STATE MEET PREVIEW!!!
Welcome to the Big River State Meet Preview Section. Each day this week we will have new additions to the site including the race previews and daily interviews with top runners from across the State. We kicked things off with the second-to-last set of Big River Team Rankings and now we give you the penultimate Individual Rankings. For those of you who might be new to the site these are just for fun and serve as a way to see what some of the teams around the State are doing. Email us and let us know if we missed your runner. Enjoy!
Big River Rankings #6 - 10.31.06
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
A few things to keep in mind while reading these rankings; Districts and Sectionals are very hard to judge because often times top runners will hold a little bit back at one or both of these meets in order to save themselves for the State Meet. Also, these are not necessarily our predicted order of finish. These are based on what has gone on so far this season with a bit heavier emphasis on the last two weeks. Our predictions will be out later this week. Okay, after those disclaimers and without further a due, here are the pre-State individual rankings.
TOP 20 GIRLS
#1) Brittani Johnson, JR, West Plains – She has been number one all year and it would be a big shocker if she does not remain in that same spot after all is said and done on Saturday.
#2) Ashley Mark, JR, Lee's Summit North – A solid fourteen second win to take home the Sectional 4 Individual Title. She is certainly the Class 4 favorite.
#3) Asenath Naaman, Jeff City – Bounced back from a District defeat to win Sectionals in 18:55 . Still could end up on the top of the podium in Class 4.
#4) Brandi Gervais, SR, Waynesville – Just one tick back of Naaman at Sectionals. Gervais has been steadily rising through our rankings all year. We expect she will contend for the win in Class 4.
#5) Hilary Orf, JR, Marquette – District and Sectional Champ. She has been the class of St. Louis all season long and certainly has a chance to be the Class 4 Champ.
#6) Monica Noble, Francis Howell North – Bested Naaman at Districts but was ten ticks back at Sectionals. This is her highest ranking this season and she could jump even higher after Saturday.
#7) Lauren Carr, Liberty – Second at Sectional 4 to State favorite Mark. We expect her to be in a huge battle with Naaman, Gervais, Orf and Noble.
#8) Mary Goldkamp, SR, McCluer North – This senior has been out of the rankings for a bit while recovering from injury. After commanding wins at Districts and Sectionals she is definitely back and her aggressive style should put her in the mix.
#9) Sierra Jenkins, FR, Clinton – She was third in Class 3 District 6 but her overall body of work puts her at number nine heading into Saturday.
#10) Brittany Tate, SO, Lee's Summit West – Third in Class 4 Sectional 4. Tate has put together a phenomenal sophomore campaign thus far.
#11) Aimee Bonte, JR, Rockwood Summit – Second to Orf at Sectionals, she always runs up front and will be leading the charge for the Falcons as they aim for a trophy in Class 4.
#12) Alyssa Allison, Festus – Do not discount the Class 3 girls because there are some good ones. Allison will probably be in a battle with Jenkins and #16 Klooster for runner-up honors. Her 19:40 at Districts shows her potential.
#13) Marlee Tegenkamp, Lee's Summit – The KC girls did a lot of switching from Districts to Sectionals and you never know who was holding back but Tegenkamp's second place District showing gets her the nod in 13 th .
#14) Elizabeth Keaveny, JR, St. Teresa's Academy - Keaveny is another example of why it's hard to judge Districts and Sectionals. She was fourth at Districts and eighth at Sectionals but she has beaten most of the girls in front of her at one time or another over the course of the season. Because of that we'll place her 14 th heading into State.
#15) Lauren Renfrow, Blue Springs – Eighteen seconds back of Tegenkamp at Districts but two seconds ahead at Sectionals. That's why we give the nod to Teg here and have Renfrow at 15.
#16) Ali Klooster, U.City – District Champ. As mentioned above she should be locked in battle with #12 Allison and #9 Jenkins for second in Class 3.
#17) Brittany Moreland, Cape Central – Nine seconds back of Bonte for third in Sectional 1. She should be yet another player in what will be a very large battle for the top five spots in Class 4.
