CHS cross country season opens at Missouri Southern

With one click of the gun from former Carthage High School coach Carl Lewton, the 2008 prep cross country season got under way.

The Carthage Tigers and Lady Tigers were off and running Tuesday at the MSSU Warm-up at Missouri Southern State University.

Lewton was in attendance to see the Tigers and Lady Tigers face Webb City, Joplin and Nevada in the non-scoring meet.

Carthage’s Brandon Weaver, a senior, captured first place overall on the boys’ side with a time of 10:54.00.

The Lady Tiers were paced by Tristen Bass, who finished with a time of 13:54.00 for second place overall.

“Everybody, for the most part, improved from last year,” said head coach Andy Youngworth of the meet.

The course was altered from a year ago as the finish line was moved from its original spot near Fred G. Hughes Stadium northeast toward Newman Road.

“I think this (course) was a little tougher,” Youngworth said. A light rain falling made the ground moist, but it didn’t appear to bother any of the athletes.

Alex White made the biggest improvement from a year ago, finishing with a time of 15:02.00 — more than three minutes better from his time last season.

Joel Williams, finishing behind Weaver, took fourth overall with a time of 11:12.00. Billy Mendell, the younger brother of 2007 graduating senior Derek Mendell, finished eighth overall with a time of 11:33.00.

Travis Kyte, one of two seniors on the boys’ squad, finished 10th overall with a time of 11:50.00.
   

Mandolin Smith finished behind Bass on the girls’ side; taking third overall with a time of 13:54.00. Shelby Youngworth was sixth with a time of 14:55.00 and Haley Brownfield was eighth with a time of 15:12.00.

Carthage travels to Lake Springfield at 8 a.m. Saturday for the SW Missouri Meet.