Three things to watch at the Missouri high school state cross country races

The Missouri high school state championship cross country meets are scheduled for Saturday at the Oak Hills Golf Center in Jefferson City. The Star outlines three things to watch at the Class 1-4 races:

1. Several in the mix in the Class 4 boys race

Three local runners finished among the top-eight at the Missouri Class 4 boys meet last fall, and they all had something in common — they were underclassmen.

In other words, the same three are in position to move up the ladder Saturday in the big-class race. Kearney senior Clayton Adams, Blue Springs junior Victor Mugeche and Rockhurst senior John Luder have enjoyed similar success this season, and they finished first, second and third, respectively, at the Class 4, Sectional 4 meet last weekend.

Adams is aiming for a third consecutive top-five finish at the state meet.

2. The hunt for the big-class girls title

No female in Missouri has run a faster five-kilometer race this season than Blue Springs South junior Tori Findley, whose best time is 17 minutes, 33.09 seconds.

Findley has momentum on her side, too, as she embarks on the Class 4 meet. Over the last three weeks, she has won the Suburban Gold Conference, district and sectional championship races.

Liberty sophomore Madelynn Hill and Platte County junior Rebekah Geddes are also contenders in Class 4 girls.

3. The best of the rest

After placing fifth in the Class 3 girls race last fall, O’Hara junior Caroline Meyers will compete in the Class 2 race Saturday. She won her district meet last week by nearly a full minute.

Raymore-Peculiar sophomore Miranda Dick, Smithville junior Mira Bannwarth and Lutheran senior Joelle Hick and Lutheran sophomore Jesse Schultz are also coming off playoff-race wins last week.

This story was originally published November 4, 2016 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Three things to watch at the Missouri high school state cross country races."