BOLIVAR — Aaron Ashley returned to his native Bolivar on Saturday and came home with a Class 5 District 2 third-place finish.
The Nixa senior posted a time of 15:48 while earning his third consecutive berth to State.
Ashley lived in Bolivar until he was in the fourth grade.
“I love being back here,” Ashley said. “It brings back some memories. I went to the pool (near the Bolivar Municipal Golf Course) a lot and I played T-ball on the baseball fields here. My grandma still lives here.”
Ashley also likes the layout of the 5,000-meter course that basically runs along the borders of the golf course.
“It’s a great course, one of the best courses in the area,” he said. “I love it. It’s very flat. If there is a hill, it's downhill.”
As good as Ashley felt about his surroundings, his legs weren’t feeling strong, keeping him from making a charge at the top two finishers from Ray-Pec.
"It was like I was running on clouds. I didn't have much to give for the kick," Ashley said of his legs. "It kind of depends on the day, as far as how your legs feel. I can usually tell how my legs will feel on the first run-out. Sometimes, they do actually warm up. Today, that didn't happen.”
Ashley enters State somewhat bittersweet, knowing it will mark the end of his Eagles cross country career.
“It's a weird feeling, a different feeling than I thought it would be,” he said. “I’ve been with Nixa the past six years. I love everything about our program. I love our guys and the team. It's been a good thing to be a part of.”
With the top 30 finishers from Saturday advancing, the Eagles will also be represented at State by Nicholas Flannery, Reyes Martinez, Zane Novinger, Gage Holmes and Asher Coorts. Flannery was sixth (16:00), Martinez eighth (16:05), Novinger 18th (16:29), Holmes 27th (16:49) and Coorts 30th (16:54).
Ozark's Elsie Estes placed second in the Class 5 District 2 girls race, after running side by side with Joplin’s Ava Doll and Webb City’s Brooke Hedger for the first half of the race.
Estes was clocked in 18:33, while Doll won with an 18:26 and Hedger was third in 18:55.
“I kind of liked racing with all of us together,” Estes said. “It was different. It's never been us three together. It was intense and more stressful. It put some pressure on me to be my best. It definitely pushed me further.”
Estes won’t change her training this week in practice leading up to State.
“I want to do the normal stuff and stay consistent with my routine,” she said. “I’m going to do the same thing.”
Ozark’s Sydney Lister and Laine Garner are also bound for State. Lister finished 10th (19:37) and Garner 19th (20:12).
Nixa’s Brianna Bidinger was 14th (19:58) and Taylor Lemmon 26th (20:27).
Emily Landry and Macy Landry finished fourth and fifth in Class 1 District 2 to top a trio of State qualifiers for Chadwick.
Emily was fourth (21:25), Macy fifth (21:28) and teammate Raeleigh Little ninth (22:09).
On the boys side, the Cardinals’ Thayer Little was 11th (18:16) and John McCart 29th (19:09).
Luke Faulkner, of Spokane, took fifth place (18:11) in Class 2 District 2.
The Owls’ Isaiah Verge was 15th (19:08) and Patrick Grogan 26th (19:29).
Sparta’s Clayton Albers was 30th (19:39).
In the girls race, Sparta’s Kahlen Humble was 12th (23:09) and Sophia Lily 25th (23:45).
Spokane’s Azela Duarte was 16th (23:16) and Katelynne Hensley 26th (24:01).
In Class 3 District 2, Clever's Cali Smith placed fourth (21:22) and Kaydence Butts 10th (21:58).
