Kelly boys to run at Class 2A state meet

Kelly's boys, the only area team to qualify for the state cross country meet, and several individual qualifiers from local teams will compete at the Oak Hills Golf Center, a hilly 3.1-mile course, in Jefferson City today.

The Class 2A Hawks, no stranger to state competition, will be making their fifth consecutive trip.

First-year coach John Merrick, whose team took second in district, said, "We're just going up and trying to do our best."

Senior Adam Daughhetee, Kelly's top finisher at 29th in 2000, senior Adam Lofton, senior Ashley Hahn, junior Lance Scheffer, sophomore Trey Simmons, senior Lance Ferrell and freshman Michael Glastetter make up the seven-man team. Junior Todd Brucker is the alternate.

Lofton, second in district, has been running well recently and could contend for a medal. Daughhetee, the reigning state 2A 1500-meter champion, should be in the running for a medal as well.

The top 25 in each division medal and receive all-state recognition.

Class 4A

Jackson will be represented by Josh Minson and T. J. Humphrey on the boys' side and Nicole Fadler and Carol Koenig for the girls.

"I think our girls could place in the top 35," said Jackson coach Andrea Talley. "They're peaking at the right time."

Cape Central boys participants are Jake Knepp, Josh Revelle and Mike Gerber, while freshman Jennifer Pancoast is the lone girl entrant.

Class 3A

Perryville's Kent Hadler and Tim Chitwood are entered in the boys division, with Hannah Steffens going in the girls race.

Class 2A

Notre Dame sophomore Ryan Roggow is the only Bulldog to qualify for the boys competition. Freshman Megan Rosenquist and junior Sarah Unterreiner will represent the Lady Bulldogs.

Kelly's Shannon Lawson, a junior, qualified for the girls competition.

Class 1A

Oak Ridge, a second-year program, has its first-ever state qualifiers with Melinda Schoen for the girls and Terry Bogenpohl for the boys.

Delta's Rebecca Cook and Sarah Cook are the inaugural state qualifiers for the Lady Bobcats' first-year program.