Big River 2006 CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW
Hello to all Missouri High School athletes, coaches and parents. Some of you may be aware of our track coverage last spring. We conducted interviews with some of the State's top athletes and received a great response. Over the summer we offered a Monday morning high school run to any boys and girls from St. Louis who may have been looking for some training partners for the summer. That was also a big success with between 20 and 40 athletes each Monday. Now that our store is open we have seen many of St. Louis ' high school athletes come in for shoes, spikes and apparel and it has been fun to see how everyone is doing.
With the end of summer training comes the beginning of the competitive season. We will once again be doing interviews with runners from across the State to give all of you a better idea about how some of the top athletes and programs train. Reading interviews and training logs of the nation's best runners when Matt and I were in college helped make us better runners and I hope our coverage on this website can do the same for some of you. Enjoy!
TEAM RANKINGS
The way we do our rankings is a little different than you might be used to. We do a statewide ranking regardless of Class. Due to the fact that many years the best teams and individuals are not necessarily from Class 4 we want everyone to get their just due. We will release several rankings during the year with changes based on recent performances. One note of caution; this is just for FUN!! We want everyone to have a good time reading these but don't take anything too seriously. You can't control rankings you can only control how hard you train and race. GOOD LUCK THIS SEASON!
GIRLS TEAM RANKINGS
#1) MARQUETTE- Wow. The girls rankings were super tough to do. In the end I had to look up each teams' returning runners and look at how they did at the 2005 State meet compared to other top teams' returners. Marquette , with their top five all returning, looks extremely tough. Their one-two punch of Laura Gosen and Hilary Orf (6th and 8th a year ago) will give them a big advantage over the rest.
#2) BLUE SPRINGS- The defending State Champs return five from their winning squad of a year ago. Looking at times and places from the 2005 State Meet they were a clear choice for #2 and should be a contender for #1 all year long.
#3) STE. GENEVIEVE- The Class 2 Champs from 2005 return five with State Meet experience including individual champ Jessica Bollinger. Look for the girls in green to once again hoist the Class 2 trophy and perhaps end up atop the year-end Big River poll.
#4) NOTRE DAME DE SION- Last year's Class 3 Champs returning a whopping six runners from a squad that triumphed by a four points over perennial power West Plains. Only 60 seconds separated their 1-5 returners at last year's meet and if that pack remains tight throughout this year then they will remain co-favorites with the Zizzers for another title.
#5) WEST PLAINS- Yet another squad with six returners! The Zizzers have the firepower upfront in last year's individual champ Brittani Johnson. Plus they boast the best uniforms in the State! Look for the West Plains girls to try and grab back the title from ND De Sion in Jeff City .
#6) EUREKA- Though I rank them sixth in this preseason poll, the Wildcats just might climb higher by year's end. Absent State Meet record holder Merideth Snow (graduation) the Wildcats are a young bunch with tons of talent. Like #1 Marquette they have a great one-two punch with Kasey Owens and Chelsea Chrisman (11 th and 12 th a year ago) and that could be what vaults them to the top.
#7) JEFFERSON CITY- It's good to return five runners, it's great to return six but what about seven? The Lady Jays have all seven back from a squad that finished a close fourth in 2005 Class 4. I put a lot of stock in that amount of experience and look for these girls to be a serious factor all year long.
#8) LEE'S SUMMIT WEST- Third in the 2005 Class 3 race LSW has now been moved to Class 4 which will just make that race even tougher. Would have been fun to see one more battle with Notre Dame and West Plains though!
#9) HERCULANEUM- This bunch poses the only threat to Ste. Gen. for supremacy in Class 2. Boasting five returners they certainly have the experience to give them a run for their money. Plus they have the Herky tradition!
#10) LEE'S SUMMIT NORTH- Fifth in a tough Class 4 in 2005, LSN could be moving up this year. The program as a whole seems to be doing great things and I expect more of the same in 2006.
BOYS TEAM RANKINGS
#1) POTOSI- Class 3 State Champs in 2005, State Track Champs in 2006, Ranked #2 in the Heartland Region, should I go on? Oh yeah, and they return Josh Mathis and Josh Thebeau who just happen to be the second and 19th fastest ever runners on the State course. It will be fun to see just how good these guys can be.
