Missouri Athletes at 2017 Nike Cross Midwest Regional

Boys Races


Two Missourians brought home victories for in their respective races on the boys side. Blake Morris of Notre Dame Cape Girardeau led off the day with a victory in the 9/10 race, running 16:27.9 to finish 6 seconds ahead of runner-up Hunter Zartman of Michigan. Blue Springs South's Dillon Grover made it two Missourians in the top 3 as his 16:34.2 earned him 3rd. Matthew Hauser of Rock Bridge was the second freshman across the line, running 16:44.3 for 7th. Liberty's Ryan Mata just missed out on a top 10 finish, settling for 11th in 16:52.2. 


Hickman junior Chandler Gibbens, fresh off of his 4th place finish Class 4 at last Saturday's state meet, dropped a 15:59.1 to torch the field in the Boys Open (2) Race. It was an 8 second victory of O'Fallon (IL)'s Lucas Capistrant. This was the faster of the two open boys races on the day. No other Missourians were in the top 10, but St. Louis University High's Adam Mittendorf and Paul Burka went 11-12 respectively, both in 16:22.3. Their teammate Patrick Hetlage was 24th, but 1 place behind Central St. Joseph's Boston Small. Both boys were right in the middle of 16:34. SLUH's contingent - named St. Louis XC Club - averaged 16:36 and were 3rd as a team in the combined Open Race standings. In the first Boys Open Race, Notre Dame Cape's Benton Keran was the fastest Missourian, running 17:06 for 40th, with Webster Groves sophomore Charlie Teeter coming across next in 17:16.5 for 61st.  


In the Boys Championship Race, an event that has not seen a Missourian qualify individually since Zach Herriott in 2011, and only Jacob Swearingen before him in 2007, Blue Springs state champion Victor Mugeche and Webb City Class 4 runner-up Ryan Riddle gave it their best try to grab a top 5 spot to Nationals. It was a star-studded field on the boys side, though, as Ohio superstar Dustin Horter took the tape first in 14:57.6 and the top 5 were all under 15:12, three of which being the Illinois three-headed monster of Kilrea, Jacobs, and Mendez. Mugeche would snag a top-10 finish, though, as he crossed the line in 15:31.2, still 14 seconds behind last year's 15:17 at this meet. Riddle was not too far behind in 16th in 15:35.8. This was the 9:06 2-miler's first time at NXR Midwest. Festus's Max McDaniel led his EasyMoneyTigers with a 37th place finish in 15:49.2 and Lafayette's Harrison Brown led the Wildwood Lancers in 15:49.8 for 41st. The top team in the Boys Championship race on the Missouri side was the Ballwin Shorthorns (Parkway West). They averaged 16:16 and finished 8th out of 31. Senior Blake Selm led the way with a 16:02.2 personal best and was followed by Andrew Lofgren in 16:10.6. Their spread was not the tightest they have ever had, but it was still a respectable 31 seconds. 

NXR Midwest Championship Race Results