Kyle Deeken

Sep 19, 2024

Missouri's third week of meets features several smaller profile meets, but two stand out as the premier meets to watch this weekend: The Missouri Southern Stampede and the Festus Bowles-Wright Invitational.

Missouri Southern State University's prestigious Cross Country course plays host to one of the state's largest September meets with teams coming in from all over Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The races are divided into large and small schools (green and gold) divisions this year, with Girls Varsity Green Division kicking off the festivities at 8:30am.

Kayleigh Norris is the top runner to watch in this one, as she heads on to this blazing fast course coming off a blazing fast personal best of 17:36.71 at the Olathe Twilight. Owasso (OK)'s Bella Nelson will bring her own sub-18 performance to the race, though, as she has run 17:48.01 this season already after winning Oklahoma's 6A State Meet last year in her personal best of 17:29.10. Her teammate Ava Cornelius ran a fantastic career debut of 18:07.61 two weeks ago and should be among the front pack, as well. Other individuals to watch include Gwyneth Meyers (Bishop Kelley, OK), Mary McKenzie (Cor Jesu), Gracie Troester (Republic), Brianna Krueger (St. Charles West), Savannah Amann (St. Joseph's Academy), and Annie Cornett (Fayetteville, AR), among many others. Top teams to watch include West Plains, Owasso (OK), Fayetteville (AR), St. Charles West, Bishop Kelley (OK), St. Joseph's Academy, and St. Teresa's Academy.

The boys races will feature several top athletes from the quad-state area. Top out-of-Missouri boys to watch include Cache (OK)'s Zachary Williams, Fayetteville (AR)'s Alan Gallardo-Lopez, and Bishop Kelley (OK)'s Charlie Ritchie. In-state, the top name may actually be running in the Gold Division as El Dorado Springs sophomore Wyatt Klaiber looks to continue his impressive early-season power surge on a big stage. Girard (KS)'s Houston McGown will surely give him a run for his money, though, as the senior has already run 15:24.67. Klaiber has run 15:25.50 so far. In the Green Division, the top teams to watch include Webster Groves, West Plains, Lee's Summit West, Webb City, Liberty (Wentzville), and Joplin, with out-of-state squads Fayetteville (AR), Bishop Kelley (OK), and Sapulpa (OK) all hoping to spoil the Show-Me State's fun. Expect the fireworks to be in full effect at this one.

Down in Festus, the host Tigers will have a tough test ahead of them as they hope to reclaim their top spot in Class 4. After losing head-to-head to Class 4 foes Webster Groves and Parkway Central at the Forest Park XC Festival, the reigning Class 4 champions and pre-season favorites will be looking to make a statement on their home course. If they can take out their biggest challengers - Kirkwood - it would be a major bounce-back win for them.

The Pioneers are coming off a big win at the Stan Nelson Invitational, in which they scored 71 points and were led by game-changer senior Graham Stevener. Already 2-for-2 in his career with a 10:00 2 Mile at the Jackson Invitational and 15:23.20 5K debut over the weekend, Stevener has thrown his hat in the ring as a Class 5 individual title contender already. Carson Driemeier is close behind at the moment, but only in the 5K. His 15:29.00 at Forest Park was only 15 seconds off the lifetime best from last year's Class 4 State Championships and came on the heels of a 9:41.40 at the Fleet Feet CC Classic. The Pioneers' advantage is in their 2-3 men: Joseph Harrison and Peyton Ferkel. Harrison ran 16:05.40 on Saturday, with Ferkel at 16:14.00. Both boys were slightly off their 2023 bests and are ranked ahead of Festus' number two man Tate Uding at the moment. It will be a close race between these two teams, Lafayette (Wildwood) led by freshman phenom Ezekiel Hagen, and SLUH's B team.

Other individuals to watch include the North Point duo of Hunter Stahl and Mitchell Lerner, and Milo Rush (Lutheran St. Charles). Stahl and Lerner posted 1-3 finishes at the Father Tolton Invitational in massive personal bests for the both of them - 15:47.61 and 16:07.36, respectively. Rush was 1-second off his time from last year's Stan Nelson Invitational on Saturday and heads in with a season best of 16:24.50.

The girls race doesn't feature the top-of-the-rankings athletes and teams that the boys race features, but it will still be a good test for the Festus girls against a rising Lafayette (Wildwood) squad. The girls are in a similar boat as the boys as some other Class 4 squads have soared out of the gates, but they will surely work their way back in the mix as the season goes on, just as they always do. Top individuals to watch include Lutheran's Madalyn Mahoney, Ft. Zumwalt North's Lukah Sandine, and Northwest (Cedar Hill)'s Rose Nicholls, along with the Festus duo of Lucy Boyer and Katelyn Thurman.

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