Gloria Deo's Caroline Fields wins Class 1 state title with sister by her side
· Yahoo Sports
There is nothing better than an athlete representing their school at the highest level at the most important time.
Visit afsport.lat for more information.
Gloria Deo Academy’s Caroline Fields shined in the Class 1 State Championship on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia. The junior took the title with a time of 19:31.4, five seconds faster than the field.
“It was so amazing,” Fields said. “I’m so thankful for everyone who has supported me and has got me to this place. I am thankful for the Lord that he gave me this ability to glorify him with my running.”
Fields took over as the race leader at the 3,000 meter mark. After the opening 1,000 meters, Fields was as far back as 11.9 seconds.
Experience and comfortability were two big reasons for her success at the state championship. Throughout the race, Fields’ sister, Reese, ran alongside her. The Gloria Deo pair picked off runner after runner, until the duo became a trio with Northland Christian’s Insley Washer.
“We really push each other and help each other go faster. We are competitive like we want to beat each other, but she has truly helped me get so much faster this season,” Fields said. “To be able to win with her, it was amazing.”
Reese Fields would finish just behind Caroline Fields and Washer for third place.
This was Caroline Fields’ fifth title this season. It was also a new personal best combining perfect weather with efficient running. Fields earned 10th place as a freshman and sixth last season. All of the hard work for Fields culminated with Saturday’s state title.
“I went into it with the strategy to pace myself,” Fields said. “I had the ability to get into first place and I took that and was able to run with my sister the whole time.”
The Fields sisters weren't the only Gloria Deo runner to shine. On boys side, Gideon Case finished in second-place with a time of 15:48, one second shy of the champion. Case was the only non-senior in the top-four, which should give him a boost entering next season.
Springfield area cross country state championship medalists
Top 30 runners per classification
Class 5
Boys
- 22nd: Gavin Blaine, Kickapoo, 15:27.3
- 23rd: Maxwell Carroll, Glendale, 15:28.2
- 30th: Dawson Blaine, Kickapoo, 15:30
Girls
- 11th: Emma Hurst, Nixa, 18:16.9
- 13th: Chaseley Guyear, Nixa, 18:21.6
- 18th: Chloe Goddard, Kickapoo, 18:31.5
- 27th: Brianna Bidinger, Nixa, 18:43.5
Class 4
Boys
- 5th: Ronald Timm, Springfield Central, 15:24.3
- 25th: Henry Reeves, Parkview, 16:06.3
Class 3
Boys
- 15th: Cinch Dowling, Fair Grove, 16:26.9
- 29th: Braeden Casey, Clever, 16:48.1
- 30th: Wyatt Wommack, Fair Grove, 16:48.3
Girls
- 4th: Katrina Cantwell. Fair Grove, 18:53.2
- 18th: Elizabeth Hough, Strafford, 19:47.5
Class 2
Boys
- 1st: Wyatt Klaiber, El Dorado Springs, 15:15.9
- 2nd: Luke Faulkner, Spokane, 15:54.2
- 4th: Kyle Hathcock, Springfield Catholic, 16:14.4
- 18th: Marcus Johnson, Springfield Catholic, 16:43.7
- 22nd: John Paul Haik-Frick, Springfield Catholic, 16:49.8
- 23rd: Andrew Jones, Springfield Catholic, 16:52.1
Class 1
Boys
- 2nd: Gideon Case, Gloria Deo Academy, 15:48
Girls
- 1st: Caroline Fields, Gloria Deo Academy, 19:31.4
- 3rd: Reese Fields, Gloria Deo Academy, 19:37.9
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Missouri State athletics for The Springfield News-Leader. Send stats or information to him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Gloria Deo's Caroline Fields wins Class 1 state title with sister by her side