Republic’s cross-country team has wrapped up its best season in years. The Tigers sent three runners to the state meet in Jefferson City, more than at any time in the four-year stint of coach Christie Bishop.
“We definitely are getting better,” says Bishop. “We had a setback this year because we got bumped up to a higher class (Class 4). Individually, our kids felt like they struggled a little bit, but considering we have much higher competition now, I felt like they did really well.
The season ended in disappointment, with none of Republic’s runners qualifying for all-state honors. Junior Ryan Way finished 58th in the higher class, despite shaving about a half-minute off his time on the same course last year. His time would have qualified him as an all-state runner if Republic were still competing in Class 3.
Freshman Megan Hergesheimer finished 56th for Republic, and senior Kayla Bartelsmeyer was 101st in her first time on the hilly course in Jefferson City.
Bishop says the tougher competition was frustrating at times, but it didn’t effect the team’s attitude.
“They worked really hard all year,” says Bishop. “As a coach that’s all you can hope for.”
Republic ended its season with 15 boys and seven girls on the team, compared to only ten boys and one girl on last year’s squad. Bishop says the team grew enough that she added an assistant — Jacinda Canfield — who contributed to the Republic’s success. And things could get even better over the next year or two.
“They have a very strong junior high program,” says Bishop. “I’m really looking forward to that group coming through.”
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