The Baxter boys cross country team achieved a commendable third-place finish at the Clarke Cross Country Invitational held on October 3, 2023. The team scored a total of 55 points, narrowly missing the second spot, which was claimed by Creston with 52 points. The meet was dominated by Class 2A No. 1 Chariton, which secured first place with an impressive 25 points, taking the top four individual positions.
Baxter’s head coach, Ian Thomson, expressed optimism about the team’s potential for upcoming races, particularly with the imminent return of Max Handorf, who is recovering from a hip injury. “With Max mostly healthy, our top three runners are just as good as any other front three in 1A,” Thomson stated. He highlighted the importance of maintaining momentum for runners Maddox Peters and Dakota Parker as the team prepares for future competitions.
Race Performance and Individual Highlights
The Baxter team performed well against formidable competition, including Van Meter, which finished fourth with 139 points. Other teams in the race included Interstate 35 (135), Clarke (160), Martensdale-St. Marys (164), Southwest Valley (194), and Southeast Warren (220), completing the nine-team field.
In the boys’ 5K race, Lucas Anderson from Chariton won with a time of 17:05.10, followed closely by Cy Stuart, also from Chariton, who finished in 17:06.87. Baxter’s top runners were Brecken Fisher, who led the team with a sixth-place finish in 17:43.61, followed by Max Handorf in eighth place at 18:22.99, and Maddux Tuhn, who took ninth in 18:39.28.
Thomson noted that Baxter’s scoring runners included Maddox Peters in sixteenth place with a time of 20:01.83 and Dakota Parker in twentieth with a finish of 20:46.59. Non-scoring runners included Lincoln Russell (34th), Parker Bonney (39th), Levi Gregory (58th), and Sam Wilhelm (63rd).
Looking Ahead
Coach Thomson emphasized the value of competing against top-tier teams like Chariton. “Being able to run against the No. 1 team in 2A was a great experience,” he reflected. “With our team still not being 100 percent, finishing only a few points behind 3A Creston was great.” He expressed excitement for the next two meets, which will feature faster courses and strong competitors, allowing the team to gauge their progress.
Notably, Baxter’s Elsie Hauser did not compete in the girls’ 5K race as she continues her recovery from injury. The team remains focused on improving their performance as they head into the later part of the season.
