Kearney Cross Country Teams Triumph at District Meet

Kearney High School Girls Cross Country Squad

On Saturday, November 1st, the Kearney High School cross country teams faced off in the Class 4 District meet held at Lees Summit North High School. The girls squad wasted no time shaking off the chill, launching into their race with a powerful start. Senior Daisy Burnam led the pack early, eventually finishing third overall with an impressive 5K time of 19:30.

Kearney had six runners finish in the top thirty, all earning all-district honors: Daisy Burnam (3rd), Izzy Fowler (7th), Jordin Vaughn (14th), Abbi McQuillen (27th), Drew Gustason (29th), and Lenny Watts (30th). Freshman Kadence Vanderau narrowly missed joining her teammates, finishing 33rd.

Despite having six runners in the top thirty, the girls team found themselves in a rare first-place tie with Capitol City High School at the conclusion of the race. In cross country, team scores are determined by the placement of the top five finishers. When teams are tied, the finish of each school's sixth runner becomes the deciding factor. Freshman Lenny Watts played a crucial role for Kearney, outrunning Capitol City’s sixth finisher and securing the district championship for her team.

Kearney High School Boys Cross Country Squad

Turning to the boys race, Kearney entered the competition with determination and resilience. Their season had been marked by adversity, as they lost their top runner and leader, senior Isaac Smith, to a season-ending injury four weeks earlier. Just a week before the district meet, the team suffered another blow when Atlas Owen, their fifth runner, was also sidelined with an injury.

Despite these setbacks, the boys were determined to finish among the top four teams and qualify for the State meet. Embracing a "next-man-up" mentality, several athletes delivered personal best performances, some improving by nearly a minute. Cameron Fowler led the Bulldogs, finishing second overall with a remarkable 5K time of 16:20. Alongside Fowler, Alex Gustafson (18th) and Tristin Barton (22nd) also earned all-district honors.

As live results were posted, Kearney boys anxiously watched the standings fluctuate. Ultimately, the team faced a tiebreaker with St. Michaels for fourth place, with a coveted spot at State hanging in the balance. Freshman Jackson Vasquez, running in place of the injured Atlas Owen, was Kearney’s sixth finisher, edging out St. Michael’s sixth runner by four places and clinching the team’s ticket to the State meet.

Ties are uncommon in cross country and having two occur at the same District meet made the event especially memorable for Kearney High School runners. The girls team’s feat of earning six all-district honors—more than any other school—highlighted their depth and talent. For the boys, overcoming injuries and securing a State berth showcased their perseverance and determination.

Both the Kearney High School girls and boys cross country teams will compete in the Class 4 State Meet on Friday, November 7th, at Gans Creek in Columbia, eager to build on their district success and pursue further achievements.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.