The Cuba and Bourbon High School cross country teams competed in the Gasconade Valley Conference Meet on Oct. 21 at Steelville City Park.

The girls 5000 meter varsity race began the meet and Cuba received multiple medal-worthy performances. Ella Basham was the first Lady Wildcat to finish and took fifth place with a 23:46.7 time. Patricia Hardcastle finished eighth with a 24:46.7 time and Cadynce Basham took ninth with a 26:43.1 time. Jennie Paz Martinez was the only Bourbon runner in the girls race and took 16th with a 35:42 time.

Bourbon senior standout runner Brett Payne returned to action after missing the majority of the season due to injury, and regained his form in the boys varsity 5000 meter race. Payne finished in third with a 18:35 time to earn a medal. Fellow Warhawks Drawe Froning, Brandon Whitburn and Paul Studdard took 11th, 17th and 19th place, respectively.

Freshman Wyatt Littrell was the first Wildcat to finish, and took 10th with a 21:38 time. Sophomore Gavin Heppermann finished 12th with a 23:15 time. Freshman Zaylen Kammer took 15th with a 24:23 time and senior Jaspar Silva was right behind him and finished 16th with a 24:55 time. Freshman Nash Williamson rounded out Cuba’s runners with a 29:46 time, which was good for a 20th place finish. 

Cuba and Bourbon’s teams will compete next on Nov. 1 at districts in Linn.