A warm afternoon turned into a blazing fast evening at the Fleet Feet Cross Country Classic at Arnold City Park on Wednesday. When the dust had settled on the Varsity races, spectators were able to leave knowing that they had just watched one of the fastest 2 Mile Cross Country races, overall, in state history.
Just like she did a year ago, Mary McKenzie ran to the FF CC Classic title.
Cor Jesu's Mary McKenzie kicked off the Varsity races with a wire-to-wire victory over some of the St. Louis area's very best. She ran 11:30.40, a mere 3 seconds off her personal best from this past spring's track season. McKenzie came in ahead of St. Joseph's Academy junior Savannah Amann, who ran 11:45.00, 46 seconds faster than the mark she posted for a runner-up finish on the Parkway Central course in 2023. The Parkway South duo of Natalie Lena and Allison Miele came in 3rd and 4th in 12:10.80 and 12:13.70, respectively, ahead of reigning Class 2 State Champion Kensington Curd. The 30th and final medal went to Ft. Zumwalt South's Tess Harper in 12:57.90, a time which would have earned her 14th at this race in 2023.
Cor Jesu won the Varsity team title with 68 points, 23 clear of Eureka in second and 40 clear of St. Joseph's Academy in third. All three teams posted a 1-5 average under 12:48.
Afterwards, McKenzie discussed her new role on the team as an upper classmen, responsibilities of being a leader and role model for the younger teammates.
On the boys side, much like the girls race in which they finished fourth, the addition of the Festus Tigers shifted the entire outlook of the race. After watching their JV squad pull off a four point win over Eureka, the Varsity boys were ready to roll, as well, led by junior phenom Carson Driemeier (pictured at top). It was another wire-to-wire win here as Driemeier pushed the pace from the start and never looked back. His 9:41.40 was 3 seconds better than a surging Alexander Moresi and 6 seconds ahead of DeSmet's Will Poelker and good enough for the win in one of the fastest 2 mile Cross Country races we've seen in Missouri, at least since Tyler Holmes and Ethan Lambert broke 9:27 at the 2010 Fleet Feet XC Kickoff South at Fenton City Park. The time that earned Charles Glatz 6th place today would have earned him the win last year.
Festus posted a 10:16 1-5 average and took the win over terrifying John Burroughs and Parkway Central squads which are both only a few pieces away from being Class 4 upset candidates.
Driemeier talked about his win today and what he's looking forward to for the rest of the season.