Mexico trying to run table for conference three-peat

The Mexico boys cross country team won its second straight North Central Missouri Conference championship a season ago.

Heading into the final season of the NCMC, the Bulldogs would like to win it again. The boys have 14 on the roster this season while the girls have seven for potentially the first full Mexico girls team in years.

Head coach Lucas Breneman said the boys have five seniors and one junior to help lead a group of six freshmen. 

“We have a strong upperclassmen group that I look to be leaders and really pave the way for a successful year,” Breneman said. “We have a big freshman group with some of them putting in big summer miles and a few being successful at the middle school level last year. As a team, we have logged over 2,500 miles this summer break.”

Brady McCoy qualified for state last season and Carter Nading is an all-conference runner also returning to the boys. 

Maggie Ramsey returns for her senior year and will lead the girls team. She qualified for state in each of her previous three years and wants to be all-state this season.

“Our goal as a staff is to get the kids as prepared as we can to run their best races in weeks 10-12 of the season,” Breneman said. 

Community R-6 goals to be personal this season

The Community R-6 cross country team has just over a handful of people set to run this season.

Head coach Josie Hess said she has four boys and two girls and hopes to have at least one more boy for a full team. 

“We are heavily emphasizing personal goals for all of our runs this season,” Hess said. “The kids have already been talking about their goals for improving this year, and I'm excited to see them work towards them. I would love to see every returning runner set new PRs.”

Rett Curtis and Nick Henke are two juniors who ran their first two years for the boys while Grace McCoskey is a junior with two high school years of experience for the girls. 

Jude Curtis and Colton Rogers are two freshmen on the team this season. She said Curtis ran for her in elementary running club and junior high track and cross country. 

Van-Far running for finish line this year, beyond

Van-Far has a lot of runners in its future.

The cross country team will have no seniors on this season’s team of nine runners. Three juniors are returning and six — four boys and two girls — will be joining. There will be six boys to form Van-Far’s first boys team in four years.

Head coach Kris Cross said she is excited to see what all her runners will do this year and is even more excited to not lose any to graduation.

“I am excited to see how all these new athletes progress through the year,” Cross said. “I expect a lot of growth over the season for all of the newcomers and good leadership from the three who are returning.”

Garrett Hopke leads the returners after qualifying for state his first two seasons. Slade Keller just missed state a year ago, and Khloe Wallace is the lone returning girl. 

North Callaway has small roster, determined runners

North Callaway wants to get the most out of its six runners this season.

There are five boys and one girl running for North Callaway cross country with a wide range of experience.

Head coach Brooke Fischer said Grace Rasmussen has been a dedicated runner since seventh grade.

“She knows what it takes to succeed in this mentally and physically challenging sport,” Fischer said. “We’re excited to see her lead the way in her final season.”

The boys are on the younger side with junior Hunter Jansen as a key returner because Fischer expects him to be a role model for his teammates, including freshman brother Trevor Jansen. Brock Bell and Trever Mendez add some depth to a boys team after having strong seasons for middle school cross country and track.

“The boys team is competing as a full squad for the first time in three years,” Fischer said. “I'm hopeful for them to bring home a team plaque.”

Fischer said Rasmussen has a good chance to earn more individual medals as the only girl this season to fill out a North Callaway team of intriguing runners.

“This season, our goals are for each athlete to instill a love for running, work toward personal bests and experience the rewards of hard work,” Fischer said.