a fifth-place time of 20:55.26.

Also earning medals were Owensville’s Hannah Gehlert (10th, 22:11.43) and Abbie Gibson (11th, 22:34.65).

Other Lady Bearcat medalists included Alaina Heaney (12th, 22:40.36) and Cecilia Shepard (19th, 23:44.91).

Results from last night’s (Tuesday) OHS Invitational will be in next week’s Republican.