COLUMBIA – The Elsberry boys team achieved another first in the history of the program as they finished in second place at the Missouri State Cross Country Championships in Columbia on Nov. 9. Two Elsberry boys and one girl, Jedidiah Heras, Nolan Wilson, and Falyn Davidson earned medals and a spot on the All-State team.

Competing on the Gans Creek course were the top 16 boys’ teams and the top 16 girls’ teams, plus top runners who had qualified individually at the Nov. 2 Class district competition.

For the EHS boys, the State meet represented an opportunity to address some unfinished business from the prior year, when a competitor unintentionally sent a spike through the heel of Seth Miller’s running shoe, ripping the shoe from his foot. Forced to run almost the entire race with one shoe, Miller was not able to perform anywhere near his best and the team failed to reach the podium.

The team’s thorough analysis of the strength of the squads they would face at State indicated it would be a tall order to beat the squad from Woodland HS, which was looking to repeat as Class 2 champions. However, the boys believed they were capable of better results than the remaining teams. In other words, they could, with their best effort, achieve a second-place finish.

It turned out the team’s analysis was spot on.

Once again, Jedidiah Heras and Nolan Wilson led the way for the running Indians. Heras, a junior, finished in fourth place, while Wilson, a senior, placed 10th, to earn individual medals. Senior Seth Miller ran another excellent race and finished in 35th place. Alan Santos, also a senior, finished 61st with another courageous effort.

The lanky juniors, Judah Byers, and Noah Hausgen, both tremendous competitors, ran in 67th and 77th place, respectively. Jack Lovelace, only a freshman, proved once again that he can compete at the varsity level with his 81st place finish.

All seven EHS runners finished in the top-half of the pack of 165 participants.

What the boys had envisioned as possible, became reality when the electronic message board indicated they had finished second among the 16 boys’ teams competing.

As the parents, grandparents, siblings, and other fans rushed to congratulate the boys on the results, there was plenty of emotion to go around. The journey through this remarkable 2024 season was demanding and required the team to continually embrace the pain associated with distance running. The boys would be the first to say that the results were worth the required sacrifice. Seniors Wilson, Miller, and Santos have completed their EHS cross country careers. They will be greatly missed by their teammates and, perhaps especially, by their coaches. Nolan Wilson, participated in cross country for six years. Few were the meets where he failed to earn a medal.

Coach Heras had this to say about this great competitor, “Nolan pushed everyone to be better, and led by example by giving 100% at every race. With his great personality, he is what every CC family needs.”

“Nobody outworks Seth Miller when it comes to CC,” noted coach Jenny-Lynn Heras. “He ran all winter in all kinds of weather conditions and all summer in the heat. That, combined with his effort at every practice, really paid off this season. Plus, he is so much fun to be around.”

Alan Santos, a dual-sport athlete, was a starter on the EHS soccer team. That commitment required him to train on his own after soccer practice and games – something few athletes would attempt.

“Alan always showed up ready to run, even after a hard week of soccer practices and games. Given his full schedule, his cross country results were amazing. He contributed greatly to the team,” Heras remarked.

Reflecting on the State meet and the senior runners, coach Mandy Hartley commented, “It was a mix of emotions – pride, remembrance, and a bit of nervousness. State was the culmination of their demanding work and dedication, and an emotional farewell to a sport that has shaped their high school experience. It was not just a competition; it was a celebration of their journey that I was so lucky to be a part of. They have left a lasting memory of their performance at State that we will all remember.”

The senior runners provided their comments on their cross country careers.

Alan Santos stated, “For me, cross country is more than running. It is about pushing hard and bettering ourselves with every race.”

“I am truly grateful to God for giving us the ability to run and have dedication throughout the season,” noted Seth Miller. “I am thankful, too, for the support from our amazing coaches and everyone that made this year possible.”

Nolan Wilson had this to say, “I am extremely proud of the team and thankful for the coaches and fans who supported us all season. We put in more work this season than we ever have in all my years in the sport. Being the first boys’ team to go to State last year and then placing second this year and getting a banner is something I will never forget. This has been the goal since we started the season, to get a banner, and seeing it all come together at the end makes it special.”

The girls’ race preceded the boys. A steady rain was falling, and temperatures were in the 40’s – less than ideal running conditions. Representing Elsberry were Falyn Davidson and Ellie Hartley. Both girls had achieved remarkable results during the 2024 season. At State, Davidson placed 17th to advance to the medal podium. Hartley ran in 35th place.

For Davidson, it was a continuation of her sensational sophomore season – a year in which she showed continual improvement.

For Hartley, it was a disappointment after she had placed 17th and medaled at State in 2023 as a sophomore. Still, her 2024 campaign was terrific by any standard other than her own.

Those who have followed her running career know just how much she demands of herself. Therefore, while she may be disappointed, we are not. To us, she is the same ultra-determined athlete and gracious competitor with the infectious smile that we have known and appreciated since she began her cross country career as a seventh- grader.

The season began in August during the dog days of summer. It ended on a chilly, rainy morning in the fall. In between, was the journey. As she pondered the State meet on the eve of the race, coach Heras looked back on the journey with gratitude, “No matter what tomorrow brings, I am so happy for the season the team has had to this point. What a great bunch of young people. It is a blessing to coach them!”