Picture-perfect setting turns into stellar times, performances at Running Raider Invitational

September 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor

Liberty junior Ariana Neisen leads the pack on the final mile of the girls race Tuesday in the 21st Running Raider Invitational at South Park. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The setting couldn’t have been more picturesque.

Sun splashed across South Park’s rolling hills with a cool breeze rustling leaves on the thick, old oak trees looming over the final mile of the 3-mile cross country course spanning from one end of the park to the other for Tuesday’s 21st Running Raider Invitational.

The times mirrored the conditions.

Liberty junior Ariana Neisen was the only runner in the field to break 20 minutes, running to a personal-best time on the South Park course in winning the girls race in 19 minutes, 16 seconds. On the boys side, Bowling Green’s Ben Chance was the only runner to eclipse 16 minutes, finishing first in 15:55.

The Quincy High School boys won the team title, while Pleasant Plains won the girls crown. The Blue Devils were second in the girls race, while Quincy Notre Dame girls were third and the boys were fourth in their own event.

QHS junior Olivia Schuering finished second behind Neisen, clocking a 20:06 finish. The Blue Devils’ Alexandria Meyers was fifth (21:06) and Keeauna Schaufele took sixth (21:13). QND junior Abigail Genenbacher finished eighth (21:31), and the Raiders’ Natalie Farah was 14th (22:28).

Palmyra’s Ally Noland and Maiya Reese were 10th and 12th respectively, finishing in 22:14 and 22:26. Illini West’s Hailey Eyring was 13th in 22:27.

Eric McClelland led the QHS boys contingent, finishing third in 16:46. Cameron MacDonough was ninth (17:43) and Jude Mintle took 11th (17:45).

QND sophomore Joseph Warning took sixth individually in 17:31, while Liberty’s Lane Obert was eighth in 17:39 and Marion County’s Levi Wright was 14th in 17:48.