#2) FORT ZUMWALT SOUTH- The dominating winners at last year's Class 4 State race FZW returns four including third placer Kyle Rood. Their first chance to grab the number one spot in the Big River poll will come Sept. 9th when they square off against Potosi at the Forest Park Cross Country Festival.
#3) WEST PLAINS- Nearly every year the Zizzers bring a powerful squad to the table. They run tons of off-season miles, they have great team spirit and they wear striped shorts. What more could you ask for? Returning six harriers from last year's Class 3 runner-up team look for this squad to mature and make a bid at Potosi .
#4) KICKAPOO- Seventh a year ago in Class 4 Kickapoo returns five including All-Staters Herman Sanderson and Rick Elliott. That one-two punch makes them a serious threat.
#5) OAK PARK- They were one spot ahead of Kickapoo at last year's State Meet but are a spot behind here because of Kickapoo's strength up front. Also, their speed on the track in the 4x800 was extremely impressive and could transfer well to the grass.
#6) CBC- The Cadets and West Plains are the only teams in the Big River top 10 that return six from last year's top seven. Only 12th a year ago, they look poised to make a big jump led by frontrunner Dan Quigley, a serious threat to take home individual honors.
#7) BLUE SPRINGS- Third at last year's State Meet, the Wildcats are seventh here only because they return just three from that squad. That said, the program is strong and as the season goes on I suspect we will see that they have reloaded nicely.
#8) LIBERTY- The boys from Liberty have enjoyed many great years in a row but for the first time in a while they come into the season as a bit of an underdog with only two returners from last year's Class 4 runner-up squad. BEWARE of underdogs. Teams like Liberty like to prove people wrong so don't be surprised if they are once again on the podium in November.
#9) SLUH- Fourth last year, the Jr. Bills return four from that group. Like Blue Springs and Liberty they look to be a little down but looks can be deceiving. Watch out for this mostly young group to gel later in the season.
#10) LEE'S SUMMIT NORTH- LSN is a program on the rise. Frontman Jacob Boone is off to college, but they return numbers two through six from last year's Class 4 eighth place squad. Only Dan Quigley's low stick keeps them from jumping up to CBC's ranking.
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
All season long (though maybe not as often as the team rankings) we will try to keep an eye out for the top 15 runners in the State. Again, these are the top 15 regardless of Class. It is a lot easier to miss a runner or two so we apologize if we shorted you or your teammate. Feel free to email us at info@bigriverrunning.com if you know someone who should be on the Big River Top 15. Enjoy!!
TOP 15 GIRLS
#1) Brittani Johnson, JR, West Plains- Last year's runaway Class 3 Champ, Johnson looks to lead the Zizzers in their effort to better a second place team showing from a year ago. In the spring Johnson finished 5th in the Class 4 3200 but her phenomenal 18:42 at the Cross Country State Meet is what places her #1.
#2) Hilary Orf, JR, Marquette- Eighth at last year's Class 4 State Meet, Orf gets the number 2 spot here after a stellar track season where she placed 3rd in the 3200 and 7th in the 1600
#3) Jessica Bollinger, SR, Ste. Genevieve- The Class 2 State Champ last year, Bollinger will lead a strong Ste. Gen team once again. Look for her to go sub 19 on the State course this year.
#4) Ashley Mark, JR, Lee's Summit North- The number one returner in Class 4, Mark was just a sophomore when she finished third. In the Spring she finished 12th in the 1600 and should be a major factor all year long.
#5) Brittany Tate, SO, Lee's Summit West- 4th in Class 3 as a freshman Tate will move to Class 4 this year. The move shouldn't be a problem as her State time would have placed 7th in the Class 4 3200 last Spring.
#6) Lydia Newland, JR, Liberty- Newland was 22nd at the Class 4 Cross Country Meet but stepped it up on the track, placing 4th in the 3200 and 8th in the 1600.
#7) Lauren Renfrow, JR, Blue Springs- The top finisher for last year's Class 4 Team Champs Renfrow (5th ) is the second best returner in Class 4.
#8) Laura Gosen, SR, Marquette- Just a tick behind Renfrow at last year's State Meet Gosen will once again be teaming up with Hilary Orf to give Marquette a huge one-two punch.
