Boys

Top 5 Contenders

Connor Burns - Southern Boone County

Connor Burns, as a rising senior, is probably Missouri's all-time greatest distance runner. It's hard to argue against that point. He has the Overall State Meet record in the 3200 - 8:48.76. He won the Brooks PR Invitational 2 Mile - 8:45.52 - which converts to an overall state 3200 record of 8:42.47. He set the national record in the Mile for high school juniors - 3:58.83. He won the Class 3 State Cross Country meet in 15:13.50, a class record, one month after breaking 15:00 at Chile Pepper Festival - 14:56.30. He's also run 1:51.00 for 800 and even high jumped 1.4 meters! He has one more year to set the state on fire and, coming off a historic track season, we're sure to see something amazing this fall. Another Class 3 individual title shouldn't be too difficult. But what about a sub-14:30? His 3200 and 2 Mile bests say: Probably closer to 14:00 flat. Watch out, Colin Sahlman, your national record may be short-lived.

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Adam Snoke - Lutheran South

The first of a dynamic brotherly duo, Lutheran South's Adam Snoke has the unfortunate distincion of No. 2 returner behind the all-time great Burns. But Adam is hardly a slouch. This spring he exploded with personal bests of 4:16.23, 9:24.78, and a MO No. 17 All-Time 1:52.71 in the Festival of Miles 800, 7th all-time among juniors. Adam also returns with a 15:53.00 best from last year's Gans Creek Classic - he ran 16:15.20 for 4th at the Class 3 State meet. Adam showed off his range this spring and is ready for a another major breakthrough this fall. 

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James Wortham - St. Charles West

The St. Charles West junior James Wortham leapfrogged his teammate and broke through in a big way last fall. Wortham ended the 2021 season with a 16:01.90 best and a 3rd place medal at the Class 3 state meet, taking advantage of the Warriors' move down from Class 4. Regardless of the move, Wortham proved his XC season was no fluke with personal bests of 4:22.71 and 9:36.03, earning two more state medals in the spring. Wortham could very well be the runner-up this year as he'll be Adam Snoke's biggest competition for the honor.  

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Andrew Snoke - Lutheran South

And now it's Andrew's turn. Andrew's track season included less state hardware than his brother, Adam, but he still returns with a 5th place medal from the Class 3 state meet and a 16:14.90 personal best in the 5k. Both of his fastest times from 2021 were at Gans Creek so he certainly likes to race on the course that matters the most. It's easy to improve when you get to train every day with a brother like his so keep an eye out for both Snoke brothers to challenge for top 3 finishes at state this fall. 

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Ben Chance - Bowling Green

The coach's son is taking off! Bowling Green's Ben Chance is Class 3's top returning junior and looks to be ready for a big third high school season. After topping out at 17:31 as a freshman, Chance dropped a 16:19.80 at the Gans Creek Classic and followed it up with a 16:31.10 for 9th place at the state meet. He was consistently in the mid-16s down the stretch last fall so the consistency needed to be successful is certainly there. With track bests of 4:37.84 and 10:03.68, there is still room to grow for Chance, and he'll hope to bring along his young squad with a load of potential with him.

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Next 5 Up

Chase Sorrell - East Newton

The latest in a long line of Sorrells who have been successful on the state level for East Newton, it's now Chase Sorrell's turn to take the state by storm. He's also the latest in a long line of studs in the Class of 2024. Sorrell could and should challenge for top 5 this year after dropping massive personal bests on the track. He ran 2:01.00 in the 800 (7 seconds), 4:20.26 in the 1600 (20 seconds), and 9:39.38 in the 3200 (37 seconds). That 3200 says he could be close to 15:40 this fall which will absolutely put him in the top 5, probably top 3, conversation. 

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Mason Morris - Cape Girardeau Notre Dame

Notre Dame Cape's Mason Morris may not be the biggest name in Class 3 just yet, but his performances so far have him deserving of a top 10 projection heading into the 2022 season. He's got some solid personal bests in the 1600 (4:35.92) and 3200 (10:02.37) and qualified for the state meet in both. He has a 16:43.70 5k personal best which earned him 14th in 2021. He certainly has the pedigree as the younger brother of a former Class 3 Runner-Up and current Mizzou athlete. There are a lot of things to like about Mason Morris and we'll see how high he can fly in his senior year. 

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Connor Blackford - Maryville

Maryville's Connor Blackford is looking to throw his name into the ring as a major player in Class 3. He returns with a 16:40.70 personal best from the Gans Creek Classic and snagged the final Class 3 all-state medal at the 2021 state meet. He snuck on to the podium once again in the spring, taking 8th in the Class 3 1600 for the second straight year, this time in 4:29.23. Blackford loves to ride the edges, but he should be in the mix to finish much higher this fall. This rising junior is ready to break out! 

