REWIND TOP 5: XC state contenders - St Joe Area Andy Myer Oct 29, 2007

With just a week before the state cross country meet in Jefferson City, here's a look at the area runners with the best chane to bring home an individual medal from the St. Joeseph area. Our resident running guru Andy Meyer weighed the options and came up with this list:

1. Zack Layton, West Platte

Since bursting onto the scene two years ago, the wiry West Platte senior has done just about everything short of winning a title. His pair of top-five finishes and consistent pace have helped the Blue Jays claim Class 1 trophies each of the past two years. After a second-place finish to then-senior Lone Jack's Grant Brown last year, Layton has only one more rung to climb to the top.

Read full article here

Cross Country roundup: Smithville, Benton send teams to state Andy Myer Oct 29, 2007

RICHMOND, Mo. - Not even Ben Barrows could outrun the shaving cream celebration.

Try as he may, the Smithville sophomore eventually lost a footrace to teammate Trey Crawford and ended up with a scalp full of foam.

"We finally caught up with him," Crawford said.

No one could claim the same when it mattered during Saturday's Class 2 District 8 meet at Richmond, where Barrows cruised to a first-place finish of 17 minutes, 26 seconds and led Smithville's dominant charge to a team victory. The Warriors scored 19 points, placed five runners in the top 11 and qualified for next week's state meet in Jefferson City for the second straight year....

Read full article here

Esry leads Hamilton to state Andy Myer Oct 29, 2007

A mile into her district race, Jordan Esry briefly shifted her attention to her primary opponent.

Her wrist watch.

By breaking the 20-minute barrier for the first time this year, the Hamilton senior even beat the clock to the finish line Saturday at the Class 1 District 8 meet in Richmond. Her first-place effort paced a dominant team showing from the Hornets, who will attempt to pick up their fourth consecutive state title next Saturday in Jefferson City, Mo.

"I felt more focused today," said Esry, who finished in 19 minutes, 44 seconds. "I was hoping to push the pace and gain some more confidence heading into next week."

Esry's steely glare rarely strayed from the ever-changing landscape directly in front of her. She had already opened up a 20-second lead by the first mile....

Read full article here

Central boys run well at Platte County Invite Andy Myer Sep 14, 2007

PLATTE CITY, Mo. - As a concentrated group of Central runners charged through the finish line, Roger Price couldn't help but smile to himself.

Weeks of coaxing and strategizing finally showed signs of progress, and the Indians had their pack.

Central's top five boys finished within a minute each other on the way to a team victory Thursday at the Platte County Invitational....

Read full article here

Cross Country growing among small schools Andy Myer Aug 31, 2007

Before every practice, Maysville cross country coach Bob Kiely likes to lead off with a lecture.

Far from chastising rants, he routinely hands out need-to-know advice ranging from the benefits of proper hydration to the inescapable importance of....