History! Burns 14:32, Wilde 14:36 @ Chile Pepper

Then, a year ago, Buns won the Gans Creek Classic in 15:05 to best Rockhurst senior Wesley Porter's 15:07 course record in the course's debut season of 2019. A week later at the 2021 Chile Pepper Festival, Burns and the field faced nationally ranked Central Catholic High School from Portland, Oregon and their two standouts Max Girardet and Wes Shipsey.

 

Connor Burns runs to victory at the Gans Creek Classic in 14:57 on September 24.

Burns took control in the second half of the race before Girardet and Shipsey charged back in front. Burns eventually moved past the pair before a final stretch sprint that saw Girardet get the win in 14:55.5 as Burns settled for 2nd in 14:56.3, just ahead of Shipsey (14:56.6). Burns goal of breaking Matt Tegenkamp's state best-ever mark of 14:47 would have to wait.

After an excellent freshman campaign, Wilde (pronounced Will-Dee) posted 3rd, 2nd, and 4th-place finishes at the Olathe Twilight, Missouri Southern Stampede, and Rim Rock Farm Classic last year. Then he posted a 15:10, 5th-place Chile Pepper Festival finish, opening even more eyes and stirring more thoughts of what he could do over the next 2.5 years. At state, Wilde ran 15:06, placing 3rd behind teammate Ethan Lee (2nd) and Rock Bridge's Andrew Hauser in Class 5, helping the Liberty North Eagles to the 3rd-place trophy, and a 2nd consecutive state trophy.

After bagging a buck during the gun hunting season, Wilde planted his flag as one of the country's best underclassmen and one to watch over the remainder of his prep career. He and about 20 other Missouri boys made the trip south for the Garmin RunningLane XC Championships in Huntsville, Alabama.

On a super-fast course in great conditions, Wilde ran to a 33rd-place finish in the championship race of more than 300 racers in 14:42. The time bettered the previous fastest ever for a Missouri boy, surpassing Matt Tegenkamp and putting Wilde second on the all-time Missouri list behind fellow sophomore Andrew Hauser, who was just ahead of Wilde in the race, placing 25th for Rock Bridge in 14:38.15.

At the Gans Creek Classic on September 24, 2022, in the Gold Division race, Burns and Wilde led from the start, as Rock Bridge's Hauser, Ian Kemey, and Kickapoo's Tyler Harris followed. The duo pulled away on the 4th kilometer then Burns got away from Wilde in the final 1,000-meters. Burns finished in 14:57 while Wilde clocked in at 15:01, both looking comfortable and controlled. The pair seemed satisfied with their efforts' and confident they had more to give the next week at Chile Pepper.

This year's nationally ranked power and team favorite making the trip to Fayetteville was Texas' Southlake Carroll High School. The race featured some other excellent teams, like Forest Park XC Festival champions and nearby Bentonville High School, and individual standouts like Shawnee Mission East's Wyatt Haughton (Kansas), and Kickapoo's Tyler Harris, among many others. However, Burns and Wilde were the stars that shone brightest.