Runners will get big test at Hancock meet

About 1,900 runners and 80 schools will participate in Saturday's Hancock Invitational cross country meet at Jefferson Barracks Park.

Last year's top two in the girls large-school division finished one-two at the state meet. Cross country programs wanting to see where they stand as compared to the top programs in the state look to Hancock as a gauge.

"That's why we go. That's exactly it," Central coach Mark Hahn said. "We go to get an idea how we stack up against the best. And we go to run the course. That's our sectional course."

Central, Notre Dame and Kelly will be among the 80 schools that participate.

Central's girls are coming off a first-place finish at the Central Invitational last weekend. Jennifer Pancoast led a 1-2-3 finish for the Tigers.

"If we can get in the top eight, that's a good sign," Hahn said. "The level of competition is just unmatched until you get to the 16 in state."

Central's boys finished second last weekend, led by John Kipper's third-place finish. Corey Huskey finished fifth for Central.

"We'll see how they do Saturday. They're not the level of our girls as far as expectations," Hahn said of the boys. "But we're just looking to have a good race we can build off."

Notre Dame and Kelly will compete on lower levels than Central, with both school's led by strong boys' programs. Greg Kanneberg and Austin Critchlow lead Notre Dame, while Kelly is led by Michael Glastetter.

Typically a Hancock participant, Jackson will instead compete at the Fox Invitational today.

Central soccer makes trip to Jefferson City

The Tigers soccer team will head north this weekend for the Jefferson City Capital Invitational.

Central will open with Camdenton today, a team Jackson recently beat at the Rolla Tournament. A Tiger win would likely pit them against Jefferson City, a team Central lost to 2-0 earlier this season at the Francis Howell Tournament.

Central coach Tom Doyle said the quality of the playing surface at the Jefferson City tournament compared to the ones at Francis Howell could help the Tigers if the rematch occurs.

"With our type of game a smooth field helps us," he said.

College notes

• Central graduate Kim Pancoast finished 20th in the Woody Greno/Nebraska Cross Country Invitational on Saturday. Pancoast, a Nebraska sophomore, finished 30th in the event last year.
• Murray State sophomore volleyball player Holly Jansen, a Leopold graduate, had a career-high four blocks and added 16 digs in Murray's four-game loss to Stephen F. Austin at the UAB Tournament on Sept. 11. The Racers, last year's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champions, placed second in the tournament with a 2-1 record.
• Central graduate Bret McNabb has two game-winning assists on the season for Oakland University, including the only assist in a 1-0 win over Cincinnati on Saturday. McNabb, a senior, also assisted on the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Cal State Fullerton Sept. 5. Oakland is 3-1-1 to start the season, including a 0-0 tie with No. 22 Akron.