Area runners make bid for state meets

Central's girls cross country team will look to follow up a successful defense of its district title with a top-four sectional finish and a berth in the state meet when the Tigers compete today at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis.

The Tigers' top five runners are putting up some of their best times of the year, including Linnea Woldtvedt's first sub-20 minute race at the district meet.

"Any time a girl can beat 20, that's a significant time," Central cross country coach Mark Hahn said.

Leading Central's squad is two-time defending district champion Jennifer Pancoast, an all-state runner last year. Central's girls will be joined at the sectional competition by Jackson's girls, Central's boys and Jackson runner David Welker.

Several other area squads will be competing in district meets today.

Notre Dame will try to send its first team to the state meet as it competes in the Class 2, District 1 meet, also at Jefferson Barracks. Notre Dame's boys are coming off their most successful regular season, including a second-place finish at the SEMO Conference meet.

Kelly, led by Trey Simmons and Michael Glastetter, will also participate in the Class 2, District 1 meet.

Advance, Delta, Meadow Heights, Oak Ridge and Saxony Lutheran will all compete in the Class 1, District 1 tournament hosted by Elsberry High School.

District soccer begins

Central and Notre Dame will look to make return trips to the state playoffs as the district tournaments begin today.

Defending state champion Notre Dame will host the Class 2, District 1 tournament, and Jackson will play host to the four-team Class 3, District 1 tournament. Central and Jackson will meet in the opening round at 5 p.m. Monday.

While the Tigers (22-0) have completed an undefeated regular season, coach Tom Doyle said Central's perfect record does not count for much in the playoffs.

"Every game starts over," Doyle said of the playoffs. "It's a brand new challenge. All you've got to do is lose one game and it's all over."

At Notre Dame, the Bulldogs face Hancock at 3 p.m. today. Hillsboro is the No. 2 seed in the district and St. Pius is No. 3. If the Bulldogs defeat Hancock, they will face the winner of today's Sikeston-Windsor game on Monday.

All-district volleyball teams

While not every favored area team made it to the sectional round, there were plenty of area volleyball players selected to all-district teams.

Jackson: Linden Hahs (1st), Katie Loos (2nd) and Rebecca Martin (2nd)

Bell City: Andreia Wondel (1st), Katie Niemczyk (1st), Whitney Abner (1st) and Sarah Scherer (2nd)

Advance: Dana Williams (1st), Nicole Tropf (1st) and Alicia Broshuis (1st)

Notre Dame: Sommer McCauley (1st), Laura Browne (2nd) and Amanda Essner (2nd)

Perryville: Lisa Pecaut (1st) and Kaci Schremp (1st)

College notes

Perryville graduate Amanda Nuyt has posted back-to-back shutouts for Maryville University's soccer team. Maryville improved to 5-11 with a 1-0 win over Blackburn Saturday. Nuyt, a sophomore, has four shutouts on the season.