You have to start somewhere when you want to start a streak of some sort.
There are teams going to this weekend's MSHSAA State Cross Country finals that are used to that trip. For the first time in school history, Seckman (Fox School District, Jefferson County) is sending a girls team to the state championship race.
Last year, Coach Blake Harris took four girls to the meet and that was a big stepping stone moment for the program. This year, the Jaguars placed fourth with 120 points and claimed the final qualifying spot out of Class 5 District 1 meet.
Seckman senior Elizabeth Kundert (center, blue jersey) races to a 25th overall finish and 9th-place Yellow Division finish to help the Jaguars to a 7th overall and 2nd division finish at the 2023 St. Louis Suburban Conference meet.
Seckman senior Ariel Laird races to a 34th overall and 10th Yellow Pool Division finish in 21:00 at the 2023 St. Louis Suburban Conference meet.
Jessica Lane (10th place), Ariel Laird (12th), Savannah Hirtz (17th) and Elizabeth Kundert (29th) all would've made the cut this year based on their showing.
Kirkwood, Lafayette (Wildwood) and Eureka finished ahead of the Jaguars at the district meet, but Seckman had an 18-point cushion of Parkway West to advance.
Seckman junior Jessica Lane kicks to a 20th-place overall finish and 7th-place Yellow Division finish in 20:21 to lead the Jaguars to a 7th overall and 2nd-place division finish at the 2023 St. Louis Suburban Conference Championships.
Harris talked to Mo MileSplit about what this means for the program this year and the future. He also floated his idea that MSHSAA should allow the top five teams from each district to move onto state, given the size of Gans Creek and the ability to handle upwards of 30 to 40 teams at the starting line.