The Durant cross country teams opened the 2026 season Saturday with several high finishes in the Tristan Mc-Gowen Memorial Meet at Wright City, including top two placers in both high school girls and boys.
Senior Avery Sager claimed gold medal honors in the girls division by blazing through the 2400-meter course in 9 minutes, 48 seconds. Elizabeth Hitchcock added a second-place mark of 11:11.
Other Lady Lion medalists were Grace Morrison in fifth at 11:45, Laynee Emert seventh in 12:16, Kyah French 11th with a time of 12:48 as well as Caitlyn Ortega in 14th while clocking in 12:59. Adding to the Durant girls performances were Aubri Hixon at 19th (13:49), Selena Osorio in 20th (13:56), Ellery George checking in 23rd (15:21), Skylar St. John was 24th (16:50) and Abigail Hixon ended 26th (18:58).
Durant’s high school boys led the charge as well with Zach Ervin capturing gold on the 3200-meter course with a mark of 11 minutes, 20 seconds and Hudson Phillips just behind in second at 11:27.
Medalists for the Lions also included Jared Osorio in 12:04, Isaiah Hall was eighth at 12:31, Kason Ford took ninth with a 12:58, Blake Rhynes checked in 10th in 12:59, Jaxon Osuna placed 11th at 13:10, Cameron Mauck picked up a 12th place time of 13:12, Rylan Marsh was 14th in 13:22 and Hudson Lee clocked in with a 13:28 for 15th.
Adding to the Durant boys finishes were Noah Brumley in 20th (14:38), Kolson Gordon was 24th (15:34), Ian Spencer posted a 25th (15:39), D.J. Donaldson chipped in 30th (16:59) and Remington Varner wrapped up 32nd (20:08).
On the middle school side, the Durant girls were led by Jemma Ammons taking third at 7:10 as well as Baylee Sullivan fourth in 7:24 and Aubrey Perrin sixth with a time of 7:52.
Also for the young Lady Lions, Olivia Makke was seventh (8:06); Addison Hearn, eighth (8:07); Oceana Bond, ninth (8:07); Julia Rhynes, 10th (8:07); Leslie Carmona, 13th (8:34); Ruby Riley, 16th (9:30); Abilgail Gardner, 18th (9:39); Jaydee Seals, 19th (9:41); and Carlie Garcia, 21st (12:02).
For the middle school Lion boys, Jackson Barnes led the way in sixth with a 10:56. Lawson Scott ended 10th (11:24); Luke Munoz, 14th (12:46); Collin Palmer, 17th (14:13); Jacoby Curiel, 18th (14:26); Ryan Simulescu, 20th (15:39); and Ethan Bishop, 23rd (20:05).
