For both Wright City and Warren County, there is reason for optimism for the 2021 cross country season, as coaches Chris McCulloch (Wright City) and Jeremy Collins (Warrenton) believe they can improve from the results seen in 2020.

“Zoe Riggs, Trent Bruning, and Jackson Mazella are our returning veterans this year,” said McCulloch. “Both are seniors this year. Last season, Zoe placed 3rd at Districts with a time of 20:44 for a 5k race and beat that time with a 20:37 5k at the State Championships, earning her 17th place while Trent placed 35th at state with a time of 17:32 in the 5k. Jackson finished the 5k race at Districts with a time of 20:10, which managed to place him 35th overall.”

Along with being team leaders in results, both Riggs and Mazella are being looked at as potential mentors for the rest of the team.

“Jackson and Zoe are important to the cross country program with their level of experience. Due to their experience, they make for natural leaders. Both of them push each other, which in turn serves as a good model for the younger runners to push themselves to get better,” said McCulloch. “Jackson tends to have a pretty laid back personality, while Zoe is a big jokester. That combination helps make practice more fun and relaxing at times.”

The Wildcats will also look to a pair of juniors to make a big impact that, according to their coach, have great potential.

“Dylan Hickman and Aireona Hagan have fantastic self-motivation. Right from the start, Aireona has demonstrated her drive to develop as a runner, which has resulted in her being the second fastest girl on the team, even though she has never done distance running before this season. Dylan also encompasses a similar drive,” McCulloch told The Record. “This season he is dual-sporting with soccer and cross country. Many days he has to practice without the rest of the cross country team, due to conflicts with practice schedules, but he always completes his training. When he is able to make it to practice with the entire team he demonstrates a similar leadership by pushing himself during each run or workout.”

Overall, the Wildcats seem to have the right pieces to enjoy a successful season.

“I have high expectations for this season because we have a good mix of promising newcomers and veteran runners. I have already seen improvements in both the newcomers and some of our other returning members,” said McCulloch. “This makes me proud as a coach, because the main thing I look for in each student-athlete is for them to develop and achieve their personal bests.”

Warrenton preview

In Warrenton, head coach Jeremy Collins noted that the boys team placed fifth in the conference and eighth in districts in 2020 while the girls placed second in the conference and fifth in districts, and these are the main meets on which they focus throughout the season.

“Last year for the boys, Wyatt Claiborne was our top runner. He placed seventh at conference earning First-Team All-Conference,” said Collins. “Going into his sophomore year he is looking really strong and is looking to improve on a great freshman year. where his best time was 18:36.”

Collins also mentioned junior Coalton Hill and a trio of freshmen — Phoenix McCleary, Jacob Beckemeyer, and Noah Cline — as an important part of the team.

“Our goal is to improve on our conference and district performances from last and they are going to be a key part of our success,” he said. “Wyatt, Coalton, and the freshmen will lead the team.”

On the girls side, junior Madelyn Marschel will look to qualify for state for the third time. In 2020, she placed fourth at the conference meet and was first team All-Conference. Joining her in earning All-Conference honors was sophomore Camryn Petersmeyer, who placed seventh.

“Madelyn and Camryn are the top two runners from last year and they will lead the girls team who is strong, just not very deep,” said Collins. “Madelyn and sophomore Brianna Grooms competed last spring at the state track meet in the 4X800 and I am hoping that experience will carry over to cross country. Sophomore Bayley Pelker is a first year runner and she is going to be a key part to the team. She is going to be someone who could improve a lot as the season goes and as she learns how to race the 5K distance.”

Given the quantity of promising runners, Collins believes it could be an exciting year.

“It is going to be a fun season because I think both the boys team and the girls team are going to really improve from last season. Our goals are to improve overall as a team from last season,” he said. “The boys team I think the top-five runners can be under 20 minutes and the girls team I think we can get our top-five under 24 minutes.”