1. Spencer Haik – Let me start by saying how much we are looking forward to what we think will be a great battle for the state crown come November. I know, it’s only August, but when I look at this group of guys coming back it’s easy to get excited. Spencer is mentioned #1 on this list by the slightest of margins. He’s the two-time state champion in the 1600 and the MoMileSplit.com All Star High School Mile winner who is a very smart racer with a closing 50 meters that is fun to watch. Some may say, but this is XC not the mile, but let’s not forget Spencer finished 3rd at the state XC meet last fall behind two seniors.
2. Noah Kauppila – While Haik is the top returner from the state meet last year, this senior from Marquette has a most impressive resume. He’s the state 800 meter champion and his 8:54 3200 at Arcadia last spring was one of the best 3200 meters ever run by a Missouri prep athlete. His 5k average in 2012 was 15:50, and he won the Forest Park meet in 15:18 where Haik was 16th. Noah is a fierce competitor and will likely be focused on erasing his disappointing 20th place finish at last year’s state meet. He finished 4th as a sophomore in 2011 and this very well may be his year to cross the line first in November.
3. Cole Rockhold – The state’s 3200 runner up comes in at #3. Honestly, these top 3 guys can be placed in any order and I wouldn't argue. These three and the region of the state that they represent remind me of the 2010 Class 4 Girls battle. The debate raged that year whether Colleen Quigley (St. Louis), Jessica Jackson (Southwest Missouri), or Samantha Nightingale (KC) was the best in the state. It was Nightingale who came out on top that November. Cole averaged a 15:59 in his XC races as a junior and will likely be in the front pack of all his races this year.
4. Evan Schulte – While this Rockbridge senior was all-state in the 3200, his spring track credentials fall behind the top 3 guys on this list. However, don't be surprised to see this guy win a number of races in 2013. He was 5th at the state meet in Class 4 last fall.
5. Austin Del Rosso – As was the case with #’s 1-3 these next couple of spots are interchangeable. Austin’s 9th place finish at state last year earns him the #5 spot
6. Jason Fambrough –This Ray-Pec senior is coming off a strong spring season and averaged 16:20 in 2012 in XC.
7. Andrew Moore – Our first runner that is not in Class 4. This Ste Genevieve rising senior was runner up in Class 3 last year in November and he will be looking to capture gold in 2013.
8. Matt Riechman - Bennett – Matt is an all-state XC returner from Joplin who has shown some nice year-over-year improvement during his high school career.
9. Cameron Byrley – Cameron was 32nd in state in 2012 and won the White division at Forest Park last fall.
10. Cyle Quick – Cyle had a sub-16 race in 2012, going 15:58 at the Parkway South Classic and was 36th at state in 2012.