Thursday Conversation : The Road to State Part 3

With just a few days before the 2009 State Cross Country Meet, Chris Ammen couldn’t fit this week’s conversation into one day.  In Part 3 of this week’s edition Chris talks to James Crowe of University City,  Jake Holt of East Newton, Greg Hipp of Missouri State University and Yael T Abouhalkah of the Kansas City Star.

James Crowe – University CityHigh School

What is your favorite memory of the state meet?

My favorite memory of the state meet is Mark Kimble of Riverview Gardens out sprinting Wolfgang Kasner of Kirkwood to the finish in 1971. The Kirkwood guys always claimed Wolfgang stepped on a sprinkler head and that’s why Mark was able to pass him.  I later ran in college with Joe Haake one of Mark’s teammates and for Ed Schneider, Mark’s high school coach.  It was always fun when we would run against Kirkwood alumni and I could instigate the old sprinkler head debate.

Who will win in each class for boys and girls on Saturday in JeffCity and who are the sleeper teams and individuals?

Class 1: How can you argue against Caleb Hoover and CollegeHeights.  Girls-SavannahBeaverCollegeHeights, Penney wins the team title.

Class 2: Alex Mason Herky, and Herculaneum for the win, the Kastens always do a great job with their teams.  Girls- Saga Barzowski, ArcadiaValley, Herculaneum wins the team title

Class 3: Maksim Korolev wins over the notorious Everett brothers and my guy David Lambus.  The Everett brothers are a hoot, and to make things interesting I’m picking David Everett over Daniel, (Editor’s Note: Coach Crowe wrote this before Districts where David won, I guess he was on to something) Lambus’s year is 2010. I like West Plains to win in a close one over Festus, Ladue is my sleeper, Coach Levine has really done a great job getting his pack running together. Girls- Oliva McCormick West Plains, West Plains to win, Jocelyn Todd Ladue is my sleeper pick.

Class 4: Thater and Colon are the favorites, but I like Colin Hubert from Lee’s Summit North, my sleeper Caleb Wilfong Rockbridge.  Kickapoo pulls the upset and wins, sleeper team is Lindbergh (look out next year).  Girls- Sisson is the favorite, but Diane Robison pulls the upset, sleeper. I‘ve got to give a former U City runner some props, Lizzy Juries Parkhill South.  Lee’s Summit West wins the title.

Who will win in each class for boys and girls on Saturday in JeffCity and who are the sleeper teams and individuals?

I have been a competitive runner for 40 years, but I love the state meet because I am a fan.  The people in our sport are special and the respect runners have for one another is rare to see in another sport.   I don’t think young runners will have another experience like this, short of the college championship series.  So I love to get together with my fellow XC enthusiasts and celebrate our great sport. 

Jake Holt – EastNewtonHigh School

What is your favorite memory of the State Meet?

My favorite memory of the state meet was last year when my girls' team finally got that coveted State Trophy.  The girls went through a lot of adversity with three of the top five being injured at some point throughout the year.  The tears of joy on their faces is something that I'll never forget.

Who will win in each class for boys and girls on Saturday in JeffCity and who are the sleeper teams and individuals?

Class 1:

Boys

Team:  CollegeHeights

Individual:  Caleb Hoover - CollegeHeights

Girls

Team:  Midway

Individual:  Mackenzie Weis – Midway

Sleepers:  Trenton Morris - CollegeHeights and Brent Collins - Hermitage (both are very, very good)

Class 2:

Boys

Team:  Bowling Green

Individual:  Alex Mason - Herculaneum

Girls

Team:  Herculaneum

Individual:  Saga Barzowski - ArcadiaValley

 Sleepers:  Springfield Catholic Girls team is pretty good.  David Stodden - St. Pius and Adam Prahlow of Lutheran North.  and Kaitlyn Fischer - Herculaneum

Class 3:

Boys

Team:  West Plains

Individual:  Maksim Korolev - Harrisonville

Girls

Team:  Kearney

Individual:  Sarah Jacobsen - Potosi

Sleepers:  West Plains girls; Sarah White - Potosi

Class 4:

Boys

Team:  Lee's Summit North

Individual:  Danny Thater - Kickapoo

Girls

Team:  Lee's Summit West

Individual:  Emily Sisson - Parkway Central

Sleepers:  Kevin Colon - Lee's Summit West could make things interesting; Courtney Wood and Jessica Jackson of Neosho (both are quality runners); also, don't forget Diane Robison

What do you look forward to the most about the state meet?

I really enjoy getting out of school on Friday and making the trip to Jefferson City.  It's not the drive so much as it is the time with the kids.  We're a really close group (as most teams are) and it's good to just get away from everything and enjoy the experience.  Hanging out with the kids and watching them just be themselves is just a lot of fun.  Walking and jogging the State course the night before brings back a lot of great memories from my own "running days" and of former runners.  Inevitably, the smell of cross-country always seems to be in the air. 

