Two Cats excel at state cross country meet

Provided by Coach Joe Garrity

Freshmen Breanna Bone (pictured, left) and Laila Stephens represented Fredericktown at the Class 3 Cross Country Championships Saturday in Columbia. The race was held at Gans Creek, which is Mizzou’s home course.

Bone and Stephens shared the line with 169 of the best Class 3 girls runners throughout Missouri. Bone led the way, setting a new school record of 20:14.4 and passing 18 runners on her way to a 34th place finish. Stephens was close behind, picking up the pace and passing 38 runners to finish in 35th place at 20:15.5 for a new personal best.

The competition was tough, with 29 of the 33 runners ahead of them all running a season best in the championship race.

Even though Breanna and Laila were just 4 and 5 spots away from being All-State, I am so impressed by their performance, especially as freshmen. They raced with determination and confidence, and put down a nearly perfect race on the day that mattered most.

This wraps up an outstanding season for both freshmen. While Bone came away with the school record by 1 second, Laila and Breanna have beaten the previously held school record from 2021 five times each this season. I’m looking forward to seeing what they will accomplish in the next 3 years as both runners and leaders.