CROSS COUNTRY: LOCAL RUNNERS CARRY HIGH HOPES INTO STATE MEET

Two district championship teams will be among a large contingent of local runners participating in the Missouri Cross Country Championships today in Jefferson City.

Perryville's and Kelly's boys teams will be leading the local charge when eight 3.1-mile races will be held on the rolling terrain of Oak Hills Golf Course in Hough Park.

A total of 32 local athletes will be competing, including four individuals from Cape Central (4A), four from Jackson (4A) and five from Notre Dame (2A).

Perryville

The Pirates, led by a strong threesome of seniors Jacob Schneider and Nathan Moore and sophomore Kent Hadler, won their first district title in school history last Saturday in the Class 3A, District 1 meet in Potosi. The Pirates, who also take juniors Tim Chitwood, Tyson Rellergert, Brian Schlichting and Curt Brewer, placed 10th out of 16 teams at last year's state meet.

"We have a lot more experience this year," said Perryville coach Joe Dandridge. "We won our district. We're really expecting to be one of the top teams up there this year."

Dandridge expects Eureka, Ladue, Hannibal, Warrensburg and Carl Junction to present the most formidable competition to his Pirates.

Dandridge termed Schneider, Hadler and Moore as three of the top runners in the state.

"Our four and five runners are closing in on our front runners, and we'll have to have that (today)," said Dandridge.

Sophomore Katrina Bockhorn will also be making her state debut for the Lady Pirates as an individual.

Kelly

Kelly's boys have become as familiar with the Oak Hills layout as many golfers. The Hawks, who were the 1996 state champions, are making their fifth trip to state in the last six years. Kelly started its cross country program in 1995. In four previous appearances, they have finished no worse than sixth.

"Our expectations are high for the guys coming off the district title," said Kelly coach Bill Davis.

Leading the way for the Hawks is junior Adam Daughhetee, who even prior to winning last weekend's 2A, District 1 sectional race at Jefferson Barracks, had established himself as one of the premier runners in the state. As a sophomore last spring, Daughettee won the mile run at the Missouri 2A Track and Field Championships.

"He's a highly motivated individual and he motivates himself," said Davis. "He thrives on competition. I can't rule him out (of winning state). The biggest factor will be inexperience and curbing his excitement and adrenaline."

Despite his running accomplishments, Daughhetee will be among five Hawk runners who will be making their first state appearance.

Joining Daughhetee will be fellow juniors Adam Lofton, Ashley Hahn both ran at state as sophomores and Lance Ferrell, senior Kyle Kern, sophomore Lance Scheffer and freshman Trey Simmons.

"I'll safely say, if we run just to our capabilities, we'll be in the top half," said Davis. "If we run really well, I don't know, it'd be nice to be in the top four."

Last year's champion St. Francis Borgia returns its entire team and is the heavy favorite. Other top teams should be Priory, Principia and Kansas City St. Pius.

Kelly will also take three girls: senior Laura Ruff, sophomore Shannon Lawson and freshman Katie Heeb. Ruff, making her third trip to state, was a member of the Lady Hawks' state championship team in 1997.

Cape Central

Running for Cape Central will be seniors Mark Stone, Justin Hawkins and Gabe Austin on the boys' side, while junior Kim Pancoast will represent the Lady Tigers.

All top 25 individual finishers earn all-state honors. That honor has eluded Cape Central boys runners since 1990.

"They're aware of that," said Cape Central coach Mark Hahn.

Stone and Hawkins will be making their third appearances at state.

"All of them have the potential," said Hahn. "It'd be quite an accomplishment if any of them ended all-state. They're really quality athletes, as is Kim. Kim finished 12th in our sectional, but it was clearly the toughest sectional in the state."

Jackson

Jackson will feature juniors Krista Mouser and Carol Koenig and sophomore Nicole Fadler on the girls' side

"Mouser has been our leader all year," said Jackson coach Andrea Talley. "I think she'll do pretty well."

Koenig is the only Jackson runner with state experience, but dropped out of last year's race due to injury.

Talley is looking for her three girls to primarily get experience at state. She said the environment, new course and the rush of about 160 runners in each race is hard for first-time participants.

"I think all three can be all-state next year," said Talley. "How they react this year, I don't know.

"Anything can happen at the state meet. Kids you think should be all-state falter, and ones on the bubble or you don't expect, finish in the top 25."

Also running for Jackson in the boys' race will be sophomore Joe Golightly, who has run personal-best times in his last three races.

Notre Dame

The Lady Bulldogs will feature the most experienced local participant in senior Susan Judd, who is making her fourth state appearance. Judd, who finished third in the district meet, earned all-state honors as a sophomore.

Also running for the Lady Bulldogs will be sophomore Sarah Unterreiner and freshman Kasie Essner. Representing the boys will be senior Matt Frey and sophomore David Unterreiner, making his second state appearance.

• Rounding out the local contingent will be Lisa Georger of Advance, who will be running in the 1A girls' race.