Boys

5 Top Contenders

Cullen Krieg - Festus

We've known about Festus's Cullen Krieg since he burst on the scene as a freshman in 2019. He finished the year helping his squad win their 6th straight championship with a 15:59.00. He then jumped up to 2nd in 2020 behind West Plains phenom Riley Simpson. A 5th place finish last year in 15:30.70 puts him at the top of the Class 4 list heading into 2021. His junior year track season was cut short due to injury, but not before he ran a personal best 3200 of 9:49.40 in March. In his only full track season so far, he's run 1:59.31 and 4:20.65. He'll be the key to the Tigers' 9-peat efforts this year and a 1-point score will be very important to hold off their biggest challenger. 

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Josh Allison - Hillsboro

Hillsboro's Josh Allison erupted this spring. After running 15:35.20 for 6th at state, he dropped 7 seconds in the 800 (1:55.99), 20 seconds in the 1600 (4:18.64), and 56 seconds in the 3200 (9:22.81), earning all-state in all three and the 4x800. He was 4th in the 800, 2nd in the 1600, 3rd in the 3200, and anchored the 2nd place 4x800. All four of his losses were to Jacob Myers (Festus) or to Festus's 4x8 team. Suffice it to say, Allison is tired of losing to the inter-county rival and will be challenging Cullen Krieg for the top spot in November. He's also trying to help the Hawks unseat the Tigers in the team race. 

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Ian Schram - Festus

Ian Schram broke through in a big way as a sophomore in 2020-2021. He placed 6th at the Class 4 State meet and then followed it up with track bests of 1:58.20, 4:19.20 (full mile), and 9:25.62. As a result, Schram put together two sub-15:40s on the Gans Creek course - 15:32.40 at the Classic and 15:38.80 at State. A faster year dropped him back to 8th, but he's the third fastest returner this fall. The top 3 individuals may be Jefferson County runners as Southeast Missouri continues to churn out incredible distance runners, but a 1-2 finish for Festus will be huge in their chase for a 9-peat. 

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Keion Grieve - Capital City

Capital City's Keion Grieve is one of the state's best middle distance runners, but he's no slouch in cross country, either. After dropping a 16:05.90 for 18th in Class 4 in the fall, he built upon a stellar freshman track season with personal bests of 1:53.73 in the 800 and 4:21.57 in the 1600. He won the Class 5 state title in the 800 over some big time names and has kept it going this summer at the AAU level. Grieve recently dropped an eye-popping 1:51.26 at the AAU National Championships for 3rd overall in the 17-18 age group! We'll see how he does when he transitions back to cross country mode, but don't be shocked when he's top 5 in Class 4 this fall, assuming last year's largest Class 4 school doesn't jump up to Class 5.

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Isaac Rivera - Lincoln College Prep

Isaac Rivera had the unfortunate distinction of finishing 26th in the Class 4 State Championships and 9th in the Class 4 State 1600 this past school year. "Negatives" aside, he did run the 4th fastest time among sophomores (15:55.16 at the Garmin RunningLane Championships), was the Gans Creek White Division champion, and did grab a 6th place medal in the Class 4 State 3200. So, after an up and less-up sophomore season, Rivera returns as a lock for a top 25 spot, and a serious contender for top 5. His track bests of 4:23.18 and 9:35.14 set him up well to lead a young Lincoln College Prep team with low scores everywhere they go. 

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Next 5 Up

Jonah Allison - Hillsboro

A key part of the Hillsboro 1-2 Allison punch, Jonah had a strong track season in his own right. He dropped 7 seconds in the 800 (1:59.37), 17 seconds in the 1600 (4:30.19), and 1:08 in the 3200 (9:45.38). His 16:06.80 5k best earned him 20th at the Class 4 state meet last fall and is 6th fastest among Class 4 returners. He will be a very important piece as Hillsboro looks for its first ever team trophy at the state level. 

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Evan Stevens - Webb City

Webb City's Evan Stevens heads into the fall with the 13th fastest time among returners - 16:32.70 - but the rising junior turned in a solid track season, primarily in the 3200, so he has leapt his way up into this section of the season preview. His 9:45.35 personal best 3200 earned him 7th at the Class 4 state meet and is 4th fastest among returners. Webb City is known for churning out strong distance runners in recent years and Stevens is on a trajectory to be no exception. Watch for him to challenge for a top 5 individual medal this November. 

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Tate Riney - Festus

Among the top 7 returners in Class 4 based on time, Festus boasts 3 of them. The third Tiger senior in the mix, Tate Riney dropped a 29 second personal best when he needed to the most and secured a 23rd place medal at the 2021 Class 4 State Meet. He ran personal bests of 4:48.19 and 10:14.56 this spring and will be a key third man for Festus -- three Tigers in the top 10 will be hard to overcome. 

