Boys
The Contenders
At the beginning of this season, we saw a major breakout coming for Josh Allison after he had absolutely torn up the track in junior year spring. Last season he posted three marks under 16:00, two of them coming on the Gans Creek course, but this season he's been able to dip under that barrier six times. He's posted victories at the Fleet Feet Arnold 2 Mile, First Capital Invitational, Ladue Invitational, Festus Bowles Invitational, Frank Schultz Invitational, Orchard Farm Invitational, Clayton Invitational, and finally at the District 1 meet. That's 8 wins in 10 tries so far. His only losses have come at the Gans Creek Classic (6th) and JCAA Conference (2nd to Ian Schram). He enters with a 15:25.08 personal best and should be a major player for the individual title.
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Isaac Rivera - Lincoln College Prep
Isaac Rivera comes in with the top mark among Class 4 runners with his 15:09.82 at the Joe Schrag Invitational in Kansas. He's posted only one mark over 16:00 this season (the District 4 meet), showing excellency and consistency throughout the campaign. He's picked up victories at Joe Schrag, the Kris Solsberg Invitational, and the Kearney Invitational. He was 10th at the Chile Pepper Festival and 14th in the Gans Creek Classic Gold Division. Would you believe he was 26th last season? As a result, Rivera will challenge to bring home Lincoln College Prep's first ever all-state cross country medal. What's more, it could very well end up being gold.
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Ian Schram returns after an 8th place finish at last year's state meet. it was a key No. 2 performance for Festus as they won their unprecedented 8th straight state championship. Schram is really going to need to bring the noise this Friday to help the Tigers earn championship number 9. He's entering with the second fastest mark among competitors with his 15:24.70 at the Chile Pepper Festival. He's lost to Josh Allison twice, but also beaten him at the conference meet so he's looking to even the score. We're looking forward to seeing some Festus magic on display this weekend.
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It's been a breakout season for Webb City's Evan Stevens no unlike Ryan Riddle in his junior campaign (2016). Stevens is now an individual championship contender with his 15:38.41 personal best. He has 6 marks under 16:00, a 3 mile mark at 14:45.87, and victories at Carthage, McDonald County, and, most importantly, the District 2 meet. Stevens is coming on strong at the right time and is cementing his place among the Class 4 elites.
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Jonah Allison doesn't have an individual victory to his name this season, but it hasn't been for a lack of trying. He's finished 2nd to his brother Josh 5 times, finished 3rd at District 1, and was fourth in the JCAA. His personal best of 15:40.10 is 26 seconds better than last year's personal best from the state meet where he finished 20th. This year, top 5 is a very real possibility. His finish will be a key to Hillsboro's team success as if he can ensure single digit points for the Hawks' top 2, we could finally see a change at the top.