MSHSAA announced a major shakeup to the private school championship factor last week, leaving a ripple effect in Cross Country and Track and Field. Instead of a straight number wherein teams earn points based on their State or District-level success that stick with them for the next six years, the state has decided to adopt a depreciation model which keeps schools from having to pay for the successes of teams from four, five, and/or six years ago. The full press release can be found here.

Of course, these changes have significant repercussions on the state of cross country and track and field in the state of Missouri. Several teams will now be moving up and down as a result, with some of them landing back in their base enrollment classifications of years of competing one or two classes up. We did some research, crunched the numbers, and this is what may be on our horizon in the fall of 2026 and beyond.

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Boys Cross Country

Current Points:

Projected Numbers*:

*These are projected and could be different based on other factors MSHSAA may consider. Do not take these as fact.

Analysis:

The numbers flip the small schools to the top of the list meaning after only one year in Class 2, McAuley Catholic and Thomas Jefferson Independent will move up to Class 3 to face off with Centralia, Collegiate School, and others. Lutheran St. Charles moves down to Class 3 after a long stay in Class 4, while 2026 Class 3 runner-up Westminster appears poised to at least move up to Class 4, potentially Class 5. Notre Dame Cape Girardeau and Aidan Morris will stay in Class 4, just barely, with Father Tolton's boys probably coming down from Class 5 to meet them there. Principia and Lutheran Kansas City will be back in their base enrollment classes: Classes 2 and 1, respectively. The only other teams over 5 points are SLUH and Rockhurst, but no change was ever going to happen there. 

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Girls Cross Country

Current Points:

Analysis:

Major shakeups will take place in Girls Cross Country with only five teams meeting the 5 point threshold to move up. Father Tolton should find themselves in Class 5, deservedly, once again, meaning Angelina Cottone could make a run at a state title in the highest class after her breakthrough track season. Conversely, Cor Jesu Academy moves out of Class 5 to Class 4, a big boost for 2025 breakout star Kaitlyn Loeffelman. St. Teresa's and St. Joseph's both will stay in Class 5 for at least one more year, though St. Teresa's power-packed crew could do enough at the state meet to make it at least one more year in 2027. Summit Christian moves back down to their base enrollment class (Class 3). Valle Catholic moves back down to Class 1, as well, and New Heights Christian will be back in Class 2. MICDS was already poised to move back into their base enrollment class after paying for the 2019 state title team's victory for the last six years, so nothing changes there. St. Dominic, St. Pius X (Kansas City), Notre Dame de Sion, John Burroughs, and Westminster all come in under 5 points, as well, essentially signaling a reset for private schools in Girls Cross Country.

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Boys Track and Field

Current Points:

Projected Numbers*:

Analysis:

Rockhurst's back to back state championships won't do anything for them as they would be slated to be in Class 5 anyway, so the 19 points here are merely for show. Thomas Jefferson Independent lucked out with only 10 points and will get to stay in Class 2 where they finished second this season. St. Francis Borgia will only stay in Class 4, as well, with their 9 points. Lutheran North will have to stay in Class 3 again in 2027 by virtue of their ties for third at State in both 2023 and 2026. McAuley Catholic will stay in Class 2, as well. St. Pius X (Festus) and St. Michael the Archangel both move up as a result of their consecutive district championships even though they were only at one point each this past season. 

Many teams, though, will move back into their base enrollment classes. Summit Christian moves back to Class 3 which will be massive for Leo Butler. Lutheran St. Charles, Helias Catholic, Principia, MICDS, Whitfield, Father Tolton, and School of the Ozarks all move back to their respective base enrollments, which will be fruitful for Daniel Morris at Helias, among others. The new points system also means that Notre Dame Cape Girardeau will not have to move up as they would have if things stayed the same.

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Girls Track and Field

Current Points:

Analysis:

Some things we already knew. Cardinal Ritter will be in Class 5 again, led by Naila Kerr and Kauryn Durrah. Helias Catholic will be in Class 5 again, defending their title with a cavalcade of returners led by Isla Alfultis and Nicki Frank. But enter Incarnate Word Academy, whose runner-up finish in Class 4 this year cemented their place in Class 5. Bailey Hensgens will most likely go for the jumps treble in 2027 again, but this time in Class 5. Father Tolton will also have to move up two places after their distance team-backed third place finish in Class 4, meaning they should be in Class 5, as well. If MICDS has to be in Class 5 again, too (they will only have to move up one place next season, but they always seem to be on the Class 4/5 border), then Justyce Sanders and Blaike Borders bring even more talent to the field. Class 5 appears to be quite the party in 2027.

St. Teresa's Academy will not be a part of that party, though, as they will move into Class 4 next year. Caroline Bowen, Ella Messner, Polly Fendler, and the rest of the crew benefit greatly from that development. Lutheran Kansas City will have to remain in Class 2 for at least one more year and St. Vincent will have to move up themselves after their fourth place finish this spring. Notre Dame Cape Girardeau's jumpers will move into Class 4 next year, which will be a boost as they leave New Madrid County Central's crew behind and will not have to see Incarnate Word at the Sectional meet. New Heights Christian and Westminster Christian both head back to their base enrollment classes.