Cross country teams start postseason run Saturday at Jackson

After a win at the recent SEMO Conference cross country meet, Central High School's girls team has a head of steam going into Saturday's district meet at Jackson.

The Tigers, led by junior Jennifer Pancoast, will try to qualify for the sectional meet Nov. 1 at Jefferson Barracks Park near St. Louis. Central, the defending district champion, finished 11th at the state meet last season, led by Pancoast's fifth-place finish.

"That's a real goal for us -- to make it back as a team," Central coach Mark Hahn said.

All five of Central's runners finished in the top 10 at the conference meet, with Pancoast, Holly Shaffer and Linnea Woldtvedt finishing 1-2-3.

"I was real pleased with the way they ran," Hahn said. "It seems like things are coming together at the right time."

Central edged Jackson's girls for the conference crown. Rachel Schmidt led the Indians at the conference meet with a fourth-place finish.

The Tigers' boys are led by John Kipper and Corey Huskey, both coming off top-10 finishes at the conference meet.

Both the Central and Jackson boys will try to handle Poplar Bluff, which won the SEMO Conference meet, and Fox.

Other teams in the district meet include Oakville, Mehlville, Lindbergh, Seckman and Northwest.

College basketball teams featured in Dexter event

College basketball fans will get a sneak peak at the area's top two-year and four-year men's college basketball teams Saturday in the B.A. Sports Rib City Classic at Dexter High School.

The teams are Three Rivers, SMS-West Plains, Mineral Area, Lindenwood and Evangel.

Games begin at 10 a.m. and last until about 7 p.m. A slam dunk competition is at 3 p.m.

College notes

Woodland graduate Lilo Whitener was chosen St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for Webster University. Whitener averaged five kills per game as Webster swept matches against Blackburn and MacMurray. Webster is 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the SLIAC.

Central graduate Brett McNabb pushed his goal total to three with a goal Oct. 15 against Ohio State in a 2-2 tie. McNabb, a junior at Oakland University, has three goals and an assist this season for the 5-3-4 Golden Grizzlies.

University of Illinois-Chicago freshman Tyler Cuba, a Notre Dame graduate, picked up his second assist for the Flames soccer team in a tie with Butler.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171