Milesplit Southwest - Missouri is gearing up for an incredible and historic 2024 Cross Country season! Over the next few days, we will be previewing what to expect this fall from each of the five classifications. We are talking about team and individual title storylines, who might be making a leap after a strong track season, and are there any freshmen/transfers to watch out for this season? 

Take a look at our Class 5 Preview and be on the lookout for the rest of the classes coming soon!

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Seven Storylines to Watch in 2024

Rockhurst Boys, Tolton Girls Eye Historic Seasons

The Class 5 team races will be, as usual, hyper-competitive. Over the last few years, the state's highest enrollment classification has continued to push the line regarding what it takes to be a podium finisher, both as an individual and a team. Be that a result of the new state meet course, a shift to faster courses in general during the regular season, or just incredible recruiting and coaching across the state, Class 5 continues to get better and better each season.

When the dust settles on the 2024 season, we may end up with the state's greatest boys and girls teams of all time in Rockhurst and Father Tolton Regional Catholic. Let's start with the Hawklets. 

What a question it is: Who is the greatest Missouri team of all time? For some, it's the 2015 Lafayette (Wildwood) Lancers, who posted 38 points at the Class 4 State meet (15 through No. 4), put 3 boys in the top 5 there, and had four boys under 15:23 on the season. Others may say the 2014 Festus squad who scored 24 points in the Class 3 race, putting their entire top 7 in the top 27, and beating a top notch Notre Dame Cape Girardeau squad by 61. A clear frontrunner is the 2006 Potosi team who nearly perfect-scored the Class 3 State meet (16 points), made it to Nike Nationals, and put two guys under 15:00. Or maybe it was 2002 West Plains, 2003 Liberty, or 2006 Ft. Zumwalt South? What about 2009 SLUH or, shoot, 2023 Rock Bridge? I'm sure a Clark Wille-coached Herculaneum team could join the conversation or there's more Zizzers' squads to mention, but regardless, this year's Rockhurst squad appears ready to join this heated debate.

The Hawklets retrun a loaded group of boys coming off an incredible track season. Senior Henry Acorn leads the way after winning his first career Class 5 state title in the 1600 meters. His 4:06.31 mark is the third fastest mark in state meet history, behind only the elusive Jason Pyrah and Daelen Ackley's mark from two years ago. He also ran 9:12.62 in the 3200 and split 1:53.72 in the 4x800. His 15:07.00 5K best is second among returners. 

Rockhurst's Henry Acorn placed 4th at the Class 5 XC Meet before a historic state track meet

Three more boys with a 5K mark of 15:40 or better to their name return, as well, with Kai Somasegaran, Andrew Davis, and Justin Waldron all complimenting Acorn's lead nicely. William Hayes comes in at No. 5 with a 16:18.70, but showed off some serious 800/1600 chops in running 1:53.70 and 4:24.46 this spring. Davis was the Class 5 800 champion with a 1:52.38 mark and finished his junior season with a 4:15.37 mark in the 1600. Somasegaran was MIA throughout the spring, but returned from injury to run a 4:37 mile at the KC Metro Mile Championship. On paper, their depth may leave something to be desired past the top 5, but we have seen Coach Dierks develop runners of all kinds over the last several years so expect them to reload right away. They are adding at least two key freshmen this season, too, in Jack McGovern and Jack Morrison. Do not be surprised if this squad becomes the first Missouri team to post a 1-5 average under 15:20 and improves upon last year's second place team finish. 

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The Father Tolton girls pulled off an incredible feat last fall, becoming the first team to ever win back-to-back-to-back state championships in three different classifications. Barring a dip in base enrollment, expect the Trailblazers to be in Class 5 again in 2024 and expect them to be even better than last year. 

For how incredible they were, the always dangerous Blue Springs South Jaguars made it interesting, coming within only 14 points of the team that ran a 1-5 average of 18:35 on the big stage. Tolton returns the entire top 5 from that team, and will be able to add Addison Wheeler to the mix, now that she is eligible for varsity. That's four girls with a personal best of 18:36 or better and a number five who ran JV races all season but still managed to post a 19:57.00 mark.

Elyse Wilmes is the top returner and a heavy favorite to pull in the individual title after the departure of all-time great Natalie Barnard. Wilmes had an incredible end to her junior track season with personal best marks in the 800 of 2:04.92 (MO No. 2 all-time) and 4:49.64 in the 1600 (MO No. 11 all-time). She ran 17:37.20 for second place at last year's state meet. Rising sophomore Angelina Cottone lived up to the hype and posted an 18:18.50 best before running 5:00.93 in the 1600 and 11:13.93 in the 1600 and 3200 this spring. Not too far behind are key 3 and 4 pieces, Makaylin Viet and Madison Taylor, with Viet coming off big performances in the 1600 and 3200 this past spring in her own right. 

Will this 2024 Tolton team challenge the all-time greats like the 2003 and 2004 West Plains squads, 2015 and 2022 Lafayette, 2009 and 2010 Lee's Summit West, 2015 Ste. Genevieve, and others? Most likely. This will be an all-time great team with four seniors eyeing the four-peat.

Father Tolton will have to hold off Blue Springs South, Liberty, Rock Bridge, Raymore-Peculiar, and 2023 Class 4 Champs St. Joseph's Academy, among others, in order to stay atop the ranks.