2007
...FOREST PARK CROSS COUNTRY FESTIVAL
.......................... ..MEET PREVIEW
The 2007 edition of the Forest Park Cross Country Festival promises to be one of the largest and most competitive meets in the entire Midwest . Returning team champions Potosi (boys) and Columbia Rock Bridge (girls) will try to defend their titles against more than 30 of the toughest teams in the area.
BOYS TEAM:
In 2006 the boys from Potosi High School put on a show at the Festival, scoring a mere 30 points in defeating eventual Class 4 State Champions Fort Zumwalt South. This year Potosi loses their top two runners from a year ago, Josh Thebeau and Josh Mathis, but they return juniors and top meet returners Jacob Swearingen and Nick Niggeman. The Trojans should expect challenges from meet hosts St. Louis University High School, third at this meet a year ago, as well as top squads from Kickapoo, Lebanon, CBC, DeSmet and Francis Howell North.
GIRLS TEAM:
On the girls side the defending champs are the ladies from Columbia Rock Bridge , who outdistanced their closest foes from Marquette by 23 points a year ago. Rock Bridge returns all four of their top scorers from last year's meet including runner-up Lauren Borduin. Their toughest challenge appears as if it will come from Rockwood Summit, third in 2006. Summit is coming off of a win at the season's first invitational and is led by one of the top contenders for the individual title, Aimee Bonte.
BOYS INDIVIDUAL:
The 2007 Forest Park Cross Country Festival features several of the top male runners in the State of Missouri . Last year it was Potosi 's Josh Thebeau blazing his way to a win over his teammate Josh Mathis. This year expect the lead pack to be led by the new Potosi duo of Jacob Swearingen and Nick Niggeman. On their heels and also gunning for the win will be CBC's Phil Bascio, Lutheran South's Adam Behnke, Kickapoo's Rick Elliot, Francis Howell's Patrick Keeley and Francis Howell North's Matt Schwab and Nick Happe.
GIRLS INDIVIDUAL:
As deep as the boys race seems the girls race may be even deeper. Consider first that the top three finishers from last year's race are all returning. Then consider that all three of them have won State Titles in cross country or track and we may be in for quite a show. Those top three are Marquette 's Hilary Orf, Rock Bridge 's Lauren Borduin and Summit 's Aimee Bonte. Throw in Class 3 State Track Champion Alyssa Allison from Festus and Ladue junior Natalie Todd, who beat Bonte just last week and this race should see a course record and a close finish.
PRE-RACE INTERVIEWS:
The Francis Howell North Boys
Pattonville's Michelle Wingerter
POLL RESULTS:
"Who will win the boys race at the Forest Park Cross Country Festival?"
1) Jacob Swearingen, Potosi- 25%
2) Phil Bascio, CBC- 17%
3) Rick Elliot, Kickapoo-16%
4) Adam Behnke, Lutheran South- 15%
5) Matt Schwab, Francis Howell North- 7%
"Who will win the girls race at the Forest Park Cross Country Festival?"
1) Hilary Orf, Marquette- 29%
2) Aimee Bonte, Summit- 22%
3) Natalie Todd, Ladue- 19%
4) Alyssa Allison, Festus- 16%
5) Lauren Borduin, Rock Bridge- 12%
To vote in the next poll click HERE.