2017 All Area Girls

2017 Tri State Cross Country Coaches Girls All-Area Team

Written by Jared Schmidt - Tri State Cross Country Coaches Committee Member

Quincy High School Junior Lydia Kurfman is your 2017 Runner of the Year (Photo Credit: Russ Tate)

Runner of the Year - Lydia Kurfman, Jr., QHS

The last two years have been a tale of two seasons for Quincy High School junior Lydia Kurfman. In the middle of the 2016 season she was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her foot, an injury that would force Kurfman to sit at a large chunk of the season and limit her to strictly cross training activities on a bike or in a swimming pool. " She spent four weeks training on a bike and in the pool by herself. When I look back, I think this gave her time to reflect on where she was as an athlete and where she wanted to be," said Quincy High Head Coach Matt McClelland. After the time off her foot, Kurfman was able to rebound late in the season to place 2nd at the Western Big 6 meet, a performance that would propel her to qualifying for the IHSA 3A State Championship as an individual, where she would run 18:33 at Detweiller Park and just miss the QHS School Record.

Kurfman would go on to have a strong sophomore track campaign early in 2017 where she would qualify for the IHSA State Track meet in the 3200m. After finishing her season with the Blue Devils, Kurfman went on to race throughout the summer in the USATF Summer Track Series and finished runner-up at the National Championship meet in July. That performance was impressive but a long season of racing can take a toll on a runner and Kurfman had raced almost a full year. " As a coach, I was excited for her, but nervous as well. It can take a toll on you mentally when you race too much and she raced all summer," said McClelland.

In the Fall of 2017 the QHS Junior would show no signs of mental or physical fatigue. She started her season by breaking the Quincy High school record, running 18:24, at the Western Big 6 Kickoff Meet besting her personal best in the process. Kurfman would go on to break the QHS school record on several occasions throughout the 2017 season along with winning 5 different meet championships, including the QND Running Raider, Tom Oakley, and Liberty Invitational's. Kurfman was also able to improve on her conference championship position when she won the Western Big 6 Conference Meet to start her post season run. She placed 2nd at the Belleville West Regional, and 4th overall at the loaded Granit City 3A Sectional setting a personal best and school record with the time of 17:27. The final finish the Kurfman's junior campaign came at Detweiller Park at the IHSA 3A State Meet where she placed 31st overall running 17:36, narrowly missing an all state finish.

In 2017, Kurfman showed everyone in the Tri-States that she was the one to beat on the course and earned the title of best Blue Devil ever with her school record performances. For her efforts, Lydia has been named the 2017 Tri-State Cross Country Coaches Girls Runner of the year.

First Team All- Area - (Alphabetical Order)

Megan Adams, Sr., Mendon - Adams has been a part of the 1st Team since its inception in 2015. The 3 time All-Area pick was again a constant at the top of every local race in 2017. With 3rd place finishes at QND, QHS, and Liberty Invitational's there is no arguing Adams belongs on this list. The Mustang Senior continued her success in the post season winning the West Central Conference individual title before earning her final trip to the IHSA State Meet where she placed 53rd in 19:05.

Carrie Balzer, So., Liberty - The Eagle sophomore was impressive in her first year of cross country. From start to finish she continued to improve and put herself in the mix with the best locals at every meet. Balzer started the year placing 12th at the QND Running Raider and then finished 4th at both the Tom Oakley and Liberty Invitational's. A 5th place showing at the QND Regional propelled her to a 13th place finish at the Elmwood Sectional running 19:01, barely missing a trip to the IHSA State Meet.

Camy Grote, Fr., Bowling Green - In her first season at the high school level, Grote definitely exceeded expectations. 1st team All-Conference (5th) and All District (7th) accolades boast this freshman's resume. She was able to cap her season with a 14th place finish at the Missouri State Meet where she ran 20:53 for 5k.

Zarra Humphrey, Jr., West Hancock - As West Hancock's number one runner, Humphrey was relied on to be the front runner that she is. A slow start propelled her throughout the season as she got better with every race. She was 5th at both the Tom Oakley and Liberty Invitational's before she placed 4th at both the West Central Conference meet and the Aledo Regional. Humphrey finished her season with a 17th place finish at the Elmwood Sectional running 19:13.