#9) Elizabeth Keaveny, JR, St. Teresa's Academy- Last year's Class 4 9th placer gets the same spot here.
#10) Mary Goldkamp, SR, McCluer North- Last year Goldkamp was one place behind Keaveny at the State Meet and she starts the Big River Rankings in the same slot.
#11) Kasey Owens, SR, Eureka- Owens brings 800 speed to the grass and hills where she finished 11th in Class 4 a year ago.
#12) Chelsea Chrisman, SO, Eureka- Chrisman was one place behind teammate Owens at last year's meet but did place 4th in the Class 4 800 final with an outstanding 2:16.
#13)Kathleen Thompson, SO, Parkway Central- Yet another underclassmen in our top 15. Thompson was 13 th in Class 4 as a frosh.
#14) Torey Even, SO, Jefferson City- Another speedster, Even was 10th in the Class 4 800 last Spring and leads a strong Lady Jays squad.
#15) Anna Shafer-Skelton, SR, University City- A huge track season in which she placed 4th in the Class 3 1600 and 7th in the 3200 vaults Shafer-Skelton into the top 15.
TOP 15 BOYS
#1) Josh Mathis, SR, Potosi- Though there are other runners who could lay claim to the top spot it is impossible to overcome Mathis' run at last year's State Meet. His 15:41 as a junior already ranks him second all-time. Could he beat Matt Tegenkamp's State Record of 15:26.7? We shall see!
#2) Dan Quigley, SR, CBC- An 8th place finish a year ago in Class 4 does not tell the whole story. By all accounts that was an off-day (of which he has not had many) and his State Track runner-up in the 3200 on a brutally hot day showed he has the toughness to claim this year's title.
#3) Josh Thebeau, SR, Potosi- The other half of the Potosi one-two punch should not be overlooked. The speedier of the two, Thebeau's kick is wicked fast- just ask anyone who saw his last 100 at the State Track Meet in the 800.
#4) Kyle Rood- Fort Zumwalt South- Definitely still a contender for the number one spot, Rood finished third in Class 4 as a junior. His track campaign was hampered by injury but he still managed an all-state finish in the Class 4 800.
#5) Adam Behnke, JR, Lutheran South- An outstanding sophomore campaign saw Behnke run 16:32 for 4th in Class 3 Cross Country and 4:22 for 5th in the 1600. Perhaps overshadowed by his Potosi competitors this kid should be considered as good as anyone out there.
#6) Rick Elliot, JR, Kickapoo- The first underclassmen in the Big River Top 15, Elliot gets the 5 spot after a fifth place in last Spring's Class 4 3200.
#7) Eric Fernandez, JR, Parkway West- Fernandez finished a spot ahead of Elliott at last year's Cross Country Meet but a spot behind in Track. Look for them to be close all year in the battle for top junior.
#8) Herman Sanderson, SR, Kickapoo- Sanderson was 6th in Class 4 a year ago but internet rumors have him not running this year. Until such rumors are confirmed we have him at #8.
#9) Matt Lawder, SR, SLUH- Lawder was 17th at the Class 4 State Meet and followed it up this Spring with a strong 7th in the 3200.
#10) Clayton Schafer, SR, West Plains- Shafer was 7th in Class 3 a year ago and is the Zizzers' number one man.
#11) Steven Ardoin, JR, Lee's Summit- Ardoin was 28th in Class 4 in 2005 but was 8th in the 3200 on the track showing that he is on the rise.
#12) Phillip King, Sr, Rock Bridge- By all accounts King had a much better season than his 31st place State finish in Class 4 finish indicated. Look for this senior to be way up there this time around.
#13) Nick Niggeman, SO, Potosi- It is not often you see a freshman on the podium at a State Meet but Niggeman graced the stage twice, finishing 19th in Class 3 Cross Country and a superb 4th in the 3200 last Spring.
#14) Justin Hungerford, JR, Republic- Look out for this guy. A solid 17th in Cross Country he then ran 4:22 at State Track to finish fourth in Class 3.
#15) Tom Albes, SR, DeSmet- Another runner with a State finish (59th in Class 4) that did not reflect his season. Albes finished 11th in the Class 4 3200 to re-establish himself as a top runner for this fall.