This past Saturday, October 2, the MUS cross-country team participated in the sixteenth-annual Frank Horton Invitational at Shelby Farms. The Owls placed second, finishing behind the West Plain (MO) Zizzers. The Zizzers of East Missouri have been known as a cross-country powerhouse for years, winning the Frank Horton for the last three years. MUS did place 11 points ahead of a strong Bolton squad, who came in third, and 14 other competitive squads from around the area.
Junior Hunter Adams was the Owls top runner, placing 8th in the varsity race. Also helping bring home the silver were the rest of the squad: juniors Donald McClure (11th), Peter Zanca (15th), and Oliver Green (49th) and sophomores Ken Haltom (20th), Louie Ghawji (24th), and Steven Counce (31st).
After the varsity team had made a big statement in its race, an open division race occurred for anyone who could survive three miles. Running personal bests in either race were Hunter Adams, Austin Beckford, Bill Bell, Wilson Castleman, Steven Counce, Scott Edwards, Daniel Harriman, Neale Hicks, Andrew Jehl, Aaron Khouri, Donald McClure, Nick Nash, Rob Pitts, Byron Tyler, and Josh Vieira. Also running in the open race, MUS faculty member Loyal Murphy, better known for his brutally athletic domination on the soccer field, successfully defended his first-place title in his age group. The Owls hope to continue to perform at a praise-worthy level in their next league meet on Tuesday, October 12.