Mexico cross country will thrive if stay together

Good things should come to Mexico cross country if its runners stay healthy.

Head coach Lucas Breneman said the Bulldogs this year can be state-caliber and hopes they all stay on the course.

“I am excited for our boys team this year,” Breneman said. “I think we have a strong group that will push themselves throughout.  If we stay healthy and continue to put in the work, I think we will see great things.

“The key to the girl's success is to stay healthy. We only have five girl runners, so if one gets hurt, we don't score as a team.”

Mexico has three seniors, six juniors, nine sophomores and three freshmen this year. Senior Guy Fairchild and juniors Andrew Peuster and Tyler Grimes expect to lead the boys team, Breneman said, while sophomore Maggie Ramsey paces the girls team as the lone returning state qualifier and sophomore Alexandra Terry will run for the girls.

The girls team won the North Central Missouri Conference championship, and Breneman wants that again.

“We had a number of returning runners from last year earn medals throughout the season and we hope they can repeat that,” Breneman said.

At the end of the season, Mexico hopes to have qualified the team for state while earning several all-conference and all-district selections.

Community R-6 cross country program gets fresh start

It’s all new blood for Community R-6 cross country this season.

The team will contain five freshmen with little distance running experience, but head coach Josie Hess has liked the team dynamic and the potential future for the program.

“I feel like it’s a fresh start to building a program and hopefully they’ll continue to participate throughout high school,” Hess said. “They’ve never had a chance to participate in long distance running before now since we don’t have a junior high program. However, they’ve all been in track in junior high. We have a lot of conditioning work to do but are coming in with a fun team dynamic.”

There are three girls Grace Welch, Grace McCoskey and Evelyn Scott and two boys Rett Curtis and Nicholas Henke. Hess said having even this number of runners helps the team as a unit.

“It’s exciting to have teammates cheering each other on,” Hess said. “In the past, I only had one girl and one boy, so this allows them to really work together more. Our main goal this year is to see growth from beginning to end of season and to start building a stronger cross country program.”

Van-Far cross country building off good base

Van-Far will have more runners for its cross country program this year, with each already looking promising.

Head coach Kris Cross said Van-Far has two returning runners in junior Erin Childs and senior Richard Hayden and has newcomers that include senior Brooke-lyn Forman, sophomore Kylie Brooksher, freshmen Khloe Wallace, freshman Garrett Hopke and junior Caleb Hazel. The kids have already begun working prior to the start of fall sports practices earlier this month.

“Most of the kids were very active in running during the summer so they are coming in with a good base,” Cross said. “We will need to work on speed work to be ready for our races and hills as we have some hilly courses during the season. They are a very hardworking group so I expect great things from them.”

At the top of the team’s high expectations is Childs as Cross said she had a great season a year ago, placing in most meets and earning all-conference honors. Childs just struggled during districts so she’ll have motivation as she begins her quest for state.

Cross said she likes the potential of the newcomers as Forman moved in from Farmington after competing at state for them, Wallace placed at junior high meets for Van-Far, and Hopke was a regular in the top three at junior high meets. Filling out a team this year has Cross excited as well.

“My main goals are always the same for the athletes to improve as the season goes and to peak at the district meet,” Cross said. “I hope to see them all PR by the end of the season. My expectations are just for my athletes to work hard and give the best they have for each race.”

North Callaway to lean on returning runners

North Callaway cross country will have some familiarity to help the new faces.

The team has three all-conference runners returning in seniors Pressley Schmauch and Tristan Young and sophomore Grace Rasmussen but has several new faces.

The new faces include the first-year head coach Brooke Fischer, who ran cross country for North Callaway a few years ago and will also be coaching the middle school program. The team will have freshman Emerson Reinhard and junior John Higgins and the returning sophomore Kaitlynn Murphy but will be without several seniors from a year ago.

“Fortunately, we have quite a few of the same athletes returning that ran last year,” Fischer said. “We did lose a lot of seniors from last year, but we are excited to build and grow our team this year.”

Schmauch leads the group with her three state-meet berths as well as her all-state medal in her freshman season. Her placing was lower in last year’s state championships so she wants to return for a solid final performance in her senior year.

The returning group from last year brings good experience and accomplishments from a season ago, Fischer said.

“Last year the team accomplished hitting their goals and setting new PR's,” Fischer said. “This year, with new coaches our goals are to adapt, grow and hit goals. We have put in a lot of summer work, and are excited to see how this season goes.”

MMA runners to engage in friendly competition to achieve team goals

Missouri Military Academy cross country has a sizable group for its ranks this year.

The Colonels have 37 runners – seven seniors, nine juniors, 11 sophomores, 11 freshmen and six middle schoolers – that will be competing for coveted varsity spots for new head coach Jeff Gifford. MMA has three returning runners from its seventh-place district team last season, which doesn’t include multiple-time state medalist Bryson Powell but does include Gerardo Quiroga, Malachi Imrie, and Michael Pfeifer.

“I believe our strength is the number of athletes on our team,” Gifford said. “As we move further into the season, our cadets will be battling pretty hard to make the varsity squad and that will only increase the athleticism and performance of everyone. Our biggest hurdle is probably adapting to a new coach and new routines.”

Gifford believes there are a number of Colonels who have progressed from last year and could combine for a team that could finish higher in districts. MMA won or placed in the top three in several meets from a season ago. Other than Powell, Gifford said Pfeifer was someone who was developed well by the previous head coach Ryan Nowlin as Pfeifer eventually made the varsity squad and ran 12:40 for 3200 meters in track.

MMA hasn’t gone about its progress too hard early but believes it can make big jumps as the season matures.

“Our workouts have been intentionally low effort to build aerobic metabolism, so I haven't given them the opportunity to showcase their overall talent level,” Gifford said. “My goals are to establish and maintain a team culture that represents the MMA core values and to provide a sound training regimen that will allow the cadets to safely reach their athletic potential. Beyond that, I will leave it to the team to collectively establish and achieve the team and individual expectations.”