Class 1 Boys

Parrigon, McAuley Are Ready To Finish The Job

Ever since Coach Andy Youngworth took over in 2020, the McAuley Catholic boys have been on the rise. This season, with nearly half of the kids in their entire school on the cross country team, they appear to be ready to put it all together and pull in the Class 1 victory on Friday.

Michael Parrigon is the torchbearer for the squad from Joplin and the top seeded athlete in the field. The senior dual sport athlete has run 16:13.11 at the Clever Invitational, 16:14.18 at the Missouri Southern Stampede, and 16:21.23 on the State course in their preview of it at the Father Tolton Invitational. He was a preseason favorite and is now the favorite for the individual title. His 1 point, combined with teammate Trae Veer's potential for 5 or fewer, will be a massive boost for them in their title hopes. 

They have already bested their biggest competition at the District 2 meet last Saturday. Thomas Jefferson Independent and School of the Ozarks come in as the top two teams on paper, but McAuley was able to dispatch of them at Plato Saturday. It will surely be a battle of the southwestern private schools once again on Saturday. Hermitage was able to knock off Mansfield in that race, as well, as they look to defend their three straight state championships. Van Buren, the District 1 winners, led by Landon Street, will be among the players, as well, as they look for their second straight trophy.

Chapman, Corder Lurking For The Win

The win is not in the bag for Parrigon by any means as Paris's Landen Chapman and Mansfield's Nolyn Corder are not too far off the pace. 

Chapman posted an impressive 36-second victory in District 3 and has been racing tough against the state's best regardless of class throughout the season. He heads in with a 16:19.14 personal best from the Centralia Invitational earlier in October.

Corder was 3rd in Class in 2023 and is among a very small group of Class 1 boys who have ever broken 10:00 for 3200 meters. As a matter of fact, he is the only one. Now he heads in to the Class 1 State Championships with a 16:18.29 personal best to his name, but finished behind Parrigon and Veer at Saturday's District 2 meet. He, too, has faced off against top competitors from all classes and fared well in each bout so watch for him to push into the top 3 and challenge for the win on Friday. 

Official Virtual Meet

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Kyle's Crystal Ball

When the margin is this small, the name of the game is speed. Parrigon showed this spring that he can track down any one of his competitors if he has the space and needs to get the job done, evidenced by that 1:55.70 anchor split in the Class 1 4x800 this spring. I think he will get the job once again on Saturday, with Chapman 2nd, Corder 3rd, and Veer coming across 4th. Brashear's Jacob Snyder rounds out the finishers before a slew of District 2 boys start to file in once again. It looks like it will be 3 District 2 schools in the top 4 with McAuley, Thomas Jefferson, and SOTO earning trophies this weekend and McAuley taking the top spot.

Class 1 Girls

Brunner Ready To Run Away With The Class 1 Girls Race

Ever since her eye-popping 18:49.20 personal best at the Show-Me Central Conference meet in Vienna, a mark that is 43 seconds ahead of the rest of the field, Calvary Lutheran's Sonya Brunner has continued to show that she is one who can and will run with anyone, regardless of school size. On Friday, she should show why she is considered the favorite and be in the mix to secure her eighth victory of the season. 

Mansfield's Faith Clark is the closest one to her on paper with her 19:32.71 best from the Clever Invitational. When it comes to marks on the Gans Creek course this season, Brunner has her beat with her 20:06.43 from the Tolton Invitational earlier in September. Clark ran 20:24.30 at the Classic. Both girls are heading in with District titles under their belt, but they should also be on the lookout for District 4 champion and reigning State champion Mya Wray. Wray has not been able to duplicate her sophomore season performances up to this point, but has had a solid October/November and should not be counted out on the day. Of course, we cannot forget out Liberal's Ally Barton, who won State titles in the 800 and 1600 this spring in an electric freshman campaign. She was 2nd to Clark on Saturday, but has the wheels to run with anyone on Friday.

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Chadwick Eyes The Repeat

The Class 1 District 2 title belonged to Chadwick on Saturday as their 66 points were good enough to hold off McAuley Catholic and School of the Ozarks. They are led by sophomore sisters Macy Landry and Emily Landry and senior Raeleigh Little. On Friday, they are the favorites to repeat with 94 points in our virtual meet, but Dora is not far behind led by sophomore Isabelle Martin. The Falcons are just 5 points behind the Cardinals of Chadwick in what should be a very tight race. School of the Ozarks and McAuley Catholic are tied for 3rd in our virtual meet feature so the day should be full of fun surprises with our top 4 teams. 

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Official Virtual Meet

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Kyle's Crystal Ball

Even with the last two Class 1 State Champions in the field, I think we'll see another new champion crowned this Friday. Sonya Brunner looks like a strong bet to win it all in the end. Ally Barton charges home in the last 200 meters for 2nd and Mya Wray comes across 3rd.

In the team race, I have Chadwick holding off Dora's challenge with McAuley in 3rd, and Paris jumping up to 4th after the District 3 win.