Class 2 Boys

Woodland Wants The Repeat

Though Woodland returned most of their squad from their 2023 championship season, it was unclear in the beginning of this season whether or not losing individual champion Reed Layton would be a hurdle they could overcome en route to a repeat. But as we head into the Class 2 finale on Saturday, it appears the pieces are back into place for a return to the top.

  Junior Calvin Layton led his squad to an important District 1 victory Saturday with 51 points on the board. 2024 Class 2 800 champ Hayden Vangennip has taken a leap forward and is a solid number 2 man for the Cardinals now. He should improve drastically on his 41st place finish from 2023. There is very little room for error, though, as after their fourth and fifth men cross the line, it may be a while before we see number 6. They have a 44-point cushion according to our virtual meet feature, but South Shelby is finishing out the season very impressively and Jefferson Festus was not too far behind them this past Saturday. It is looking good for Woodland on paper, but there are some teams on the rise who are looming large.

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McMillan Leads Several Individual Title Contenders

New Heights Christian Academy (formerly College Heights Christian) has seen junior Colton McMillan reach new heights this season as he has dropped from 17:16.26 to 15:56.70 in one year. His personal best from the Clever Invitational has the District 2 champion sitting up front in the Class 2 individual race, but the margin is razor thin.

Lexington's Chael Lichte has continued his excellent run of form this season with nine consecutive marks under 17:00 and four at 16:10 or better. His 16:00.48 personal best en route to the 3rd place finish in the Gans Creek Classic Blue division is indicative of what could be a banner day for the junior this coming Saturday. He has yet to finish outside of the top 3 all season and has 4 victories to his name.

Clark County's Mason McDaniel is also closing out his season impressively, with a 16:16.38 personal best on the not-flat Bowling Green course. He was behind Hermann's Nolan Kopp, who has shown impressive racing instincts at his championship meets so far, winning the Four Rivers Conference over much larger schools and running away from McDaniel at the District 3 meet on Saturday. Butler's Brandon Hammett, with his 16:16.56 best, has been on our mind all season and should be among the contenders after five straight weeks either first or second in each of his races. 

It should be a tight race throughout, though we very well could see the aggressive-racing Lichte blow it open and never look back.

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Official Virtual Meet

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Kyle's Crystal Ball

As I already mentioned, I see Chael Lichte blowing this thing open early and holding on for his first career state championship. Battle-tested all over the state (and country), Lichte appears ready to secure the Class 2 state title. Hammett has been facing tough competitors all season as well (most notably Wyatt Klaiber) and should be able to move into second. I like Mason McDaniel third with McMillan capping off a fantastic season in fourth and Nolan Kopp in fifth. Woodland's first man will be Calvin Layton in sixth and Vangennip in tenth should be enough for them to retain their crown. I am very impressed with how South Shelby has closed out their season and will be picking them to finish second and pick up their school's first cross country trophy in only their second trip to State. 

Class 2 Girls

Samantha Sharp Looks For Full Circle End To Career

It seems difficult for a younger sibling to step in and live up to their older sibling's reputation, especially at a small school like Brookfield with a smaller contingent around you. Brookfield's Samantha Sharp is closing out her career in style, though, and appears well on her way to matching Alex's cross country state title total on Saturday.

After an 18:55.80 personal best at the 2021 Gans Creek Classic, Sharp was unable to run at the State Championships that year and has been chasing that mark ever since. She was 5th in 2022, notably absent in 2023, but appears to have overcome her setbacks and is racing strong in 2024. She has run on the State course three times already this season, more than most non-Columbia residents, and should be very familiar with it now. A conservative meet schedule should have her healthy and ready to toe the Gans line once again this weekend. The 18:59.11 mark at the Brian T. Simpson Invite has her in the driver's seat heading into it as she seeks out the gold medal and personal-record breaking mark.

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Smith, Lexington Look To Cap Off Great Season In Style

Lexington is firing on all cylinders on the girls side, too, and like her male counterpart, Lichte, Addison Smith has had no problems running from the front all season either. Seven victories has us looking at Smith as one of the top contenders for the individual crown, even if she was third at the District 4 meet behind Sharp and North Platte's Chloe Heckman. Her 19:18.90 personal best came at the Gans Creek Classic en route to the Blue Division victory over much larger schools.

Lexington is the top team in our virtual meet feature with their 101 points, but Metro is lurking led by Lucy Luetkemeyer. They have been without Yuri Malone's 19:26.50 all season and if she can close the 2023-2024 gap even a little bit, Metro may be able to pull off the upset. Lexington, though, is coming off an impressive victory over the usual suspects - North Platte and West Platte - in District 4. Their achilles heel is a 1-5 spread over 4:00, but if their top 4 girls, who are all among the top 45 according to season bests, can secure a low enough score, they may be able to hold on for the win regardless.

Official Virtual Meet

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Kyle's Crystal Ball

It will be close calls in both the individual and team races, but I see Brookfield's Sharp holding off Smith for the individual victory and Lexington just barely holding off Metro for the team title. Clara Trent and Emma Hunt swap spots from District 2 over the weekend and Chloe Heckman crosses in 5th. Stockton and the pack-runners at West Platte pick up the final two team trophies.