Girls
5 Top Contenders
Much like the boys race, but maybe even to a larger extent, the rest of the field is truly racing for 2nd. She lost only once last fall, beating a who's-who of runners from across the state, and losing only to Eldon's Zoe Martonfi at the Fatima Invitational. Bryan would be competitive in any division in any race at any time as she holds a personal best of 18:21.00 and went under 19:00 five times last fall alone. The rising senior ran away with last year's state title, winning by almost TWO MINUTES. She has posted personal bests on the track of 5:21.81 and 11:23.32 in the 1600 and 3200 and will challenge for the elusive sub-18:00 mark this fall while securing another state championship.
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The 2021 runner-up, Glasgow's Addison Barringhaus returns in a good spot to repeat that feat this fall. Barringhaus bided her time until the middle part of the state meet race, showing some serious strength, and moved up 2nd in the 3rd K. She dropped the hammer and left no doubt that even as a freshman, she is going to be a force in Class 1 over the next few years, finishing in 20:20.90, just off her 20:12.62 best. She earned an 8th place medal in the 3200 this May and finished track season with personal bests of 5:44.57 and 12:24.72 in the 1600 and 3200, respectively.
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Van Buren rising sophomore Kastin Cleaver took a big risk in her first go at the state meet last November, taking it out with Riley Bryan from the gun and even crossing the first K with her in a blazing 3:33. Bryan left her shortly thereafter, but Cleaver was still able to hang on for 3rd place in 20:28.00. She was also the Class 1 District 1 champion in her personal best time of 20:20.99. Cleaver was on the spring softball team so she has no track marks to speak of, but is still a top returner heading into the 2022 season.
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Crystal City's Lauren Hartman has broken 21:00 once in her short career, but she did it when it mattered most at last year's 2021 State Cross Country meet. She ran 20:39.50 for 6th place, which puts her among the top 5 returners heading into this fall. Hartman also qualifed for the state track meet in the 1600 and 3200, earning a 7th place medal in the 3200 in her personal best of 12:40.90.
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It was a rough 2021 state meet for Chadwick's Gretchen House. She entered the race as a top 5 contender, started out in the top 10, but ended up fading to the dreaded 26th place finish. House more than made up for it in the spring with all-state finishes in the 1600 and 3200, headlined by a 2nd place finish in that 3200 in her personal best mark of 12:15.93. She is a real contender to be among the top 3 this fall and should challenge the 20:00 barrier, too.
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Next 5 Up
Miya Bess only has five marks to her record so far, but she still returns as one of the top runners in Class 1 with her 20:57.80 best from 2021's state meet. She finished in 9th overall and should be among the top 10 once again this November.
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Maddie Homfeldt - Calvary Lutheran
In contrast to Miya Bess, Calvary Lutheran's Maddie Homfeldt is a veteran of this cross country thing. A rising senior now, Homfeldt has earned all-state honors in each of the last three years, finishing 14th as a freshman, 8th as a sophomore, and 10th as a junior last season. Homfeldt holds a personal best of 20:59.20 from last year's state meet. She also has three all-state honors to her name on the track and bests of 5:37.76 in the 1600 and 12:30.60 in the 3200. Watch for Homfeldt to make her way in to the top 5 this fall.
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Kinslee Vandermierden - Leopold
Leopold High School does not have a track team so Kinslee Vandermierden's career has been confined to the cross country course. In those three years, she has earned two top 10 all-state medals, including an 8th finish last fall in her personal best of 20:54.90. The Leopold senior has the experience necessary to find herself in the top 10 once again and even challenge for top 5.
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According to personal bests, Kinsley Murphy is actually Van Buren's top returner. Her 20:15.60 best from her ultra fast home meet was her only sub-21 mark last fall, but she does return with a 12th place medal to her name so she should be considered among the top returners heading into the season. She did not run this track season, but has posted a personal best in the 3200 of 12:41.21. Murphy is a key to Van Buren's return to the top of the podium in November.
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Lacey Wuertley is another one whose personal best comes from Van Buren, but, much like Kinsley Murphy, she brings back a high finisher medal from the 2021 campaign. Wuertley crossed the line in 21:13.20 for 13th place and will be another one to watch to jump into the top 10 this year.
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Dark Horse to Watch
Kendall Ramsey - McAuley Catholic
McAuley's Kendall Ramsey returns among the top 3200 returners from this past track season. She cleared the 13:00 barrier with a 12:55.92 mark at the Class 1 state meet, a major breakthrough for her, and should now be on the watchlist for at top 10 finish at the state cross country meet this year after finishing 37th a year ago. With a 12:55 3200 capability, she should be able to fly past her 22:21.53 best this season.