Kate Klott, Jr., Bowling Green - After a slow start to 2017, Klott continued to improve by leaps and bounds late in the season. She was the EMO Conference Runner-up before she won the Missouri District meet on her home course in 19:40. To cap her season the Junior placed 4th overall at the Missouri State Meet running 19:55 for 5k. That achievement marks the 3rd year in a row that she has been able to place in the top 15 at the State Meet. Look for her improve on that to finish her Senior season with a bang in 2018.

Kendall Marks, Sr., QHS - Marks was one of those runners that got better as the season continued. She was 15th at the QND Running Raider before placing 6th at the QHS Tom Oakley Invite. She placed 8th at the Western Big 6 meet and ran under 20 minutes in her final two races placing 17th at the strong Belleville West Regional running 19:41. She finished 76th in the loaded Granite City Sectional to cap her Blue Devil career.

Claudia Nichols, So., Hannibal - Nichols sees herself on this list for the 2nd year in a row. The Pirate Sophomore was a consistent top 5 presence in many of the meets she competed in throughout 2017. She placed 2nd at both the Palmyra Invitational and the Tom Oakley Invitational in Quincy along with being the NCMC Conference Runner-up. 2017 was another strong season for Hannibal's best. Look for Nichols to continue to make a splash in 2018 with a state qualification.

Meredith O'Neal, Jr., South Shelby - One of only two runners on her team, O'Neal leads by example on and off the course. The South Shelby Junior was among the top runners locally in Missouri and in the Tri-State area. The Highland Invitational Champion also placed 2nd overall at the Frank Lemons Invitational in Hannibal and 4th overall at the Palmyra Invite. She was All-Conference placing 6th at Clark County and ended her season with a 10th place finish at the Missouri Districts and 34th overall at the Missouri State Meet in 21:33 for 5k.

Katelyn Robbins, Jr., Liberty - Early season successes were enough to put the Eagle Junior among the area's best, all while suffering an injury that derailed most of her Junior season. Robbins won the PORTA Invitational early in the season and placed 2nd at both the Quincy Running Raider and the Travel Meet in Palmyra. Add in a 3rd place finish at the Rochester Invitational in Early September and the 2015 Runner of the Year belonged on the 1st team. Robbins will look to rebound in 2018 to build on her already impressive HS resume.

Sierra Stewart, Fr., Clark County - Stewart had an impressive freshman campaign. Placing 1st in 5 different meets throughout the season including Keokuk, Palmyra, and the Frank Lemmons Invitational's boosted an impressive resume. She then proceeded to win the CCC Conference meet before placing 4th overall at the Missouri District Meet. Stewart was able to end her freshman season with an All-State finish placing 12th overall at the Missouri State Meet where she ran 20:46 for 5k.

Maya Stovall, Jr., Macomb - The reigning Runner of the Year had another impressive season in 2017. The Bomber Junior had four meet championships including the Canton, Macomb, and Monmouth Invitational's. Stovall was the West Central Conference runner-up and placed 8th at the Aledo Regional. She finished the season placing 6th at the Elmwood Sectional running 18:40 to earn a trip to the IHSA State Meet where she placed 38th in 18:42.

Sylvia Wagner, Fr., Bowling Green - Having a 3rd place team in the state takes a quality 5. Having a solid runner in the middle of your pack is something you need and exactly what the Bobcats had. Wagner was able to solidify herself with 1st Team All-Conference and All-District accolades with top finishes before narrowly missing an All-State finish by placing 29th overall at the Missouri State Meet running 21:18 for 5k.

All-Area Honorable Mention -

Bowling Green- Nichole Bruni, Sr.

Clark County- Madison Kauth, So.

Highland- Makayla Dickerson, Sr.

Liberty- Christen Balzer, Sr., Courtney Riley, Jr., Kaela Wellman, Jr.

Macomb- Halle Evans, So.

Mendon- Katie Conry, Sr.

Palmyra- Lauren Reid, Fr., Lydia Szarka, Fr.

Pittsfield- Chloe Lemons, Fr.

QHS- Valerie Howerton, Jr., Katie Vogler, Sr.

QND- Lindsey Ayo, Jr., Ella Borrowman, Jr.

West Hancock- Allison Morgan, Sr.