The Webb City cross country team will feature one of the state’s top distance runners this fall — senior Evan Stevens.
Concluding a memorable spring track and field season on a high note, Stevens captured the Class 4 championship in the 3200-meter run while also placing fifth in the 1600 at last May’s state meet.
That’s not all. Stevens won sectional and district titles in both the 1600 and 3200 last spring and he was the Central Ozark Conference champion in the 3200 and the COC runner-up in the 1600.
During last fall’s cross country season, Stevens captured a district championship, finished third at the COC Meet and concluded a solid junior campaign by crossing the line 11th at the state meet in Columbia.
Webb City coach Dustin Miller noted the main goal for Stevens this fall is simple—an individual state championship.
“I think Evan has the potential to break 15 minutes and win a Class 4 state title,” Miller said. “He should be a top-five runner (in all classes). He had a great track season and has had a monster summer of training.”
Stevens isn’t the only returning all-stater on Webb City’s roster.
Senior Mason Hedger is the team’s second returning all-stater. Hedger finished 12th at last year’s district meet, 20th at the COC Meet and 20th at last year’s state meet.
After a runner-up finish in the 800-meter run at the district track meet last May, Hedger placed fifth at the sectional meet, just missing out on a state berth.
Coach Miller noted Hedger’s goal this fall is to finish in the top 10 at the state meet.
Other returning athletes for the boys team include senior Dakota Grove, junior Spencer Kendall and sophomores Andrew Dawson and Noah Lankard, all of whom saw varsity action last year.
A top newcomer to the boys team is sophomore Fenton Rice.
Miller described his boys team as gritty and hungry.
“Evan is a stud, Mason is a returning all-stater and then we have a very tight pack,” he said. “They have been pushing each other to the limit all summer and they are starting to fully trust each other and step up for one another.”
Miller noted his boys team is highly-motivated to have a great season.
“Our boys are coming off of one of the worst seasons in a decade (sixth at the COC Meet) and they are hungry to prove they are worthy of wearing the Webb City uniform,” Miller said. “I think this group will stand up well against some loaded teams in the area like Nixa and Joplin. We’ll be ready to perform our best in the postseason.”
GIRLS OUTLOOK
Sophomore Brooke Hedger is expected to lead the way for the Webb City girls cross country team this fall.
Last year, Hedger finished ninth at the district meet, 15th at the conference meet and 67th at state.
Hedger also had a solid freshman year on the track. She was a sectional and district champion in the 800 before finishing fourth in the same event at last May’s state track meet.
Miller noted his goal for Hedger is a top-10 finish at the state championships.
In addition to Hedger, the Cardinals return senior Emily Countryman, junior Rachel Miller and sophomore Kristina Bundy. All have competed at the state meet.
Coach Miller noted Countryman and Rachel Miller are aiming to become individual state qualifiers.
Bundy battled an illness during her freshman year, and Miller expects her to take a big step forward due to increased training.
Miller expects a solid group of freshmen, including Emma McKenzie, Olivia Klotz, Hadley White and Mia Antillon, to contribute nicely at the varsity level.
“We have a legitimate No. 1 runner (Hedger), a solid No. 2 (Countryman) and a very tight pack with Rachel, Kristina, Emma McKenzie, Olivia Klotz and Mia Antillon. They are pushing each other daily and progressing quite nicely.”
Miller said the goals are set high.
“The girls are hard to project with the impact our freshmen can have, but I think we will push for a COC title, district title and state trophy if we are in Class 4,” he said. “This team is relatively inexperienced and will improve drastically throughout the season.”
Also of note, the Cardinals lost one of the state’s best distance runners to graduation, as Abi Street has taken her talents to the University of Kansas.
Street finished third at last November’s state cross country championships.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Webb City’s first competition of the 2023 season will be at the annual SWCCCA Meet in Bolivar on Sept. 2.
Miller believes both teams, the boys and girls, have the pieces in place to put together stellar seasons.
“We return a good balance of veterans and new athletes at the varsity level to keep things interesting,” Miller said. “This group and the coaching staff are hungry. Both teams have been committed all summer and work hard.”
And if you ask Miller, he’ll tell you the keys to success are not complicated.
“The team has to be more important than individual accolades,” he said. “Once we get to the point where kids are happy putting forth their best effort and finishing behind teammates who are similar to them, then the sky’s the limit for this group.”
