As Jefferson City coach Brett Phillips put it, the Jays and Lady Jays weren't doing cartwheels into the parking lot following their races at the Missouri State High School Activities Association Cross Country Championships.
But that doesn't mean they were completely distraught about their performances.
The Lady Jays earned a ninth-place finish on an overcast morning at Oak Hills Golf Center while the Jays took 13th Saturday in Class 4, both improvements from last season.
"We're not walking out of here saying, "That's an awesome day for us,'" Phillips said. "But we weren't far off of where we wanted to be."
Jefferson City sophomore Jackson Schwartz took 26th - one place shy of earning a medal - to lead the boys team, which finished with 276 points.
After missing the state meet by one place at last year's districts as a freshman, Schwartz is already looking toward what he wants to accomplish in the future.
"Missing all-state by one place is a really big motivator and I'm ready to go into track season and next cross country season," he said. "I'm ready to get back into it."
But Schwartz, who finished the race in 16:26.68, didn't have any reason to hang his head.
"Twenty-sixth place is just a heck of a race, regardless if you get a medal or not," Phillips said. "That's just a stud race. He had a great year and had a great day today."
Kaley Ruff turned in the top performance for the Lady Jays. The senior finished 34th in 19:47 to lead the girls team, which tallied 248 points.
"You don't get a medal for 34th, but 34th at the state meet is one heck of a race," Phillips said. "She is a stud kid and capped off an awesome career for us ... as good of leader as I've ever coached."
Freshmen McKenzie Gourley, Kayelee Patyon and Katie Ruth finished 75th, 95th and 106th, respectively to help lead the Lady Jays. Andi Stackman (109), Lindsey Biesemeyer (110) and Michaela Krause (112) rounded out the field for the team.
"I think we did all right," Ruff said. "We didn't have our best day, but it definitely wasn't a disaster.
"The season was very successful for us. We had a bunch of great races and we really came together as a team."
Saxon Teubner was 65th for the Jays, while Eli Jacobs was 104th and Courtney Fitch was 125th. Cole Biesemeyer (147th), Josh Sabala (152nd) and Jayden Walker (160th) rounded out the field for the boys.
"It's tough to go home from the state meet being 13th and feeling just really happy," Phillips said. "But we were very close to as good of a race as we could have been. That's what you've got to focus on. I'm proud of them. We had a good year."
Lafayette: Wildwood won the boys title with 41 points, while Union (86), Rock Bridge (144) and West Plains (160) rounded out the top four teams.
Nerinx Hall took home top honors on the girls side with 82 points, while Lafayette: Wildwood (103), Blue Springs South (121) and Rock Bridge (153) completed the top four.
With four of seven state-meet runners returning next year on the girls team, and six of seven returning for the boys, Phillips is feeling optimistic about the future.
But he also stressed the importance of committing to a year-round endurance plan.
"It's all about work," Phillips said. "If we're willing to do the work, and I think these kids are, then we should be strong again next season."
Added Schwartz: "I'm feeling very good about the future. I'm hoping in the next couple years we can go out there and make a name for Jefferson City cross country."
Class 4 Boys Cross Country
Team Standings
- 1. Lafayette: Wildwood, 41; 2. St. Louis University High, 86; 3. Rock Bridge, 144; 4. West Plains, 160; 5. Rockhurst, 165; 6. Marquette, 208; 7. Blue Springs, 238; 8. Jackson, 240; 9. Liberty, 242; 10. Parkway West, 257; 11. Webster Groves, 261; 12. Webb City, 268; 13. Jefferson City, 276; 14. Lee's Summit West, 291; 15. Timberland, 315; 16. Park Hill South, 317.