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Incoming Freshmen to Watch
Personal Bests: XC - 12:21.50 (3200), 11:59.21 (2 Mile); Track - 2:33.92 (800), 5:38.02 (1600)
Personal Bests: XC - 14:47.67 (2 Mile), 14:49.70 (3500); Track - 2:46.66 (800), 6:01.00 (1600)
Personal Bests: Track - 2:40.28 (800), 6:00.99 (1600)
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5 Team Title Contenders
| Van Buren High School (MO) | ||||
| 1) Kinsley Murphy | 20:15.60 | |||
| 2) Kastin Cleaver | 20:20.99 | |||
| 3) Ella Wilbanks | 21:27.90 | |||
| 4) Adria Marvin | 21:55.20 | |||
| 5) Ziah Been | 23:09.00 | |||
| Average Time: 21:25.74 Total Time: 1:47:08.69 1-5 Split: 2:53.40 | ||||
| 6) Alex Mansfield | 23:37.20 | |||
| 7) Asia Been | 24:16.90 | |||
Van Buren returns as a heavy favorite to repeat as state champions in Class 1 this season. They absolutely dominated everyone last November, scoring 43 points and winning by 79 over Glasgow. They're returning 5 of their top 7 and even with losing Katie Griffin, they should be able to keep the train rolling with Kastin Cleaver and Kinsley Murphy.
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| Glasgow High School (MO) | ||||
| 1) Addison Barringhaus | 20:12.62 | |||
| 2) Hannah DeMint | 23:24.20 | |||
| 3) KatiJo Schaefer | 24:03.34 | |||
| 4) Kaitlyn Monnig | 24:08.00 | |||
| 5) Macie Parks | 24:40.30 | |||
| Average Time: 23:17.69 Total Time: 1:56:28.46 1-5 Split: 4:27.68 | ||||
Glasgow was a distant second last year at the state meet and only returns five athletes. The five that return, though, still put Glasgow in a position to compete for another high podium finish. Led by stud frontrunner Addison Barringhaus, we expect Glasgow to find themselves in second once again this season.
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| New Haven High School (MO) | ||||
| 1) Gracie Steele | 21:45.30 | |||
| 2) JANELLE CRONIN | 22:29.00 | |||
| 3) Sydney Grubb | 24:35.10 | |||
| 4) Haleigh Nieman | 25:15.70 | |||
| 5) LEXI YOCHIM | 26:08.90 | |||
| Average Time: 24:02.80 Total Time: 2:00:14.00 1-5 Split: 4:23.60 | ||||
New Haven was once again on the podium last fall, finishing 4th with 144 points. They're led by Gracie Steele, who finished in 23rd as a sophomore in 2021. She'll need some help from some newcomers and somebody in that 3-5 range to drop some time if the Shamrocks hope to add another trophy to their case this fall. As it stands right now, we won't bet against them.
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| Liberal High School (MO) | ||||
| 1) Abby Barton | 21:48.30 | |||
| 2) Taylor Swarnes | 22:10.70 | |||
| 3) Jordan Goodell | 23:24.90 | |||
| 4) Ellaina LaNear | 25:51.70 | |||
| 5) Kylee Melton | 26:59.20 | |||
| Average Time: 24:02.96 Total Time: 2:00:14.80 1-5 Split: 5:10.90 | ||||
The Liberal Bulldogs look like they're ready to climb back into the top of the Class 1 ranks. It's a wide spread from 1 to 5, but there is still a chance they'll pick up some help or see a breakthrough from one or more of their back-end runners. Abby Barton leads the way, though, after kicking into 25th last November. She has experience at the state level as she did win the Class 1 1600 in 2021 in 5:32.26 and finished 6th in the 800 this past fall. Those wheels have done her well and we'll see if it can be enough to pull her team on to the podium this year.
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| Braymer High School (MO) | ||||
| 1) Valarie Demsko | 23:20.40 | |||
| 2) Cheri Basham | 23:25.50 | |||
| 3) Karly Cox | 23:38.70 | |||
| 4) Delaney Davies | 24:14.20 | |||
| 5) Korbin Cox | 24:23.40 | |||
| Average Time: 23:48.44 Total Time: 1:59:02.20 1-5 Split: 1:03.00 | ||||
| 6) Emily Ramsey | 30:15.70 | |||
It's a tight-knit Braymer squad that returns no one under 23:00 but five under 24:30. With Class 1 the way it is these days, that will be enough to get to the state meet and could be enough to break through to the podium. After all, they were 5th and didn't have a single athlete in the top 60 individually. With some improvements, Braymer will be a team to watch for a spot on the podium.
Dark Horse to Watch
17 teams return in Class 1 with at least five girls which makes it hard to pick a dark horse to watch. Nearly every team that fields 5 runners will make it to state unless their district is lopsided over the other one. As we move through the season, we will have to see who can field a crew and keep an eye out for any standouts among them. For now, keep an eye on Smithton, Dora, and Mound City.
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