Since 2006, Big River Running Company has been providing the fans and athletes of cross country with a set of XC Rankings that are just for fun that we hope serve to give athletes a little additional motivation as the season moves along.
The final set of rankings are often difficult as teams and individuals deploy different strategies for District and Sectional meets. We had a real tough time ranking the teams which should be a good indication of how exciting the races will be next Saturday when the athletes of Missouri have the final say.
Now on to the rankings...
TEAM RANKINGS
Girls
1. Ste. Genevieve – The District 1 race in Class 3 was a battle of two teams that have been on this list all year. The Hunters (I know we have been calling them Dragons all year) are one race away from defending their Class 3 title.
2. Nerinx Hall – Section 2 winners in Class 4 but in looking at the results we get the impression that both the Markers and Francis Howell realize that it’s the race on November 9th that matters.
3. Rock Bridge – Early in the season we said if this team developed a 5th runner they would contend for a state title. In winning Section 3 they have a 1:15 spread from 1-6.
4. Francis Howell - While the defending champions are #4 on this list we won’t be surprised to see them hoisting a championship trophy in Jefferson City next weekend. They were 2nd to Nerinx Hall in Section 2 but the core of this team has performed under pressure on the big stage and should not be over-looked.
5. Lee’s Summit West – It’s been an interesting and sometimes challenging year for the Titans but it’s no surprise this team is coming together in November.
6. Lafayette (Wildwood) – Eureka edged them at District, but the Lady Lancers came up big at Sectionals.
7. Eureka - District 2 Champions and runners-up in section 1, the Wildcats were 2nd at State last year and with Hannah Long likely scoring 1, this team would love to hang on to their spot on the podium.
9. Lee’s Summit North – Section 4 was a heck of a race. The District 7 & 8 winners were both shut out of the top 4. LSN was just 3 points back of LSW and 1 ahead of Kearney.
8. Festus - The Tigers looked good against a very strong Ste Gen team. Let’s see if they can take the next step on November 9th.
10. Kearney – We give the final spot on the list to Kearney whose 24 second 1-5 split in sectionals was pretty darn impressive.
Boys
1. Rock Bridge – The Bruins avenged their loss to West Plains at Districts by winning Section 3. Evan Schulte led the way for a team whose top 5 averaged under 16.
2. St. Louis University High 24 second 1-5 split at sectionals. The defending champions are well positioned to repeat.
3. West Plains – The Zizzers sat in the #1 spot for most of the season but a word of caution for anyone who is ready to dismiss this team: In 2012, West Plains was 12 points behind Rock Bridge in the Sectional meet and followed up a week later with a 3rd place performance at State while Rock Bridge was 9th.
4. Lafayette (Wildwood) - Consider this: The Section 1 championship team’s Top 7 consisted of 1 Freshman, 3 Sophomores, 2 Juniors and 1 Senior.
5. Liberty – Their return to Jefferson City after missing out in 2012 was secured with a win in Section 4.
6. Raymore-Peculiar – A close 2nd in Section 4.
7. Festus – District 1 winners over Potosi and the favorite in Class 3.
8. DeSmet – At this point there are probably about a half a dozen teams you could put in these spots. We gave the nod to the runners-up in Section 1.
9 Potosi – 8 back of Festus in District 1.
10. Liberty North – 5 in the top 10 in District 8 the Eagles will challenge the best in Class 3.
Top 15 Individuals
Girls
1. Taylor Werner, Ste Genevieve – No surprise here but Taylor is on track to win her 8th and 9th State gold medals (2 XC in 2012, 5 in T&F).
2. Hannah Long, Eureka – Hannah told Craig Martin, “I’m really nervous already, but it’ll be fun.” – We think it’s always fun to watch Hannah run and let’s not forget this is a girl who finished 10th at Foot Locker Nationals last year.
3. Jill Whitman, Cor Jesu - What a season this Cor Jesu senior has had. She’ll have some company as her team is joining her as State competitors in her final trip to Jefferson City.
4 Sophia Racette , Nerinx Hall – Third at Sectionals but we have no doubt when the gun goes off on Saturday morning, Sophia will be in the lead pack.
5. Ann Campbell, St. Teresa’s Academy - District 7 and Section 4 winner – that’s saying something. Ann has had a terrific season where she has finished no lower than 2nd.
6 Jamie Kempfer, Festus – This girl would be a District champion in almost any other district but she was # 2 to Werner on Saturday.
