Track Stars Fischer & Rickets Win XC Titles Craig Martin Nov 04, 2012

Herculaneum’s Kaitlyn Fischer was on a mission. She had her track gold medals, but the state cross country title had eluded her for three years. Both Saga Barzowski and Courtney Rogers, the two girls who account for the past three Class 2 state titles, were in the field once again.

Belete Crowned Class 4 Boys Champion Craig Martin Nov 03, 2012

While Blue Springs senior Simon Belete was being swarmed by well-wishers with congratulatory hugs and pats on the back for winning the Missouri boys’ Class 4 state cross country meet, one classmate couldn’t resist reminding the newly crowned champion that he had been the better runner in the eighth grade.

 

SLUH Gives Competition The Boot Craig Martin Nov 03, 2012

The state cross country meet always brings out some of the gutsiest performances. St. Louis University High sophomore Matt Hennessey was in a walking boot all week leading up to the Class 4 state meet, and his only run was the practice lap the Jr. Billikens took on the Oak Hills Golf Center course on Friday.

Wedekind, Rockhold Shine in Crimson Division Craig Martin Sep 23, 2012

Morgan Wedekind is no stranger to Rim Rock Farm.  The Valley Center senior defended her Crimson Division title of the Rim Rock Farm Classic Saturday in a season-best time of 15:04. Her familiarity with the course paid dividends as she overtook Lexington’s Vanessa Ambriz and Lansing twins Nashia and Malika Baker in the second half of the race.

Donahue Drops PR at Rim Rock Craig Martin Sep 22, 2012

Blue Valley senior Colton Donahue kept pace with the race leaders throughout the race and finished as the top Kansas runner at Saturday’s Rim Rock Classic.  Donahue outkicked a couple contenders in the final 400 meters and captured fourth in a new PR time of 15:30, which is a vast improvement over the 16:10 he posted last week.

Mustang Duo Dominates Rim Rock Craig Martin Sep 22, 2012

Marquette junior Noah Kauppila knew he would be tested Saturday at Kansas’ Rim Rock Classic. He probably didn’t think that challenge would come from his own team.  Kauppila has been considered one of the top Class 4 state contenders and tops the state’s rankings after winning at Forest Park to start the season.

Blue Springs Lives Up To Top Billing Craig Martin Sep 22, 2012

Blue Springs muscled its way to the front of the pack Saturday at Kansas’ Rim Rock Farm Classic. Blue Springs lived up to its No. 1 ranking in Missouri with a strong 155-point first-place finish. The Wildcats had the expected 1-2 scoring punch of Simon Belete and Steven Mugeche in third and fifth, respectively.

Cha-Ching! Craig Martin Sep 22, 2012

Alli Cash knows Rim Rock Farm.  The Shawnee Mission West senior has covered the 4k course nearly a dozen times, but Saturday she did something unprecedented – Cash dipped under 14 minutes and set a new course record at 13:59.22.

Borman Lives Storybook 2012 Craig Martin Sep 19, 2012

It’s not often that a woman’s wedding does not shine above all else. But when Brittany Borman says her nuptial vows this weekend, the wedding will at least have to share the stage as the biggest event of her 2012

Muddy Course? - No problem for a Blue Jay Craig Martin Sep 16, 2012

Heavy rains turned the Southern Stampede into a mud fest Saturday. That slowed the times a little on the Missouri Southern course, but the performances did not wane much. Liberty entered the races with a lot of experience running in sloppy conditions as every one of the Blue Jays’ first four races this season have been marred by rain and mud. That likely helped the Blue Jays finish as the top Missouri school in both the boys’ and girls’ varsity races.

Mud can't slow down Herculaneum's Fischer Craig Martin Sep 15, 2012

The rains that had been coming down all night picked up in intensity Saturday just before the Southern Stampede girls’ varsity race on the campus of Missouri Southern.  A small stream began to grow, stretching across the course just a few meters out from the starting line. The runners would have to slog through the shin-deep water again just before crossing the finish. The wet, muddy conditions added some time to the performances, but they did not prevent quality racing.

Mooneyham prevails in sloppy conditions Craig Martin Sep 15, 2012

The Missouri Southern course was completely soaked and full of puddles, streams and muddy pits by time the varsity boys began their Southern Stampede race. And nearly everyone seemed to enjoy the sloppy conditions. Glendale’s Chris Mooneyham, who won in 16:24, seemed to especially like the mud. He was five seconds ahead of Broken Arrow (Okla.) senior Kyle Broaddrick (16:29).

 

Lee's Summit West Girls Sweep Forest Park Craig Martin Sep 11, 2012

Few want to assign to much weight to results from the first weeks of a new cross country season, especially when trying to determine which teams look like contenders. Injuries nearly always become a factor at some point, and numerous runners will move in or out of varsity lineups as the coming weeks unfold. Even with those caveats in mind, the Lee’s Summit West girls appear poised to make another run at the Class 4 state title.

16:59! Craig Martin Sep 11, 2012

 

By time the tents came down and the crowd had left Forest Park Saturday, one race was already reverberating throughout the running world, and those that saw it immediately added it to their short list of memorable moments in Missouri running.

 

Forest Park JV Recap Craig Martin Sep 09, 2012

The junior varsity races are typically filled with two types of runners – underclassmen looking to gain experience and upperclassmen looking to earn a spot on the varsity seven.

Werner Surpasses Expectations With Elite Victory Craig Martin Sep 08, 2012

The running community began rumbling last year about an eighth grader and the times she was running. The anticipation for the arrival of Taylor Werner grew over the summer, especially after her 5:00.52 at the Festival of Miles, but few probably expected such an elite performance for her first high school 5k.

Byrley chases after ever-moving target Craig Martin Sep 08, 2012

Some people race the clock; other’s race top-flight opponents. Parkview’s Cameron Byrley likes to race the Gator. Byrley, a junior, knew the Forest Park Cross Country Festival course after having won the JV White Division as a freshman. Now he has added the varsity White Division title to his résumé with his 16:28.90 on Saturday.

Marker Begins Writing New Chapter With Victory Craig Martin Sep 08, 2012

Villa Duchesne’s Elise Marker feels she has some unfinished business to take care of this season. She started off her season in the right direction, winning the White Division at Saturday’s Forest Park Cross Country Festival in 19:16.10, more than 40 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

Kauppila's Strategy Nets Fast Victory Craig Martin Sep 08, 2012

After watching the girls set the course on fire, the boys opted to run a more restrained race Saturday in the Green Division of the Forest Park Cross Country Festival. That set up perfectly for what Marquette junior Noah Kauppila had planned as a pre-race strategy.