Boys
Team Qualifiers and Top Contenders
District 1 Qualifiers:
Herculaneum Dexter Potosi Notre Dame Cape Girardeau
District 2 Qualifiers:
El Dorado Springs Lamar Cassville East Newton
District 3 Qualifiers:
Father Tolton Regional Catholic John Burroughs Centralia Bowling Green
District 4 Qualifiers:
St. Michael the Archangel Maryville Knob Noster Chillicothe
Team Contenders
Herculaneum
We've mentioned some of the other historic programs already in our previews, but lest we forget Herculaneum. The Blackcats are prepared to repeat as state champions for the fourth time in school history and bring home their 14th state title, a new state record. Herculaneum is led by three boys who we could see finishing among the top 15. It will be difficult to overcome that for any challenger, especially if 4 and 5 can score fewer than 60 points like they're projected to do. Their depth after 5 is not there yet, so they'll have to rely on the usual suspects, but it's an experienced squad from a rich tradition who should feel confident heading into the Class 3 finale.
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Dexter
Wow! The Dexter Bearcats finished a mere THREE points behind state championship favorite Herculaneum at the District 1 meet this Saturday to earn their first state meet berth as a team since 1971. Yes, that's 51 years since their last trip to the state meet. "The boys definitely brought it today," Dexter head coach Josh Dowdy said after his team's District performance. "Our goal was just to qualify for state, but to be in the conversation (with Herculaneum) is a testament to the boys hard work." Coach Dowdy mentioned that their pack-running prowess is really paying off at the right time and he couldn't be more right. Their top 4, led by Chris Stone, is within an unheard-of 4 seconds of each other. Their number 5 man is a mere 27 seconds back of the pack giving them a solid 1-5 at 32 seconds. They might not get an individual in the top 25, but if all 5 men are with 30 places of each other from 30-60, they should find themselves on the podium to cap off an amazing season for another SEMO team.
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Father Tolton Regional Catholic
While the girls cavort about in Class 4 on Friday, the boys will take the stage on Saturday. Both Trailblazer squads took home their respective District championships in impressive fashion. The boys doubled up runner-ups John Burroughs on the Fulton HS course, putting their entire top 5 in the top 15. Quentin Hermann will be the key low-man with Owen Hartline and John Glaude providing insurance at 2 and 3. This very well could be their final race in Class 3 because if they do win or earn 2nd, they'll move on up to once again be classified with their girls in Class 4. Both scenarios are very real possibilities.
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St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel has enjoyed quite the run this year with victories at their home meet, Knob Noster (a perfect score), the Gans Creek White Division (by 30 points over Dexter), Lamar, Bishop LeBlond (by 71 points), Crossroads Conference (another perfect score), and, finally, District 4 (by 44 points over Maryville). Led by Johnny Joyce and Sam Rosenburg, it looks like the Guardians are a strong bet to finish in the top 4 this Saturday.
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El Dorado Springs
Yes, ElDo last Daelen Ackley, but they have been able to reload to the point where they will be competitive for a team trophy this weekend. Connor Goatley leads the way with a 16:33.32 best and the rest of the squad has been running strong behind him all season. They easily outpaced Lamar for the District 2 victory and have the senior experience needed to jump into the top 4 in Class 3. Even if they don't, and even when they lose those seniors to graduation, it won't be over for the Bulldogs as middle school phenom Wyatt Klaiber will be entering the fold in 2023.