1. Festus (100)

Top Returners:

Grant Fink - 15:43.70

Lucas DeClue - 16:07.80

Hudson Bates - 16:22.67

Chris Courtois - 16:43.68

Chase Buechting - 16:51.70

For the third straight year, it is Festus vs. West Plains vs. Webster Groves in Class 4, with Bolivar trailing at a safe distance. For Festus, it is a new era as Wes Armbruster has taken over the boys' program from the recently retired all-time great Bryant Wright and looking to take them back to the top like he has with the girls' team over the last two years.

Back-to-back runner-up finishes after eight victories in nine years in Classes 3 and 4, and seventeen straight years in the top two a the State meet is a dynasty, no doubt about it, but how will they fare this year without a #1 named Carson Driemeier for the first time since 2021? Grant Fink had a breakout sophomore season and carried that success into the track season with a 9:23.74 personal best in the 3200. Lucas DeClue and Hudson Bates form a three-headed Class of 2028 monster up top, but can their backend runners push them back to the top? It will be an interesting back and forth with the other Class 4 contenders throughout the season.

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2. West Plains (102)

Top Returners:

Blake Romans - 15:44.34

Hunter Stanley - 15:45.39

Joseph Roberson - 15:56.30

Chaska Shearin - 16:23.16

Zion Barnett - 17:23.50

It was an interesting track season for the Zizzers as really only Hunter Stanley had the kind of season we would have expected out of the top returners for the back-to-back Class 4 State champions. Stanley ran 4:25.43 and 9:30.98, finishing 10th in the 3200 at the Class 4 State meet. Their depth is going to be tested at the bigger meets, but if there is one thing you should not do is doubt West Plains when it matters most. They will tighten up the 1:39 1-5 spread and most likely still see progress from top returner Blake Romans and #3 man Joseph Roberson. 

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3. Webster Groves (112)

Top Returners:

Brighton Lack - 16:20.60

Edward Norton - 16:22.68

Nathaniel Webber - 16:25.38

Zephaniah Jarmon - 16:33.60

Atticus Lack - 16:43.40

An impressive 22-second 1-5 spread and 46-second spread highlights the Webster Groves Statemen's returning group. What's more is that breakout freshman Jack Cooper is not listed among their top 7 returners, but will surely be competitive for their top spot after his 4:21.84 and 9:40.71 personal bests this spring.

This appears to be the tightest group that Webster Groves has ever had 1-5 and even if they don't have a frontrunner like Grant Fink or Blake Romans, it might not matter if they have 5 guys between 20th and 40th at the State meet. Do not sleep on Coach Jon Petter's squad this fall as they continue their ascent up the Class 4 ranks.

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4. Bolivar (190)

Top Returners:

Landen Young - 16:00.33

Mac Rich - 16:02.62

Thomas Henderson - 16:46.23

Andrew Hamann - 17:15.83

Peyton Cole - 17:41.36

Bolivar had a resurgent year in 2025. After a five-year hiatus from the podium, they earned a fourth place finish. Last year, the Liberators earned a fourth place trophy with decorated alum Nathan Painter at the helm for the first year, taking over for the great Ron Bandy. Their 1-2 punch of Mac Rich and Landen Young carried the torch with 15th and 24th place finishes, but Young is the top returner at 16:00.33. Rich is close behind at 16:02.62, giving Bolivar that solid front-runner duo that could possibly help them overcome a 1:41.03 1-5 spread heading into the season. Expect Bolivar to be a podium contender once again this year. It would be their sixth in program history.

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5. Lincoln College Prep (267)

Top Returners:

Logan Kane - 16:19.40

Elias Chavez-Pinedo - 17:15.30

Samuel Wieck - 17:17.50

Garrett McMurray - 17:29.90

Grady Johnson - 17:31.10

Lincoln College Prep continues to stick around as one of the top teams in Class 4 after their rise to power in 2023. A strong pack from 2-5 will be the key for the Tigers as Logan Kane should carry the torch out front just fine this fall. Chavez-Pinedo had a stellar freshman year and will be one to watch for a breakout sophomore season. In fact, that tight knit 1-5 group are all sophomores... That should be pretty terrifying for any Class 4 schools not just this year, but over the next two years, too.