Grain Valley boys claim first state berth as team

Just three years into its existence, the Grain Valley boys cross country team has earned its first trip to the state championships.
The Eagles – with Tyree Meadows and Tyler Ishmael leading the way – claimed second place in the Class 3 District 5 meet Saturday at Moberly Country Club.
“We’re going to enjoy the moment for now,” Eagles coach Michael Painting said.
Meadows captured second in 17 minutes, 46 seconds, while Ishmael was third in 17:55.
Josh Amos (13th), Matt Tecce (19th) and Sam Jonesi (36th) completed the scoring as the Eagles totaled 73 points to edge Warrensburg’s 79 for the final state spot.
“The hilly course took its toll on some of our runners but we managed to hang on,” Painting said. “Sam Jonesi had to step up and be our fifth man due to Brandon Schrader running sick. I was proud of their gutsy performance the last mile as they overcame some of the key runners from Warrensburg who were rated ahead of us.”
Oak Grove’s Tyler Banks also earned a state berth, taking fifth in 18:09 as the Panthers finished 10th as a team.
The Grain Valley girls weren’t as fortunate, taking sixth as a team. Myranda Coons rallied over the final 800 meters to earn 14th and a trip to state with her 22:41 finish.
CLASS 1 DISTRICT 8: The St. Mary’s boys failed to earn their 21st straight trip to state as a team but got three runners to the state meet.
BJ Pettus (fifth), Tyler Graef (eighth) and Connor Pace (ninth) finished in the top 15 to advance for the second straight year as the Trojans finished third.
The girls team finished fifth. Only Sarah White, who took 12th, earned a trip to state.