Du Quoin girls cross country team wins own invite Panthers edge out DHS for boys title
DU QUOIN - The Du Quoin High School girls cross country team captured first-place honors last Thursday at the Du Quoin Invitational held on the state fairgrounds.
The Lady Indians beat out 12 other teams in winning their third team title in four meets this fall. They totaled 18 points to second-place finisher Pinckneyville's 71.
The DHS boys placed second to neighboring Pinckneyville.
Top individual performer among the 69 competing was Du Quoin's Gabby Alongi. She recorded a first-place time of 19 minutes, 29 seconds. Olivia Phillips of the Indians was second at 20:32. Megan Cook of Okawville was third overall with a time of 20:37, but Du Quoin runners Lauren Heape, Grace Alongi and Jacqueline Crain followed at fourth (20:44), fifth (21:40) and sixth (21:45).
Other runners for DHS included Alexis George (26th at 24:34) and Nevaeh Loos (29th at 26:01).
PCHS was led by Gayle Winter's eighth-place finish in 22:16. Aubrey Bruns was 12th in 22:27. Oliva Buza was 15th in 22:49. Ashlee Hirsch was 17th in 23:10. Cagney Kwiatkowski was 19th in 23:17 and Angela Cowley was 27th in 25:23.
On the boys' side, which featured 76 runners, Landen Swiney of Du Quoin took home medalist honors with a first-place time of 16:33. Nathan Smith was seventh overall at 18:06. Wendell Killian was 12th in 18:45. David Gomes was 15th in 18:59. Slade Huntley was 26th in 19:46. Brian Winter was 29th in 19:59 and Reece Tiley was 31st in 20:03.
The Panthers were paced by Steven Hirte's fourth-place finish with a time of 17:32. Daniel Garavaglia was sixth in 17:57. Trent Morgenstern was ninth in 18:31. Dawson Chaney was 13th in 18:48.
The two teams compete at Freeburg at 9 a.m. Saturday.