Zizzers run away with district cross country titles

Published 11:30 am Wednesday, November 4, 2026

By John Deatherage/For the Quill

The West Plains Zizzers boys and girls cross country teams each captured first place Saturday at the Class 4 District 2 championships at the Bolivar Municipal Golf Course. The boys defended their standing as a state powerhouse, while the girls proved a determined group doesn’t need a large roster to make some noise.

“The biggest factors are hard work and taking care of the team,” West Plains Head Coach Alicia Gunter said.

The boys entered the district meet with plenty of experience, including four seniors and two consecutive state team championships. They now have their sights set on becoming just the third Zizzer cross country team in program history to win three consecutive state titles.

The girls, a small group without a single senior, had finished as state runners-up the previous three seasons.

“Instead of giving up on this dream, this group of girls and coaches decided to focus on it and fight for it throughout the season,” Gunter said. That work paid off with the district championship.

Gunter noted the effort behind both teams’ success extends well beyond what spectators see on race day.

“They are here every morning and evening, putting in the miles,” she said. “They do very intense workouts along with the mileage to make them the best they can be.”

Rather than allowing opponents to dictate the pace, the Zizzers stuck to their own plans. The boys used a deliberate approach, working to establish position early, help teammates find their place in the field and gradually move forward as the race developed.

Gunter cited Joseph Roberson’s unselfish contribution as an example of the team-first mentality. Roberson takes on the responsibility of helping teammates get into position before working his way back toward the lead pack.

“He is very good at this role and is a difference-maker for our team,” Gunter said.

Dylan Wade turned in a personal-best performance, crossing the finish line as West Plains’ fifth runner. Bryon Davis and Knox Weisbrod followed with strong finishes, providing important depth behind the front runners.

“The sixth and seventh man matter a lot in close races,” Gunter explained. “They will be important at the state meet this year, too.”

The girls followed a similar team-first approach, with each runner understanding her role. Kaebrynn Gunter delivered a strong performance to win the race, while Lena Finke worked her way through the front pack to finish third. The coach described Finke as a dependable presence who consistently delivers when the team needs her.

Abigail Mongillo and Libby Hart started together and steadily moved up through the field, keeping track of opposing teams’ third and fourth runners. Jane Cobb, West Plains’ fifth scorer, supplied a contribution the coach said the team could not afford to go without.

“The score doesn’t end until the fifth man crosses the line, and we needed Jane to keep our dreams alive Saturday,” Gunter said. “She did her job and the team benefited.”

That willingness to push one another is central to the program’s success.

“This year has very much been a show-up, take-care-of-business kind of year,” Gunter said. “We have not had a lot of distractions, and it’s made the difference.”

While the district championships carry special meaning for the seniors on the boys team, Gunter emphasized the accomplishment belongs to everyone in the program.

“I’m super proud of these teams for trusting the coaches to get them here and then them taking care of business and their teammates to meet their goals,” she said.

Boys Individual Results

• Hunter Stanley, third (15:42.1)
• Blake Romans, fifth (15:50.2)
• Joseph Roberson, sixth (16:01.2)
• Chaska Shearing, seventh (16:03.7)
• Dylan Wade, 20th (16:45.2)
• Bryon Davis, 31st (17:07.4)
• Knox Weisbrod, 37th (17:30.0)

Girls Individual Results

• Kaebrynn Gunter, first (18:20.06)
• Lena Finke, third (19:00.7)
• Libby Hart, 11th (19:36.9)
• Abigail Mongillo, 14th (19:39.3)
• Jane Cobb, 48th (21:58.6)

Up Next

The Zizzers now turn their attention to the state meet on Friday at Gans Creek Recreation Area in Columbia. The girls race begins at 1 p.m., followed by the boys at 1:45 p.m.

Before heading to Columbia, the teams will receive a community send-off on Thursday. Buses will depart Zizzer Stadium at 8:45 a.m., traveling past West Plains High School and West Plains Middle School before stopping to greet students from West Plains Elementary and South Fork Elementary. From there, the community will have an opportunity to show its support as the teams leave town.