Greg Hipp – MissouriState

What is your favorite memory of the state meet?

For me going to the state meet is really all about recruiting.  An important part of that is getting to see high school runners compete in person.  I also want to make some sort of contact with my recruits while I'm there.  Last year one of our assistant coaches and I were running all over the course trying to find that perfect spot so we could cheer on our recruits and hopefully catch their eye as they went by so they'd know we were there for them.  We had been doing this all day and by the time the 1A race came along we were pretty much the only college coaches left so standing out wasn't very hard anymore.  It also made it easy to stand out since by the time the small class races came along we were the only people left there not wearing camo or Carhartts!  During the 1A race just before Firehouse Hill eventual state champ Emily Beaver from College Heights Christian passed by me in the lead.  As she pass I cheered, "Nice job Emily!"  At that moment Emily looks over at me and says, "Hey Coach Hipp," and gives me a big waive.  It took me five minutes to stop laughing over the state champ saying hello and waiving to me during her race.  Emily now runs for me at MissouriState and I still joke around with her about that one.

What do you look forward to the most at the state meet?

One of the things I love about going to the state meet is getting to see a lot of our old MissouriState alumni who are either coaching or just back watching their old high school.  There are a few alums I'm almost sure to see there every year like Michael Farmer, Casey Collins, Brian Crigger, Laura and Toby Glavin, Scott Mantooth, Anthony Lanrangiera, Matt Clark and more.  I'm also always sure to see former MSU coach Richard Clark, which is always great. 

Yael T. Abouhalkah – KC Star

What is your favorite memory of the State Meet?

I have two favorite memories of the State Meet.

The best was watching Max Storms, a good running friend and role model for my son, win the Class 2 championship in 2007 as a junior at O'Hara.

The second best was watching the fantastic Potosi boys squad easily win the Class 3 State title in 2006 -- what a great team performance.

And, personally, I'm looking forward to my son, Luke, running at State on Saturday for the first time, representing RaytownHigh School.

Who will win in each class for boys and girls on Saturday in JeffCity and who are the sleeper teams and individuals?

I'll give a few predictions, keeping in mind I watch Class 4 most closely.

In Class 4 boys, I'll say my choices right now, in order, are LS North, Liberty, SLUH and RockBridge.

LS North has had a strong 1-5 spread at every meet it has run; in fact, it usually has been a strong 1-7 with its varsity. That's why I think Liberty and SLUH have to be favorites as well, with solid 5 scorers. Many other good teams drop off after their 3rd or even 4th runner.

Danny Thater of Kickapoo would be my co-favorite right now with defending State Champ Kevin Colon of LS West, who looks as if he's almost over his recent illnesses. That should be a great race, with Caleb Ford of SLUH another obvious contender.

Right near them I would place other KC area runners including Sectional winner Devon Young of Raymore-Peculiar plus Collin Hubert, Kolton Sheldon and Jon LaPlante of LS North. I've also been impressed from afar by Caleb Wilfong of RockBridge and want to see him race next Saturday.

In Class 4 girls, I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the defending state champions LS West run several times this year, and they should be the obvious favorites.

While Emily Sisson of Parkway Central is the favorite in the Class 4 girls race, I can see a terrific race right behind her among Diane Robison of Parkway Central, Megan Yohe of Liberty, and Chelsea Phoebus and Liga Blyholder of LS West. Phoebus, in particular, always seems to be able to pull out a final sprint to get a victory, so I would especially watch for her.

In Class 3 boys, I've seen Max Korolev of Harrisonville run four record-setting races this year and can't wait to see him go for Matt Tegenkamp's overall State record in Jefferson City.

In Class 1 boys, the obvious person to watch is Caleb Hoover of College Heights Christian. Keep in mind that Caleb was only 41st at last year's State Meet in the combined boys times (finishing 2nd in the Class 1 race), far behind others I have mentioned already. He has really improved since last year's cross country season.

 I'm not sure they are really a sleeper team, because almost everyone has noticed how well RockBridge has been doing this year. But if they peak at the right time, I can see them coming away even higher than I already expect.

What do you look forward to the most about the state meet?

The first is seeing the absolute best boys and girls race against each other in all 4 classes. Those are great battles and they really draw out the best efforts from them.

The second is watching --and being proud -- of some of the runners I have run with in the off-season while staying in shape for my own road-racing season in the Kansas City area. They have included young men and women of high character and maximum competitiveness, including Max Storms of O'Hara, and Stephen Saylor and Erin Edwards of Raytown South.

And I want to add that I always enjoy seeing, talking to and learning from all the great cross country coaches who serve our kids so well.

Thanks guys. It should be another memorable meet.