FULTON — Placing second to Union’s Lady Wildcats during the Four Rivers Conference (FRC) meet, Matt Candrl’s Owensville Dutchgirl cross country squad looked to post a top-four finish during Saturday’s Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 3 Cross Country meet at Fulton High School looking to book passage to this Saturday’s MSHSAA Cross Country Championships on the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.

Running in the first of six races, Dutchgirl senior Ilene Limberg was looking to join Sophia Ashner as the only other Owensville High School Cross Country athlete to qualify for the state meet four times.

Posting a second-place time of 19:04.80, Limberg is now one step closer to joining Ashner also as the only other OHS harrier to earn All-State honors in cross country throughout all four years of high school.

“Ilene just goes out and does her thing,” Candrl said. “She has been a workhorse for the last four years and it is only fitting that she gets to close her high school career at the state meet.”

Fellow Dutchgirls joining Limberg with top-30 finishes good for All-District honors in Fulton were Abbie Gibson (13th, 20:57.92), Brynn Wright (17th, 21:08.53) and Hannah Gehlert (28th, 21:39.69).

Placing third as a team with 107 points, Candrl’s Dutchgirls qualified for the state meet finishing behind St. Charles West (37) and Lutheran St. Charles (93).

Joining Owensville’s All-District quartet at Gans Creek will be Alison Daniels (60th, 24:03.78), Leola Hamann (71st, 24:34.88) and Elaina Lebish (81st, 25:24.49).

Going into the Class 3, District 3 boys race, Zach Holtmeyer was looking to punch his second ticket to state in as many years.

Staying with the main pack throughout the entirety of the race Holtmeyer posted a seventh-place time of 17:17.89 earning him a shot at his second state medal in as many years at Gans Creek.

“Zach just gets after it every day whether it’s in practice or a meet,” Candrl said. “I’m anxious to see what he will do in his second time racing the state course.”

As a team, the Dutchmen wound up placing eighth with 196 points behind Centralia (42), Southern Boone (88), Fulton (115), Priory (124), Blair Oaks (173), Fatima (177) and St. Clair (177).

Nearly getting some company, Holtmeyer then saw teammate Drake Dietrich cross the finish line with a 32nd-place time of 18:25.08.

This put him two places and 12 seconds out of the top 30.

“Drake has worked hard to get where he’s at as a sophomore,” Candrl said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how much he can improve as a junior and a senior.”

Fellow Dutchmen helping the orange and black to an eighth-place team finish included Cristopher Reyes (47th, 18:57.70), Kyle Bollman (57th, 19:13.52), Ty Price (64th, 19:26.57) and Westin Kramme (88th, 20:37.98).

Owensville’s Dutchgirls will compete at Gans Creek on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 9:45 a.m., while Holtmeyer will compete in the Class 3 boys race at 11:15 a.m., with awards being presented at noon.