7 Maddi Leigh , Francis Howell – We haven’t seen any late season nerves from this freshman as she rolled to a win in the Section 2 race.
8. Nicole Lee, Clinton - Nicole won her District meet for the 4th consecutive year and has finished no lower than 6th in 3 trips to Jefferson City.
9. Maddy Brown, Parkway West – 3rd at Sectional behind Long and Whitman, Maddy is sometimes over-looked as she always seems to be racing against some of the top girls in the state, something that will serve her well next weekend.
10. Arnica Zitting, Francis Howell – We’ve been talking about St Gen’s 1-2 combo this year but it’s time to recognize the Leigh-Zitting combo.
11 Elizabeth Carpino, Lee’s Summit North– Elizabeth repeated as Gold Conference champion.
12 Annika Sisson, Lee’s Summit West – 3rd in Section 4 behind Campbell and Carpino, Annika’s emergence as a top finisher has been a huge lift for the Titans.
13. Kayla Funkenbush -This Rock Bridge Junior makes the leap into our top 10 after leading the Bruins by winning Districts and Sectionals.
14 .Mia Jerman, Ste Genevieve – Drops a few spots in our rankings but we expect big things from Mia come Saturday.
15 Courtney Rogers, Lutheran St. Charles – We think Courtney will close out her XC career in Jefferson City the way she began it, with a State championship in Class 2.
Honorable Mention: – Katie Anderson (Nerinx Hall), Sam Farmer (Rock Bridge), Adeline Holder (Branson), Sammy Laurenzo (Liberty North), Sarah Nicholson (Lafayette), Kennadee Williams, (Lee’s Summit North)
Top 15 Individuals
Boys
1. Noah Kauppila, Marquette - Noah has had a great cross country career in Missouri and has been recruited by Stanford, Princeton, Georgetown and Oklahoma State and Oregon. On Saturday he hopes to add the title of State Cross Country Champion to his resume.
2 Evan Schulte, Rock Bridge - For Noah to claim gold, he is going to have to defeat a field of talented runners including Schulte who has run a 15:18 and 15:19 the last few weeks.
3. Stephen Mugeche, Blue Springs – Speaking of the last few weeks Stephen has been on a winning streak starting with conferences and let’s not forget he was 4th overall and the #2 returner from the State meet last year.
4. Spencer Haik, Glendale - The state’s top returner is coming in to post-season form, defeating Barrett of West Plains at Districts and Sectionals but 2nd to Schulte.
5. Cole Rockhold, Truman – With his college decision behind him, (Colorado State University) Rockhold will be focused on showing that 9:07 3200 speed he displayed in the spring.
6. William Thompson, Rockhurst - William finished ahead of Rockhold and behind Mugeche to help Rockhurst earn yet another trip to Jefferson City as a team.
7. Camden Barrett, West Plains – Defeated #4 Haik at conferences.
8. Austin Del Rosso, DeSmet – Austin has either been in the top 15 or honorable mention throughout the season but has been racing well in recent weeks finishing 2nd to Noah at Districts and Sectionals.
9 . Dylan Quinsnberry, Lafayette (Wildwood) – Has led his teammates to victories the last few weeks and has dipped under 16 a few times this season.
10. Tyler Lawson, Webster Groves – Won the Section 2 meet and has been 1st or 2nd since early September.
11. Tyler Gilliam Festus – District 1 winner in Class 3 he has emerged as the #1 guy on Festus and the slight favorite in Class 3.
12 Sean Conlin, Ft Zumwalt East – 2nd in Section 2 just 3 ticks behind #10 Lawson.
13. Zack Cook, Rock Bridge – 3RD in Section 3, Cook is coming on at the right time.
14 Andrew Moore, Ste Genevieve – 2nd to Gilliam in District 1, Moore was the runner-up in Class 3 last year.
15 Michael Karls, Festus - Michael has finished a little off the pace in recent weeks but holds on to the final spot.
Honorable Mention: Clayton Adams (Kearney), Tyler Beaman (Eureka), Jason Fambrough (Ray-Pec), Ty Hughes (Liberty North), Malik Holman (Mexico)
Listen Tuesday as Ben and Paul co-host the 2013 MoMileSplit State XC Preview Show
We hope you enjoyed our 7th season of high school cross country coverage and the Big River Running Company XC Rankings.