5 area storylines this weekend in cross country state championship meets
The final weekend of the high school cross country season is upon us. Last weekend, multiple teams and individuals punched their tickets to Gans Creek (Missouri) and Detweiller Park (Illinois).
Here are a few storylines to keep an eye on this weekend.
St. Charles West looks to add another brick to the dynasty
The Warriors announced that they were a force in Class 3 when they won the 2022 team state championship. St. Charles West repeated last year, crushing all comers with 55 team points.
The Warriors are back and appear more potent than ever.
At the Class 3 District 3 meet, the Warriors placed five runners in the top 20 and all seven runners finished in the top 32. They easily cruised to a team championship with 37 team points. Lutheran St. Charles was the runner-up with 93 points.
West's average 5-kilometer time of 20:08 is the lowest of any team that won its district, with Herculaneum coming in second with an average time of 20:48.
Tolton was the last team to win a three-peat, winning titles in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Blazers will be looking for a four-peat in Class 5.
Festus faces a host of challengers in Class 4
Festus saw its state-recording streak of eight state championships snapped in 2022. Festus didn't take long to climb back on top, winning the 2023 championship by edging out Platte County for the title.
If the Tigers want to start another historic streak, they must get past a swarm of challengers.
One challenger in particular announced that they're a major player for the crown, with Webster Groves grabbing the Class 4 District 1 title last week, defeating Festus 47-49.
Festus' Carson Driemeier and teammate Tate Uding finished 1-2, then it was back-to-back-back Statesmen led by Dominic Buckman. Webster Groves' top five runners averaged a 5K time of 16:16 compared to Festus' 16:17.
West Plains crushed its competition in Class 4 District 2 with an average 5K time of 16:25, while Parkway Central captured the Class 4 District 1 title with an average time of 16:40.
Father McGivney's Rybak seeks triple crown
Father McGivney senior and Notre Dame commit Elena Rybak will head to Detweiller for her final time with a Griffin uniform.
As a junior on the track, she captured the 1600 and 3200-meter championships.
Now, she's looking to capture the elusive triple crown.
Her 17-minute, 49-second time at the Class 1A Benton Sectional was the 11th-fastest among the qualifiers.
St. Anthony sophomore Isabella Keller posted a 16:35 at Lake Land College in the Class 1A Cumberland Sectional. Rybak finished behind Okawville junior Caroline Tepe in the sectional race. Tepe finished with a personal best of 17:33.70.
Conference rivals look for strong showings in Class 3A
Edwardsville captured a third-place team finish at the Class 3A Normal Community Sectional over the weekend.
O'Fallon senior Zach Thoman blitzed the course in 14:52.70 to pick up a third-place individual finish.
Both want to improve last year's finishes at the historic course.
Edwardsville was led by Gavin Rodgers, who picked up a fifth-place finish with a time of 15:00.73. Colin Thomas and Hugh Davis finished ninth and 15th, respectively.
The Tigers finished 15th as a team last year.
Will SLUH break through
St. Louis University High has collected team championships throughout the season and added another district crown this past weekend.
But the Jr. Billikens only want one trophy — a state championship.
SLUH is tied for sixth all-time in state history with six state titles behind West Plains (13), Herculaneum (13), Festus (11), and Potosi (7) and tied with Warrensburg (6).
The last title SLUH won was in 2013.
SLUH, led by sophomore Jackson Miller's runner-up finish to Kirkwood senior Graham Stevener, cruised to a district title with 31 team points.
SLUH's average 5K time of 15:57 is third among district champions behind Raymore-Peculiar (15:47) and Rockhurst (15:50).
Defending Class 5 champions Rock Bridge cruised to its district title with an average 5K time of 16:10.
