Powered by a meet-medalist performance from junior Ashton Moreland, the St. James High School boys’ cross country team captured the Steelville Invitational, held Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Steelville City Park.

The Tigers won the meet, which featured eight full teams, with 58 points while Vienna placed second with 70 and Belle third with 75.

Moreland handily won the medalist honors, covering the 5,000-meter course in a time of 16:50.5. Another top-10 finish for St. James came from sophomore Tristin Barton, who placed seventh overall at 18:20. The Tigers won despite being short-handed, as sophomore returning state-qualifier Kylar Hodge was held out for precautionary reasons. He is expected back this week.

Pacific won the girls’ race. The STJ Lady Tigers had two runners in that field.

In addition, a large number of runners participated in the boys’ and girls’ 2,500-meter middle school races.

The STJ runners are scheduled to run again Saturday, Sept. 26 at Columbia Rock Bridge on the Gans Creek Course, the location of the upcoming Missouri State Cross Country Championships.

And Tuesday, Sept. 29 the Tigers are to host the St. James Invitational at Maramec Spring Park, starting with middle school races at 4 p.m. followed by the high school races beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 17

Steelville Invitational

At Steelville City Park

5,000 Meters

Boys

Team Standings: 1. St. James 58, 2. Vienna 70, 3. Belle 75, 4. Pacific 81, 5. Steelville 85, 6. Dixon 132, 7. Cuba 190, 8. Salem 206.

Individual Top-5: 1. Ashton Moreland, St. James, 16:50.5; 2. Lucas Godfrey, Pacific, 17:10.8; 3. Hunter Schwartze, Vienna, 17:12.9; 4. Dax Harrison, Pacific, 17:14.3; 5. William Slone, Dixon, 17:43.1.

Other St. James Results: 7. Tristin Barton 18:20.7, 14. Ryder Byfield 19:32.7, 21. Isaac Siders 20:13.5, 22. Eric Bolte 20:15.5, 23. Kypton Earney 20:23.1

Junior Varsity

St. James Results: 3. Dylan Stricklin 21:11.5, 12. Joshua Rinehart 24:21.5, 18. Oliver Swee 26:36.6

Girls

Team Standings: 1. Pacific 27, 2. Washington 38, 3. Belle 84, 4. Salem 87.

Individual Top-3: 1. Zoey Elliott, Salem, 21:39.6; 2. Aidan Lawler, Pacific, 22:28.1; 3. Adalei Perkins, Steelville, 23:10.2.

St. James Results: 26. Adalyne Hash 26:46.7, 31. Ava Meister 28:43.9.

Middle School

2,500-Meters

Boys

Team Standings: 1. Steelville 58, 2. Washington 74, 3. Rolla 80, 4. Owensville 84, 5. Union 119, 6. Pacific 120, 7. Vienna 149, 8. Dixon 212, 9. West County 259.

Medalist: 1. Brody Bickmeyer, Washington, 9:25.6.

St. James Results: 15. Jordan Copeland 10:47.1, 35. Jonathan Apollo 11:33.2, 116. Amos Crites 14:21.9, 124. Judah Davis 15:33.7.

Girls

Team Standings: 1. Washington 45, 2. Owensville 50, 3. Vienna 78, 4. Steelville 105, 5. Rolla 114, 6. Bourbon 142, 7. Bland 149, 8. Dixon 176.

Medalist: 1. Chelsie Goodwin, Union, 11:10.8.

St. James Results: 65. Ivy Zou 15:34.0.