(Photo: Ted Paduck)
Week 2 brings of the Cross Country season inundates us with a number of enormous meets in and around Missouri. We have here all of the ones that are on our calendar. Let us know if there are any that we are missing by emailing us at kdeeken@milesplit.com.
Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic - Saturday 9/2
Probably the biggest meet of the weekend, the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic is one of the premier events in the first two weeks of the season in the Midwest. Memphis is unique in that it takes place under the lights at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex and hosts races for Middle and High School, as well as College. There were 2, 167 performances last year and a number of them were from Missouri. This year, there are 129 registered teams and 2, 322 athletes. Last year, the boys from Festus won the Varsity Boys meet with Max McDaniel leading the way in 6th (16:01). Former Farmington standout Ryan Parson was the top Missouri boy last year with his 4th place finish in 15:55. Parkway West also finished well with a 3rd place finish and Lindbergh was 7th. On the girls side, Francis Howell finished 4th and was the top Missouri team. Maddi Leigh was 4th in 18:40 in that race. Notre Dame Cape Girardeau was 8th and Jackson was 9th. The JV Girls race was won by now-sophomore Yasmine Schaaf in 21:07. Festus finished 4th as a team. The JV Boys race also was taken by Festus as 2017 grad Ross Baumer won individually in 17:12. They scored 25 points and won by 37. MoMileSplit will be on site for this meet!
Confirmed Missouri teams: Eureka, Farmington, Festus, Francis Howell, Ft. Zumwalt West, Grain Valley, Herculaneum, Jackson, Lindbergh, Northwest (Cedar Hill), Notre Dame Cape Girardeau, Owensville, Parkway West, West Plains
Richard Clark SWCCCA Kickoff - Saturday 9/2
Last year's Richard Clark/SWCCCA Invitational hosted by Southwest Baptist University was stacked. 24 teams ran in the Varsity Boys race and, when you allow a max of 14 runners in the race, you tend to see performance numbers in the 200s for just one race (226). Brenden Crews of Kickapoo took the tape first in 16:13 and Webb City cruised to the victory. On the girls side, former Class 1 burner Claire Workman from Summit Prep Academy rolled to an easy victory in 18:40. She and Marshfield state champion Tabitha Weber were well ahead of the rest of the field and were the only 2 girls under 20:00. Branson upset Bolivar for the victory in the 18 team field. This race will feature one Alexis Workman of the Summit Prep Academy. Will she be the second coming of her sister? Also, Bolivar will be battling Carl Junction for Class 3 supremacy while also staring down Branson. The boys race will feature C4 #1 Ryan Riddle as well as returning champ Crews, Christian Blake Procell of Nixa, and Easton Sabala from Hermitage. There will also be college races. MoMileSplit will be on site for this race!
Confirmed Teams: Class 1 - Hermitage, Humansville, The Summit Prep Academy, Weaubleau; Class 2 - Butler, College Heights Christian, Conway, Crane, Plato, Pleasant Hope, Stockton; Class 3 - Bolivar, Buffalo, Carl Junction, Marshfield, Monett, Newton; Class 4 - Branson, Camdenton, Glendale, Kickapoo, Lebanon, Nixa, Ozark, Parkview, Republic, Rolla, Webb City, Willard
Liberty Invitational - Saturday 9/2
After running the apparently flat and fast course at Liberty North High, Liberty High heads back home to Stocksdale Park for the Liberty Invitational. Ryan Flood and Madelynn Hill ran the two fastest 5K's of the week in Week 1 and will return for more action at the 2.1 Mile short course. Flood has won the last two individual races and Rock Bridge was the team champ last year in the boys race. On the girls side, Hickman's former star Gemma Saathoff came in just two seconds ahead of Hill for the win in 2016. Staley ran away with the team victory. Rock Bridge will return to defend their title after an impressive victory at Fleet Feet Wright City. Liberty North will also be in attendance after a solid showing at their home meet from Elizabeth Stinson and Breana Nola.
Webster Invitational - Thursday 8/31
Blackburn Park in Webster Groves plays host to Webster Groves High School's home meet this Thursday. Blackburn is not the easiest course of the weekend, but it is a fair cross country with a good mix of hills, sharp turns, and flat straights. Last year, Gabriella Kohring took her second straight victory of the season, traversing her home course in 19:08 and winning by 1:40! She's already won once this year, having run 12:08 at Parkway Central last Tuesday. Webster Groves was also victorious in the 13-team field. Kevin Koester of Hillsboro was victorious on the boys side with his 17:04. Koester will be in Memphis this weekend so the boys race is now up for grabs. Out of 12 teams, Eureka was the team champ, but they will also be in Memphis this weekend.
