Jackson runners get jostled at McCluer Inv.

Saturday was the initial step to state for many Southeast Missouri cross country squads that ran together as teams for the first time.

The previous weekend, many teams ran in the races divided by class at the Jackon Invitational.

On Saturday, Jackson's teams went for the crowd, running with 37 other teams at the McCluer Invitational in north St. Louis County.

"We go to get experience for state," Indians coach Andrea Talley said. "Our runners were getting boxed in on the corners and would have to stop. You have to protect your space with your elbows, and you have to recover from tripping and falling."

Norman Pope was knocked down a couple of times on his way to a 169th-place finish.

The highlight for Jackson was a fourth-place finish in the freshman boys race by Sam Masters.

"Sam ran a really great race," Talley said.

Notre Dame prepared for the postseason by getting a first look at Kelly, one of its district rivals in Class 2, at the Kelly Invitational. Kelly edged Notre Dame, which finished second at the state meet last year.

Matt Pfau and Cody Essner did not run while nursing injuries.

Austin Critchlow made his debut by winning the junior-varsity race.

"Kelly ran very well," Notre Dame coach Bill Davis said. "We knew we'd be pushed by Kelly. We feel once we get our other kids back, we'll be OK."

Arcadia Invitational

Perryville had two boys finish in the top 10 and one girl finish top 10 at Acadia Valley.

Overall, the boys finished second and the girls third. Terry Wood finished seventh in 17:17 and Jesse Kueker was eighth in 17:20. Leslie Schilli led the girls with a ninth-place finish.

Perryville results

Boys -- 7, Terry Wood 17:17; 8, Jesse Kueker 17:20; 12, William Benline 17:59; 15, Kyle Trapp 18:12.

Girls -- 9, Leslie Schilli 21:11; 13, Christina Schremp 22:00.

NORTHWEST INVITATIONAL

Central results

Boys -- 7, John Kipper, 15:01; 24, Daniel Austin, 15:54; 31, Cory Huskey, 16:12; 37, Dale Brannock, 16:38; 38, Alex Eom, 16:39.

Girls -- 3, Jennifer Pancoast, 16:44; 6, Linnea Woldtvedt, 17:19; 9, Holly Shaffer, 17:33; 32, Hannah Lewis, 19:20; 34, Allison Dohogne, 19:27.

JV -- Central boys sixth; Central girls third (Emily Bonder, third, 19:51)

Freshmen -- Central boys first (Shaun Owens, 13:01); Central girls third (Heather Deischer, first, 15:18).

KELLY INVITATIONAL

Junior varsity

Boys

Team scores -- Notre Dame 15, Kelly 56, Doniphan 72, Saxony Lutheran 90

Top individual/local schools

Notre Dame -- 1, Austin Crichlow, 19:24.

Kelly -- 11, Omar Campos, 21:16.

Oak Ridge -- 12, Walter Ruesler, 21:16.

Advance -- 16, Bryant Hawkins, 21:50

Delta -- 26, Alex Parks, 23:45.

Girls

Team scores -- Notre Dame 15.

Top individual/local schools

Oak Ridge -- 1, Amanda Watson, 26:04.

Notre Dame -- 2, Katie Daniel, 27:08.

Delta -- 7, Jessica Kidd, 29:09.

Advance -- 8, Erin Van Matre, 29:31.