Boys

5 Top Contenders

Andrew Hauser - Rock Bridge

Andrew Hauser is already the fastest cross country runner in the state of Missouri's history...and he's entering his junior campaign. The reigning Class 5 state champion, in a state course and meet record time of 14:52.70, Hauser became the state's first male Nike Cross Regionals individual champion and then blew past the overall state record at the Garmin RunningLane Championships in Huntsville, Alabama, running an eye-popping time of 14:38.15. After his Rock Bridge squad dominated the state cross country meet, he proceeded to add two more individual all-state medals this spring in the 1600 (4:11.72, 1st), and 3200 (9:05.11, 3rd) to help his team earn a Class 5 title in track and field, too. A once-in-a-lifetime talent, Hauser is entering his prime high school years and may end up blowing all of us away while he outpaces all of his Class 5 competitors this fall. 

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Sage Wilde - Liberty North

If anyone can take out Hauser this November, it might just be fellow junior Sage Wilde. Wilde is another blue chip harrier for a top tier Liberty North squad who seems to only get better as the distance goes up. After posting a strong sophomore season in which he finished no worse than fifth at some large, national-level meets, Wilde, who took 3rd in Class 5 in 15:06.60, ran the second fastest time in state history at the Garmin RunningLane Championships, crossing the line in Huntsville in 14:42.33. This past March, Wilde ran a state record half marathon for 15 year olds - 1:11:11 - for the win at the Liberty Hospital Half Marathon. On the track, he posted personal bests of 4:27.99 and 9:22.97 in the 1600 and 3200. We are popping the popcorn and eagerly anticipating the Hauser-Wilde battle for the next two years. 

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Ian Kemey - Rock Bridge

Hidden among Hauser and Wilde's sub-15s at Garmin RunningLane was rising senior Ian Kemey. Hauser's teammate at Rock Bridge, Kemey posted a 14:51.99 personal best to make three returners with a mark under 15:00 this fall. Kemey helped the Bruins with his 4th place finish at last fall's Class 5 state meet and has only improved since his 16:22.70 freshman campaign. With a 1:57/4:12/9:10 line this spring, Kemey profiles as a major part of quite possibly the strongest 1-2 punch in state history.

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Tyler Harris - Kickapoo

A major part of an incredible class of runners at Kickapoo high school over the last three years, Tyler Harris helped the Chiefs pack up and put it all together this fall to pull off the upset of Rock Bridge at the Class 5 state meet. Harris' 8th place finish in 15:34.40 was tops on the day for his squad, but 14 seconds behind his personal best of 15:20.20 from the Gans Creek Classic. Harris posted personal bests of 2:01.42, 4:23.40, and 9:14.96 this spring, with the 3200 mark earning him 8th at the Class 5 state track meet. The 2019 freshman class that had four sub-17s are now seniors and they are ready to repeat, led by senior Tyler Harris.

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Lukas Groenewald - Lafayette Wildwood

Even if the team may not be as stacked as they used to be, Lafayette continues to churn out stellar individual runners in the meantime. Their next big star: Lukas Groenewald. Groenewald has no fear as he often runs from the front, even against the state's top studs. After finishing 18th at last fall's Class 5 state meet, he returns as the fifth fastest runner with his 15:38.50 personal best from the Gans Creek Classic. He was a member of the 8th place 4x800 relay this spring and ran 9:27.98 to qualify for the state meet in the 3200. Here comes a big cross country season for the Lancer senior from South Africa. 

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Next 5 Up

Hobbs Campbell - Joplin

Joplin's Hobbs Campbell had a major breakthrough this spring. After a really solid cross country campaign, Campbell came a chin-hair away from winning the Class 5 1600. He finished the 2022 spring season with personal bests in the 800, 1600, and 3200 of 1:54.54, 4:12.19, and 9:19.98. Toss in a 4:10.83 full mile at the Festival of Miles and you've got yourself one of the top runners in the state. With a 15:39.90 5k best from 2021, don't be surprised if Campbell challenges for the state win, especially with footspeed like his. 

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Brooklyn Creehan - Kickapoo

Here comes the Chiefs. The second of four to be profiled individually here, Kickapoo's Brooklyn Creehan profiles as a solid #2 for the reigning state champs. He didn't run a single race this spring, but should still be a major player in their title defense after finishing 9th last November, running 15:38.70, and coming in just behind teammate, Tyler Harris. 

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Kyle Keltner - Kickapoo

Kyle Keltner came in 13th in Class 5 last fall with a 27 second personal best right when it was needed most. He, too, missed out on a full track season, but still returns with one of the top 5k bests in the entire state. His 15:43.90 makes him one of the best #3's in the entire country, much less Missouri. 

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Grant Musick - Kickapoo

Grant Musick had a stellar sophomore track campaign in 2021 that led to a junior cross country season in which he ran sub-16:00 three times and a 15th place finish at state in 15:46.90. He ran 15:44.85 at the Missouri Southern Stampede, his personal best, and though he comes in as Kickapoo's #4, he could very well be #1 on the day. Gotta love that as a coach! 