Top 25 Individuals (All-State)
- 1. Stephen Mugeche, Blue Springs, 15:32.23; 2. Clayton Adams, Kearney, 15:43.24; 3. Austin Hindman, Lafayette, 15:44.52; 4. Dylan Quisenberry, Lafayette, 15:48.12; 5. Nathan Straubel, Platte County, 15:50.06; 6. Matt Hennessey, St. Louis University High, 15:50.94; 7. Devin Meyrer, Lafayette, 16:00.78; 8. Marcus Johnson, Nixa, 16:01.60; 9. Nathan Hall, Kickapoo, 16:01.70; 10. Alec Haines, Lafayette, 16:04.09; 11. William Thompson, Rockhurst, 16:05.10; 12. Tyler Lawson, Webster Groves, 16:06.08; 13. Sean Conlin, Fort Zumwalt East, 16:08.82; 14. Jordan Inman, West Plains, 16:11.05; 15. Jeremy Inman, West Plains, 16:14.91.
- 16. Jesse Herd, Branson, 16:17.08; 17. Aaron Dugan, Hillsboro, 16:19.73; 18. Nicky Matteucci, Parkway South, 16:19.75; 19. Thomas Hogan, St. Louis University High, 16:19.84; 20. Andrew Osborne, Parkway West, 16:19.97; 21. Brandon Colner, Liberty, 16:22.16; 22. Jack Jeffers, Jackson, 16:22.49; 23. Tucker Melles, Park Hill South, 16:23.54; 24. Zach Balleau, Eureka, 16:24.37; 25. Adam Sandstedt, Rock Bridge, 16:25.48.
Jefferson City Individuals
- 26. Jackson Schwartz, 16:26.68; 65. Saxon Teubner, 17:03.39; 104. Eli Jacobs, 17:21.15; 125. Courtney Fitch, 17:34.38; 147. Cole Biesemeyer, 17:50.31; 152. Josh Sabala, 17:53.98; 160. Jayden Walker, 18:11.45.
Class 4 Girls Cross Country
Team Standings
- 1. Nerinx Hall, 82; 2. Lafayette: Wildwood, 103; 3. Blue Springs South, 121; 4. Rock Bridge, 153; 5. Kearney, 169; 6. Raymore-Peculiar, 180; 7. West Plains, 208; 8. Jackson, 220; 9. Jefferson City, 248; 10. Liberty, 259; 11. Lee's Summit North, 260; 12. Eureka, 260; 13. Lee's Summit West, 268; 14. Holt, 291; 15. Parkway West, 303; 16. Webster Groves, 305.
Top 25 Individuals (All-State)
- 1. Hannah Long, Eureka, 17:38.29; 2. Sophia Racette, Nerinx Hall, 18:09.01; 3. Hannah Pierson, Marquette, 18:13.14; 4. Grace Klausen, Blue Springs South, 18:15.45; 5. Anna West, Lafayette, 18:20.06; 6. Tori Findley, Blue Springs South, 18:20.67; 7. Sarah Nicholson, Lafayette, 18:21.81; 8. Ann Campbell, St. Teresa's, 18:30.19; 9. Chelsea Drum, Jackson, 18:39.53; 10. Maddi Leigh, Francis Howell, 18:42.59; 11. Ashton Henson, Blue Springs South, 18:45.15; 12. Kayla Funkenbusch, Rock Bridge, 18:49.08; 13. Emma Evans, Winnetonka, 18:59.83; 14. Melissa Menghini, Rockwood Summit, 19:07.60; 15. Madison Nasteff, Liberty, 19:12.37.
- 16. Rebekah Geddes, Platte County, 19:14.55; 17. Olivia Franklin, Kearney, 19:15.54; 18. Stephanie Boan, Liberty North, 19:16.94; 19. Kiley Deain, Raymore-Peculiar, 19:17.43; 20. Mikayla Reed, Washington, 19:17.62; 21. Anne Wood, Kearney, 19:24.18; 22. Emma Roth, Park Hill South, 19:24.64; 23. Erin Smith, Nerinx Hall, 19:24.99; 24. Emily Griesenauer, Holt, 19:25.61; 25. Sydney Sanders, West Plains, 19:25.78.
Jefferson City Individuals
- 34. Kaley Ruff, 19:47.89; 75. McKenzie Gourley, 20:17.58; 95. Kayelee Payton, 20:32.98; 106. Katie Ruth, 20:39.48; 109. Andi Stackman, 20:42.61; 110. Lindsey Biesemeyer, 20:43.48; 112. Michaela Krause, 20:45.20.