OWENSVILLE — Nearly two weeks after hosting the Four Rivers Conference (FRC) Cross Country meet at Loutre Shore Country Club, Keely Uthlaut’s Hermann Lady Bearcat and Bearcat cross country teams stayed in Gasconade County over the weekend at Owensville High School to compete in the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2, District 3 Cross Country meet held Saturday at Owensville High School.

Once both Class 2 races were finished, the Bearcat duo of junior CJ Mires and senior Ryker Ash both posted top-30 times to earn another week of practice and the chance to compete in the Class 2 Boys Race Friday morning at 9:45 a.m.

Nearly breaking 18 minutes, Mires posted a 19th-place time of 18:04.40 while Ash grabbed one of the final state-qualifying spots finishing 29th in a time of 18:20.83.

Also helping the Bearcats place fifth as a team with 202 points were senior Chase Branson (37th, 19:04.10), senior Nathan Menke (59th, 19:37.25), freshman Matthew Tallent (76th, 20:15.98), sophomore Jackson Engemann (85th, 20:41.08) and sophomore Andrew Calvert (106th, 21:29.54).

Hermann finished behind Whitfield (100), Fatima (101), Houston (111) and Elsberry (201) in the Class 2 boys team standings.

They also finished ahead of Steelville (206), Palmyra (208), Brentwood (231), New Bloomfield (246), Veritas Christian Academy (277), Belle (297), Monroe City (297), Plato (304), South Callaway (352), Principia (359), Dixon (371), Mark Twain (383), Highland (394) and Missouri Military Academy (451).

During the Class 2 girls race, Lady Bearcat senior Cecilia Shepard led the blue and white contingency with a 53rd-place time of 23:35.62.

Lady Bearcats also helping Hermann place 13th as a team with 331 points included sophomore Eileen Swofford (70th, 23:35.62), senior Lillian Vogelsang (94th, 26:06.77), senior Makenna Witthaus (97th, 26:33.11), freshman Sidney Heldt (99th, 26:35.43), sophomore Nevaeh Bentley (107th, 28:10.77) and freshman Ellison Calvert (115th, 29:42.17).