#18) Lydia Newland, JR, Liberty – Apparently back on track after finishing sixth at Sectionals. She had a great State Track meet last year so perhaps we could see another big run from her when it counts.
#19) Torie Even, Jefferson City – The number 2 runner for the Class 4 favorite Lady Jays. Even was fourth in Sectional 3 in 19:23 .
#20) Natalie Becker, SO, Parkway West – Fourth place in Sectional 1. This freshman has had an impressive season and does not appear intimidated by top flight competition. She'll have plenty of it on Saturday.
TOP 20 BOYS
#1) Josh Thebeau, SR, Potosi – He's thrown down crazy fast times all year now the question is will he drop a sub 15:26 ?
#2) Josh Mathis, SR, Potosi – Though his partner in crime has a better head-to-head record this year he is still the defending State Champ until someone takes it from him in Jeff City . We expect a battle, a friendly one, but a battle none the less.
#3) Dan Quigley, SR, CBC – All reports have his District and Sectional wins looking very controlled. He is the Class 4 favorite and may very well give the Potosi boys a fast time to shoot for as the Class 4 boys go off just before Class 3.
#4) Kyle Rood, SR, Fort Zumwalt South - Rood v. Quigley. We've heard it all year, we've seen it once, but this is the one that counts. Do not expect this Bulldog to go down without a fight.
#5) Phillip King, SR, Rock Bridge – Eight seconds back of Rood at Sectionals. This kid will surely be in the lead pack on Saturday.
#6) Tom Albes, SR, DeSmet – Sectional 2 champ in 16:11 , very impressive stuff.
#7) Matt Lawder, SR, SLUH – Beat Albes at District for the individual title in 16:08 , but was third at Sectionals. Possibly a controlled effort, we'll find out on Saturday.
#8) Stanton Ragland, JR, Liberty – District and Sectional Champ. Ragland seems very solid and could place as high as third in Class 4 and it would be hard to imagine him out of the top ten.
#9) Pat Cole, Fort Zumwalt South – Beat King at Districts but was third at Sectionals. The 7-20 spots could really go in any order as we think these guys are all within seconds of each other.
#10) Jacob Swearingen, SO, Potosi – Just another in the long yellow line (York High School Reference) but he will certainly shine at State as he will try to hold off Behnke and Tobben for a 1-2-3 Potosi Sweep.
#11) Adam Behnke, JR, Lutheran South – Easy win at Districts. This Lancer junior will give it a go at State and make the Potosi boys work.
#12) Phil Bascio, JR, CBC – Second place at Districts and Sectionals behind his teammate Quigley. Gives the Cadets a solid one-two punch.
#13) Eric Fernandez, JR, Parkway West – Just behind Bascio at Districts and Sectionals though rumor has it he is nursing a bum hamstring and may be waiting until State to really test it out.
#14) Andrew Tobben, Borgia – Like his Class 3 compatriot Behnke he had a big win at Districts and will not be intimated at State.
#15) Adam McGovern, Lees Summit West – Second at Sectional 4 to Ragland. He has been on the fringe of making our top 15 all year.
#16) Brandon Funderburk, Fort Zumwalt South – Just four seconds back of his teammate Cole at Sectionals.
#17) Rick Elliot, JR, Kickapoo – Elliot has spent most of the year in our top 5 and truthfully he still may finish very high in Class 4 but like Fernandez he is nursing an injury. Hopefully he can let it loose at State and we'll see the true Rick Elliot.
#18) Devin Alumbaugh, SR, Raytown South – Third at Sectionals behind Ragland and McGovern but not by much. Like we said, spots 7-20 are nearly interchangeable.
#19) Darwin Price, JR, Normandy – Second at Sectional 2 and ahead of Lawder though he had been third at District. He may be a surprise to some but is likely to place very high at State.
#20) Bob Gorman, SR, Chaminade - Fourth at Sectional 2, this senior has been very solid and is likely to be in the top 15 in Class 4.