Boys
The Contenders
Connor Burns - Southern Boone County
What more can be said about Connor Burns that hasn't already been said? His high school career will more than likely go down as the most successful of any Missourian in state history as he has broken nearly every major record there is to break. The only one left for him, it seems, is the course record at Gans Creek, which currently stands at 14:52.70 by Andrew Hauser at last year's Class 5 meet. Burns has already posted the all-time state record of 14:32.30 this season and is undefeated in the state of Missouri since his narrow loss to Daelen Ackley at the 2020 Class 3 State meet. His next closest challenger has run 15:22.49 and would still just be turning the corner and heading into the final straightaway while Burns is crossing the line some 300 meters away, as he sits 50 seconds behind the Southern Boone County superstar. The question is hardly if he wins Saturday, but how fast will it be and by how much will the margin be?
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Sean Walker is that next closest challenger for Burns. Walker has enjoyed a stellar senior season of cross country even after a junior track season in which he was unable to improve upon any of his sophomore year personal bests. Still, Walker has been able to truly thrive this fall, earning 7 victories in 9 tries. Those wins have come at Lebanon, Missouri Southern Stampede Gold Division, Hermitage, Buffalo, the Ozark Highland Conference, El Dorado Springs, and finally, the District 2 meet. He's also run under four times, including three marks under 15:32 and a personal best of 15:22.49. Unfortunately for him, he's probably competing for 2nd on Saturday, but he would be the favorite to pull off the upset if ever there was one.
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In a large group of seniors, Bowling Green junior Ben Chance stands out as a major player to disrupt the Class 3 meet this Saturday. He's enjoyed his own breakout season with victories at FZN, Mexico, the Gans Creek Classic Blue Division, Camdenton, and the EMO Conference meet at North Callaway. He ran his 15:25.68 personal best at the EMO meet and has been 16:01 or better two other times. His only two losses this season have been to Connor Burns so far so he's shown the ability to run with, and in many cases, beat, the best the state has to offer. We'll see if he can improve upon that 9th place finish from last fall and challenge for a top 5 this year.
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James Wortham - St. Charles West
St. Charles West's James Wortham came across 3rd last year in a slower year than anticipated, possibly affected by a mid-afternoon start. Either way, Wortham rose to the challenge for third and now comes in as a favorite to be in the top 3. He's picked up key victories at the First Capital Invitational, Linn Invitational, Fulton, Notre Dame Cape Girardeau, and the GAC Championships. His 15:48.20 personal best and only sub-16 came at the not-flat Notre Dame Invitational, but he's shown throughout the year that he's a racer through and through. We'll certainly see him near the top on Saturday.
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Lutheran South's Adam Snoke turned major heads on the track this spring, particularly in the 800 and 1600. He went 1:52.71 and 4:16.23, respectively, which put him atop the Class 3 ranks heading into this fall. He's entering the state meet with a 15:39.00 personal best, three marks under 16:00, and wins at Sullivan, Lutheran North, Hancock, the Metro League, and District 1. He's also been runner-up at Memphis Twilight and third place at Frank Schultz to Hillsboro's studs. He'll be another top 3 contender as the race for 2nd behind Connor Burns should be quite an interesting one.