Lutheran South Invitational - Thursday 8/31
The Lutheran South Invitational, much like their late season track meet, but different in that it occurs very early in the season, is gigantic. Kicking off the racing season at Jefferson Barracks, this race features a number of Class 3/small Class 4 teams, headlined by the participation of Lafayette. Last year, the Lancers went 1-2-3 and could very well do that again this year, unless Fulton's Mason Gaines has anything to say about it. After their showing at Fleet Feet Parkway Central, they could just perfect score. The girls champion last year was Lafayette's Mollie Rogan and she appears to be the favorite again this year. Fox's Amie Martin and Ursuline's Catherine Dulle are also going to be competitive for the individual title.
Confirmed Teams: Affton, Bayless, Bishop DuBourg, Fox, Fulton, Hancock, Incarnate Word, Lafayette, Lutheran North, Lutheran South, Maplewood Richmond Heights, Metro, McCluer, MICDS, Cleveland NJROTC, North Tech, Oakville, Parkway Central, Pattonville, Soldan, Ursuline, Villa Duchesne, Whitfield
LSN Solsberg Invitational - Saturday 9/2
The Lee's Summit North Solsberg Invitational at Lake Jacomo is a popular race in the KCMO area. Typically anywhere from 8-12 teams attend and, with Lee's Summit North and West attending, it always produces some impressive results. LSN's Matt Reis will look to defend his individual title and the home team will look to avenge its 10 point loss to rival Lee's Summit West. Ben Burnett, Drew Reis, and Edward Wilhite will all be competing for the individual title, too. Lee's Summit West girls were 1-6 last year led by Alex Marko. This year, we may see our first appearance from Victoria Findley of Blue Springs South, but that doesn't mean the victory is hers...even though she is not one to lose often. LSW still brings in a contingent that knocked of Raymore-Peculiar at LSW Quad last week led by sophomores Addie Mathis and Madison Hulsey.
Confirmed Teams: Blue Springs South, Lee's Summit North, Lee's Summit, Raytown South, William Chrisman, Lee's Summit West, Warrensburg, Kearney, Clinton, Cristo Rey, Park Hill
Eureka Invitational - Tuesday 8/29
The inaugural running of the Eureka Invitational will take place Tuesday at Brookdale Farms. Apparently a fast course, we will be following along as Eureka takes over the MoMileSplit Snapchat to cover their new meet. You can follow along, too, at momilesplit1.
Ft. Zumwalt North Invitational - Friday 9/1
MoMileSplit will be on-site Friday at the 3rd running of the FZN Invitational. We will have race photos and finish line video. The varsity girls race should be a good contest between three up-and-coming freshmen in St. Charles County: Mercedes Schroer of O'Fallon Christian, Lily Boushelle of Francis Howell, and Emily Piel of Ft. Zumwalt North. Sean Deeken of FZN, Nathan Nordwald of Warrenton, and Nate Petro from Timberland will be the ones to watch on the boys side.
Confirmed Teams: Fort Zumwalt North, Fort Zumwalt East, Fort Zumwalt South, O'Fallon: Christian, Francis Howell Central, KIPP: St. Louis, Timberland, Troy, Warrenton, Francis Howell
Greg Wilson Classic - Saturday 9/2
Held on the Kansas side, St. Thomas Aquinas in Overland Park still attracts a number of KCMO teams to its meet. Blue Springs and Blue Springs South will be in attendance here and we suspect we will see Victor Mugeche and Tori Findley (if she isn't at LSN Solsberg). Rockhurst will bring their boys as well and we'll see if Tom Seitzer and Peter Campbell can keep the good times rolling coming off of their strong performances at the LSW Quad.
Confirmed MO Teams: Blue Springs, Blue Springs South, Carthage, Grain Valley, Kearney, Oak Park, Southwest (Washburn), St. Theresa's Academy
Lutheran St. Peters Invite - Friday 9/1
Confirmed Teams: Barat Academy, Bishop Dubourg, Duchesne, Father Tolton, Lutheran St. Peters, Orchard Farm, Principia, Rosati-Kain, Wright City
Spoofhound Invitational - Tuesday 8/29
Black River League Conference Meet - Wednesday 8/30
SVCC Invite - Wednesday 8/30
Confirmed Teams: St. Vincent, Caruthersville, Chaffee, Crystal City, Jefferson R-VII, Kennett, Poplar Bluff, Saxony Lutheran, Scott City, St. Paul Lutheran, St. Pius X (Festus), Valle Catholic, Van Buren, West County R-IV, Woodland
Bob Timmons Classic - Saturday 9/2
Cass County Invitational - Saturday 9/2
Granite City Invitational - Saturday 9/2
Confirmed Missouri Teams: Farmington, Ft. Zumwalt West, St. Louis University HS