Webb City's first state trophy in cross country came with some drama at the very end of the Class 4 MSHSAA Championships on Friday morning.

The Cardinals tied with West Plains with 97 points, but Webb City's final two runners made the difference in deciding the runner- up. Freshman Evan Stevens, the No. 6 runner for Webb City, beat West Plains' No. 6 runner in placing and junior Jose Banda- Antillon, the Cardinals seventh and final runner, beat the Zizzers' No. 7 runner.

"Every member of our team counted and mattered," Webb City coach Dustin Miller said. "We spent six long years and six failed attempts at track and cross country. To be here with the likes of Festus, West Plains and Chaminade, we are very proud."

The Cardinals headed into state this year on the heels of winning the Central Ozark Conference and district titles.

Miller recalls going to state in 2015 and 2016 with hopes of bringing home a trophy, but finished sixth and seventh, respectively on the old state course in Jefferson City. In track and field, Miller's squads have placed fifth – the first team to not receive a trophy -three times.

Webb City had two of the area's four all-state honors in senior Joseph Dawson (13th place/16:25) and junior Roman Borboa (21st/16:39).

A third Cardinal just missed an all-state medal as junior Dustin Brockmiller took 26th – one spot away.

"It felt pretty good to take second; the first team in Webb City to do it, but we didn't compete to our full potential," said Barboa, who was 72nd at the state meet last year in Class 4.