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Mitchell Hardeman - Chaminade

An early-season injury derailed Mitchell Hardeman's progress this spring, but he was still able to bounce back, nearly match his personal best 3200 from his freshman campaign (10:01.02), and qualify for his second state meet. Hardeman dropped significant time last fall en route to a 30th place finish at the state meet. A healthy summer of mileage will make Hardeman a sleeper pick for a top 5 individual medal this November. He's been quiet so far in his career, but we see a breakout coming very soon. 

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Aiden Kirk - Sullivan

Another quietly strong cross country runner, Aiden Kirk dropped two solid marks at Gans Creek in 2021 and finished just outside of a medal (29th) in November. He returns with the 8th fastest 5k among returners (16:20.80) and will try to build back up after a spring of middle distance and throws focus! But we do see Kirk as a runner with a top 5 ceiling this fall.

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Dark Horse to Watch

Ryan Seabaugh - Cape Girardeau Central

Cape Girardeau Central's Ryan Seabaugh is about to make a big splash this fall. After a 49th place finish at the 2021 Class 4 State meet in his personal best of 16:49.80, Seabaugh had a stellar track season. He ran 2:00.87 in the 800, 4:22.80, and 9:57.39 in the 3200; 3, 14, and 48 second bests respectively. Seabaugh is the real deal and will try to wiggle his way into the conversation with the Jefferson County stars he'll most likely see throughout the regular and post-season as he moves into the conversation for a top 10 medal.

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Incoming Freshmen to Watch

Cameron Martensen - Rolla

Personal Bests: XC - 3200 - 10:30.60, 4000 - 13:09.30; TF - 800 - 2:02.82, 1600 - 4:28.78

Barrett Jarvis - Willard

Personal Bests: XC - 2400 - 9:02.89, 2 Mile - 11:56.50; TF - 800 - 2:18.20, 1600 - 4:56.95

Knox Vestal - Bolivar

Personal Bests: XC - 2400 - 10:07.86, 3200 - 11:10.86; TF - 400 - 56.04, 800 - 2:12.56

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5 Team Title Contenders

Festus... you might be in danger, fellas. The Hillsboro Hawks are returning for the 2022 cross country with a legitimate shot at ending their conference rival's historic run of eight straight state championships. The Allison brothers are returning after an excellent 2021 cross country season, and an even better track season. Throw Orville Mann back into the mix after a season of dominating JV meets and Gavin Vaughn coming off big personal bests in the 1600 and 3200, and it appears the Hawks are ready to win it all. Coming off of a disappointing 8th place finish last year, Hillsboro's first trophy in school history may be a championship one. 

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Festus may be in danger, but when it comes down to it, they really are in a good position to win their ninth straight state championship. Cullen Krieg and Ian Schram are a dynamic 1-2 punch that could very well finish 1-2 at state. Tate Riney and Bryson Rhine benefited from the Festus magic at state last year, running their two best marks at the place where it counts the most: Gans Creek. They have reinforcements coming up from their middle school program and should be able to reload their depth fairly quickly. With three boys ranked in the top 8 heading into the season, we refuse to count the Tigers out in November -- they might just decide to blow everyone away again. 

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Smithville returns a solid crew who should have no trouble getting out of District 4 and on to state this fall. Their truest test will be at state, but at least in the preseason, they line up as a top 4 team in Class 4. Rising sophomore Liam Adair is the key. He had a great track season and will challenge his teammate, Asa Kellner, for the top spot on the squad. Their 3-5 depth is also strong enough to get them there, but can they climb back into a trophy spot after a three year drought? We shall see. 

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A rebuild year for West Plains is a 6th place finish at the state meet. Their top 2 from 2021 have graduated so it's on Ridge Smith to carry the torch this year. Their lack of depth is uncharacteristic of the typical Zizzer squad, but with four rising sophomores at 2-5, West Plains could be major players once again as they continue to grow as runners. 

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Graduation is really hurting Lutheran St. Charles this fall, but you can't count them out of team trophy contention. Junior Charles Masa leads the way for the Cougars with hurdles specialist Aiden Kearns carrying the No. 2 torch. Milo Rush was a top tier freshman in the state in 2021 and Isaac Lind has the genes to become a star. Depth is a question mark, but if Lutheran can retool, they will be a powerhouse once again. 

Dark Horse Team to Watch

The Lions skyrocketed from obscurity to state qualifiers in three short years. Rising junior Tyler Anderson leads the way coming off another successful track season and should have plenty of support behind him. With improvements across 2-7, sub 17s from Patel and McClellan, and the addition of a fully healthy Zenidene El Farissi, they could sneak their way into the first state trophy for a Zumwalt school since Ft. Zumwalt South won back to back Class 4 titles in 2005 and 2006. 

Preseason Pick: Who will win the MSHSAA Class 4 boys cross country team title this fall?

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Preseason Pick: Who will win the MSHSAA Class 4 boys XC team title this fall?

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