The list of junior boys runners in Missouri features plenty of top-tier talent, led by Sage Wilde and Andrew Hauser, two runners who have run sub-15 5Ks this fall.
Liberty North's Sage Wilde has the second-fastest time in the state overall, behind senior Connor Burns from Southern Boone County. The third-best time, regardless of grade, belongs to Hauser, from Rock Bridge.
Two of the top 10 times have come this week, with Mason Shank of Nixa and East Newton's Chase Sorrell getting low times at the COC XC Championship and Big 8 Cross Country Meet, respectively.
Hauser is one of two defending state champions in this junior list, the other is Riley Blay from West Nodaway -- though his uniform will say Nodaway Valley but MSHSAA doesn't recognize co-ops that don't fully merge.
Four of the top 10 are from the Kansas City area and three of the top 10 are from the southwest Missouri area.