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Brian Humphrey - Rockhurst

Rockhurst's Brian Humphrey has two sub-16s to his name and they've both come at Gans Creek Recreation Area. He was able to parlay his 15:53.40 personal best into a 21st place finish in Class 5, a year after a 32nd place finish. By time, there are a couple of returners a smidge ahead of him by time, but by place at state, Humphrey gets the bump into our preseason top 10 ahead of this cross country season.

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Dark Horse to Watch

Jaxson Copelin - Ft. Zumwalt West

Jaxson Copelin is ready to become Ft. Zumwalt West's first all-state cross country athlete. The junior from O'Fallon is coming off of solid sophomore cross country and track seasons, showing off impressive range from the 200m dash to the 5K. He enters this fall with a 16:13.28 personal best 5K and posted a 1:55.57 800, 4:21.84 1600, and 9:30.71 3200 this spring. He anchored the Jaguars to a second place finish in the Class 5 4x800m Relay with his 1:55.06 official split. We're looking forward to a major breakout this fall from Copelin. 

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Incoming Freshmen to Watch

Liam Allen - Lebanon

Personal bests: XC 3200 - 12:13.63; TF 800 - 2:19.70, 1600 4:35.31

Luke Sievers - Columbia Jefferson (Hickman)

Personal bests: XC 3000 - 10:51.0, 2 Mile - 11:29.0; TF - 800 - 2:09.95, 1600 - 4:41.63, 1 Mile - 4:44.33

Matthew Kim - Columbia Gentry (Rock Bridge)

Personal bests: XC 3000 - 11:21.50, 2 Mile - 11:44.00; TF - 800 - 2:09.27, 1600 - 4:41.64

Reyes Martinez - Nixa

Personal bests: XC 3200 - 11:06.36, 2 Mile - 11:08.10; TF - 800 - 2:16.97, 1600 - 4:48.72

5 Team Title Contenders

Kickapoo has several of the top individual returners in the state, as we've already previewed, so they are truly the team to watch this fall. They are the 9th best returning team in the entire country based on their personal bests and the favorite to repeat as Class 5 champs this November. Coaches take note: Recruitment from a young age and development leads to some serious success. Shocker, right?

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We've already mentioned Hauser and Kemey as one of the best 1-2 punches in state history. They're going to get good help from Hudson Summerall, who holds personal bests on the track of 1:57.37, 4:31.62, and 9:42.84, as well as Ty Welty, who was their seventh sub-10:00 3200 runner this spring. Their depth will be tested this fall, but don't count the Bruins out. Help is on the way.

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The Eagles lose Ethan Lee, but their top 7 lineup may be unmatched in the state. As the 28th returning team in the entire country, with Sage Wilde leading the way, and Grayson Tapp coming as a solid #2, they can compete with anyone else top to bottom. In fact, Asher Curp is the fastest returning #7 in Class 5 by 55 seconds. Watch for Liberty North to make a serious play for their first ever team championship in their 12th year in existence. 

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After finishing 8th and 7th in 2020 and 2021, Rockhurst returns as one of the top teams in Class 5 in 2022. Led by '21 all-staters Brian Humphrey and Henry Acorn, the Hawklets are certainly ready to retake the top spot in the state. The biggest storyline to watch is how much growth rising sophomore Acorn can make after running the MO No. 4 all-time mark among freshmen last season.
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Lee's Summit North High School (MO)
	1) Logan Binger		16:18.30
	2) Xander McKie		16:19.70
	3) Eli Block		16:26.00
	4) Asa Johnson		16:56.60
	5) Jack Norman		17:05.30
	Average Time: 16:37.18 Total Time: 1:23:05.90 1-5 Split: 47.00
	6) Bradley Davis		17:10.57
	7) Jacob Manning		17:19.90

What Lee's Summit North lacks in front runners, it makes up for in their tight 1-7 pack. With 7 boys returning within 61 seconds of each other, and all under 17:20, watch for the Broncos to make their run at state hardware this November, led by Logan Binger and Xander McKie.

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Dark Horse Team to Watch

Nixa High School (MO)
	1) Devon Kemp		16:39.50
	2) Mason Shank		16:46.30
	3) Logan Richart		16:51.50
	4) Aaron Ashley		17:10.10
	5) Alexander Worthley		17:19.40
	Average Time: 16:57.36 Total Time: 1:24:46.80 1-5 Split: 39.90
	6) Caleb Gamble		17:30.70
	7) Dylan Ihasz		18:30.29

Our Class 5 Boys dark horse team to watch is Nixa. Nixa is looking like the next Kickapoo with their youth movement and returns 5 boys under 17:20, all within 40 seconds of each other. Nixa's #2 returner, rising junior Mason Shank is coming off a stellar track season in which he posted personal bests of 4:19 and 9:43 in the 1600 and 3200, and could be poised for a major breakthrough this fall. Even if it doesn't come together this year, though, the top 5 will all be back for 2023.