Durant’s high school and middle school cross country teams each jumped into the 2024 season on a warm Saturday in Wright City with several high placers, including the individual champions.
On the high school girls side, the Lady Lions had the top finisher in the 2400-meter competition as Avery Sager cruised to the title in nine minutes, 36 seconds.
Katelyn Mauck chipped in a third place time of 10:28.39 and Brightyn Pilgreen clocked in ninth at 11:13.87.
Lion stalwart Kason Lowery claimed the title in the high school boys’ division with a top mark of 10:17.65 on the 3200-meter course. Teammate Zach Ervin was just behind as the event runner- up at 10:24.33 while Madison Roper checked in 13th in 11:46.15.
The Durant Middle School girls took home top team honors thanks to a trio of Top 10 placers.
That group was led by Ava Anderson in fifth with a time of 7:14.90, while Grace Morrison clocked in seventh in 7:23.16 and Kyah French was eighth at 7:26.43. Elizabeth Hitchcock added an 11th place time of 7:41.15 with Aubri Hixon 23rd in 9:33.27.
For the Lion boys in the middle school division, three more Top 10 placers fueled a first-place team showing for Durant in the 2400 meters.
Cayden Reinecker took second in 9:32.27, Cameron Mauck checked in fourth at 9:49.44 with Jet Dufur placing 10th with a mark of 10:39.40.
Adding to the finish was Braidon Varner in 16th at 11:11.10 and Dax Tucker was just behind in 17th in 11:23.56. Jacob Burgess wrapped up in 23rd with a time of 12:46.69.
“We are excited for a new year,” said Durant assistant coach Amanda Reynolds. “Our high school is fairly young but is showing lots of potential. We have a good middle school group this year as well and the future looks bright for them.”
The next action for all groups is slated for Saturday at Pecan Grove Park in Sherman, Texas.