High school cross country capsules

BOYS

Advance Hornets

Head Coach: Terry Bryeans, 2nd year

Team strengths: We have six new runners, four of whom are junior high, and four returning high school runners. We have more seasoned runners who are very determined and we have a bigger team than we did last year.

Team goals: We want to do our best and push past what we think are our limits. We want to improve our times and bond together as a team.

Summer preparation strategies: Cross country camp, two weeks of conditioning, and hills, hills, hills

Team in three words: Focused, hungry, excited

Central Tigers

Head Coach: Mark Hahn

Team strengths: We have great kids who have an enthusiastic work ethic.

Team goals: Have fun and improve

Team in three words: Hardworking great kids

Delta Bobcats

Head Coach: Gordon Walton, 15th year

Assistant Coach: Richard Behring

Team strengths: They are hard workers.

Team goals: We want everyone to improve themselves.

Summer preparation strategies: We met two days per week in the summer to run.

Kelly Hawks

Head Coach: Katie Brucker, 1st year

Team strengths: All of the boys work very hard in practice and they never stop and give up. It is hard work getting yourself conditioned to run and they all push themselves to be their best every day in practice. They all do a great job at going hard and pushing themselves to their limits and push until they can't do anymore.

Team goals: Improve our times each week. Work on one thing a little more and make it that much better, whether it be the sprint at the end or the climbing of hills, or even just doing that extra set of sit-ups at the end of the day. Also, doing our best each and every day that they run; pushing themselves a little more each day.

Team in three words: Small but mighty

Notre Dame Bulldogs

Head Coach: Bill Davis, 15th year

Assistant Coach: Debbie Baumgart

Team strengths: We have four returners from last year's varsity squad that finished second at the Class 3 District 1 meet and went on to finish second at the Class 3 state. meet: Rudy McClellan, a junior all-district, all-conference and all-state runner; and Matt Gibbs, a sophomore all-conference selection.

Team goals: To hopefully win the SEMO Large Schools Conference meet, place in the top two at the Class 3 District 1 meet and return to the Class 3 state meet as a team.

Summer preparation strategies: We ran through most of the summer months piling miles, went to the Joe Bill Dixon Wilderness Running Camp and held our own Notre Dame team camp.

Team in three words: Very young, talented, hardworking

Saxony Lutheran Crusaders

Head Coach: Larry Cleair, 12th year

Team strengths: Youth and enthusiasm

Team goals: We hope to grow and mature with each race, running our best races late in the season.

Summer preparation strategies: Running on their own

Team in three words: Children of God

Scott City Rams

Head Coach: Travis Schiwitz, 7th year

Assistant Coach: Derek Goodin

Team strengths: We have some experience coming back.

Team goals: We want to try to challenge for a district championship.

Summer preparation strategies: We had good participation in our offseason summer program.

Team in three words: Very hard-working

St. Vincent Indians

Head Coach: Terry W. Wood

Assistant Coach: Emily Steele

Team strengths: We are returning talent that is driven and motivated. We have a younger group joining the roster who have a desire for success.

Team goals: Repeat the district wins from the previous two seasons and aim for the state title after a losing tiebreaker last year.

Summer preparation strategies: Summer sessions in which the teammates met to run together several times.

Team in three words: God speed, champs!

Woodland Cardinals

Head Coach: Ryan Layton

Assistant Coach: Lisa Kennedy

Team strengths: We have a group of guys who are used to success and they expect to have that continue even though we graduated some of our team leaders.

Team goals: For every single runner to improve every day, defend our title as conference champions and qualify for the state meet as a team.

Summer preparation strategies: As a team, we had several conditioning days this summer consisting of running, weights and other activities. Several of the guys put in a good number of miles on their own as well.

Team in three words: Young, determined, excited

GIRLS

Advance Hornets

Head Coach: Terry Bryeans

Team strengths: We have six new runners, four of whom are junior high, and four returning high school runners. We have more seasoned runners who are very determined and we have a bigger team than we did last year.

Team goals: We want to do our best and push past what we think are our limits. We want to improve our times and bond together as a team.

Summer preparation strategies: Cross country camp, two weeks of conditioning, and hills, hills, hills.

Team in three words: Focused, hungry, excited

Central Tigers

Head Coach: Mark Hahn

Team strengths: We have great kids who have an enthusiastic work ethic.

Team goals: Have fun and improve.

Team in three words: Hard-working great kids

Chaffee Red Devils

Head Coach: Travis Calkins, 9th year

Assistant Coach: Daron Bickel

Team strengths: We have eight girls -- a large team for Class 1 girls.

Team goals: Compete for the district and conference titles and have as many girls achieve all-district and all-conference honors.

Summer preparation strategies: We ran summer miles.

Team in three words: Living the dream

Delta Bobcats

Head Coach: Gordon Walton, 15th year

Assistant Coach: Richard Behring

Team strengths: They are hard workers.

Team goals: We want everyone to improve themselves.

Summer preparation strategies: We met two days per week in the summer to run.

Notre Dame Bulldogs

Head Coach: Bill Davis, 15th year

Assistant Coach: Chris Gullette

Team strengths: We have six returners from last year's varsity squad that won the SEMO Large Schools Conference: Alaina Baumgart, a sophomore all-district, all-conference and all-state selection; junior Katie Hanners; senior Jordan Meadors and junior Alleigh Emmendorfer, all all-conference.

Team goals: To hopefully win the SEMO Large Schools Conference meet for a second year in a row, place in the top two at the Class 3 District 1 meet and go as a team to the Class 3 state meet.

Summer preparation strategies: The team ran lots of miles through the summer months and went to the Joe Bill Dixon Wilderness Running Camp in addition to holding our own team camp at Notre Dame.

Team in three words: Young, talented, inspiring

Saxony Lutheran Crusaders

Head Coach: Larry Cleair, 12th year

Team strengths: Four returning runners with great energy and leadership

Team goals: To race as a team, encouraging every runner to run with perseverance.

Summer preparation strategies: Running on their own.

Team in three words: Children of God

Scott City Rams

Head Coach: Travis Schiwitz

Assistant Coach: Derek Goodin

Team strengths: She (Bella Bowers, the only member of the team) is very dedicated.

Team goals: To make it to the state meet and be all-state.

St. Vincent Indians

Head Coach: Terry W. Wood

Assistant Coach: Emily Steele

Team strengths: A young, motivated group. Several are coming to have athletic ability for other sports.

Team goals: We want to return to the state meet, stay healthy and give our young girls an opportunity to succeed.

Summer preparation strategies: We had several summer sessions and running groups.

Team in three words: "Are you in?"

Woodland Cardinals

Head Coach: Ryan Layton

Assistant Coach: Lisa Kennedy

Team strengths: Strong leadership and a group of talented girls who are very competitive.

Team goals: For every single runner to get better each day, to win our first conference championship (and) to qualify for the state meet as a team.

Summer preparation strategies: Weight lifting, running days and running on their own.

Team in three words: Improved, confident, determined