8. East Newton
Location: Granby, MO
Enrollment: 471
Head Coach: Jake Charles Holt
2016 District (Place): 6 (5th)
2016 State Place: NTS
Key Top 7 Returners: All are returning except #6. Key Returners: Caleb Jackson (1), Sam Hansen (2), Jacob Bennion (3), Kelton Sorrell (4)
East Newton is one of the rare schools in Missouri that allows middle school athletes on their varsity team if they can make it there. As a result, the Patriots return their entire top 5 and 6 of their top 7. After getting buried in District 6 in 2016, they look ready to take the leap this year and get the whole squad to state. Caleb Jackson leads the way after running 17:08 in 2016 and his #5 teammate is a respectable 1:23 away. With a solid 1-5 split and average time (17:46), we see East Newton as a sleeper pick for a state berth in a tough District 6. They would be making their first trip since 2010.