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Sean Walker - Buffalo

Buffalo's Sean Walker may not have set any new personal bests this spring, but he should be one of the top 10 XC runners in Class 3 this fall nevertheless. To be fair, he wasn't very far off this spring. Walker's slowest mark in the 3200 was 10:02 at his first meet and the next 8 performances were all sub-10:00; he was 0.35 seconds off of his 1600 best (4:36.60). His 16:40.92 has him 9th among returners so a top 10 finish this fall shouldn't be too farfetched for the senior.  

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Ezekiel Sisk - Potosi

He's a long and lanky and looming presence over his competitors, which helps make Potosi's Ezekiel Sisk one of the top returners in Class 3. He was only under 17:00 once in 2021 (16:33 on a Van Buren course that ran fast across the board), but he did drop a 17:00.20 on the state course for 27th. He's run 4:42.93 and 10:09.95, and qualified for the Class 3 state meet in the 3200 in the spring. Keep an eye on Sisk this fall to make a big jump at a school with a rich history of success. 

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Dark Horse to Watch

Quentin Hermann - Father Tolton Regional Catholic

Not so much a dark horse as he has the chops to back up a ranking in the top 10, but after spending his first three season at Columbia Independent School, Hermann moved to Tolton this spring and looks to be their new number 1 on the boys side. He will be a major asset as they make a run at another team trophy in Class 3. 

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Incoming Freshmen to Watch

Luke Thompson - Chillicothe

Personal Bests: XC - 8:15.80 (2400m), 11:11.60 (3200); Track - 2:15.71 (800m), 5:03.24 (1600m)

Luke Wolf - Osage

Personal Bests: XC - 11:34.10 (3200m); Track - 2:25.73 (800m), 5:24.69 (1600m)

Brian Burns - Southern Boone County

Personal Bests: XC - 9:19.90 (2500m), 11:40.38 (3200m), 13:07.50 (3500m); Track - 2:20.12 (800m), 5:02.21 (1600m), 5:12.31 (1 Mile)

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5 Team Contenders

Herculaneum

Herculaneum is back at the top of the state ranks after winning team championship number 13 in 2021. The movement of Festus to Class 4 has helped, but they are also benefiting from a great young core. Nathaniel Wright was one of the top freshmen in the state last fall, but he only has to be the Wildcats' number 3. He's sandwiched by two great juniors and supported by the senior leadership of Keith Vance, who was 20th individually at state. Herky could make it 14 this fall which would officially make them the winningest boys program in state history. 

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Potosi

Two historic programs will duke it out this fall, probably more often than not considering their proximity to each other. Only 50 minutes southwest of Herculaneum are the Potosi Trojans. They were 13th at the state meet last season, but with 6 of their 7 from that race returning, headlined by frontman Ezekiel Sisk, the Trojans profile as the second ranked team based on team personal best and 2021 season average. They will challenge their rivals to the north for Class 3 supremacy. 

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St. Michael the Archangel

Five years after rebranding as St. Michael the Archangel, the former Archbishop O'Hara High School is ready to climb to the podium for the first time. The Guardians return 5 of their top 6 runners from last year's ninth place squad, including senior Sam Rosenberg and last year's 18th fastest freshman in the entire state, Oliver Hotop. It's a solid squad 1-5 and they could certainly score the low points they need to challenge for a podium. Their depth will be tested, but if they can push from 6 and 7 like the two teams ahead of them, they will be a sneaky team title contender. 

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Father Tolton Regional Catholic

A really strong 2024 class anchors Father Tolton's 2022 cross country squad. Led by Luke Knollmeyer and followed very closely by John Glaude, '25, the Trailblazers look like a solid bet 1-5 to challenge for a podium spot. It's a young group who have the advantage of running on their home course when it matters most, so look for them to grow into a competitive position in Class 3 this fall. 

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Bowling Green

There are about 4 teams fighting for this 5th profile spot, but Bowling Green gets the advantage because of one guy: Ben Chance. Chance is the best number 1 runner of the next 7 or so teams that are within Bowling Green's range. With that low-stick, the Wildcats have a huge advantage. Even after finishing 5th at their district meet last year, they return 6 of their top 7 and will compete for a top 5 at the state meet this November. 

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Dark Horse Team to Watch

Willow Springs

They have to make it out of a tough district first - one in which they finished sixth last fall - but this year, Willow Springs is in a good position to get out and find themselves in the top half of the state standings. Led by rising sophomore Carson Smith, who finished just 7 seconds away from a state medal last November, the Bears have a solid low scorer to make the climb. 

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Preseason Pick: Who will win the MSHSAA Class 3 boys cross country team title this fall?

MileSplit Picks

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Preseason Pick: Who wins the MSHSAA Class 3 boys CX team title?

Herculaneum

Maryville

East Newton

Father Tolton Catholic

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