Written by Jared Schmidt - Tri State Cross Country Coaches Committee Member
Runner of the Year - Anna Schuering, Jr. – Quincy (Sr.)
Winning a single individual race was a big goal for the Fall of 2020 for Anna Schuering. The Quincy Blue Devil Junior had never been able to cross the line first coming into her junior season. Thankfully for Anna, the cancelled track season allowed her more time to focus and prepare to reach that goal in the fall.
In the first race of the season, Anna was able to reach her main goal when she won the Quincy vs. Galesburg Dual at Bob Mays Park in Quincy. After that race, her goals changed quickly. "At the beginning of the season I wanted to see her win a race, something she hadn't done in Cross Country. As the season progressed, our plan changed into trying to go undefeated and win a Western Big Six Conference Championship” said Quincy Head Coach Matt McClelland. Anna took the new plan in stride and continued to execute.
Anna continued to impress as the season unfolded. She swept all the local invitationals with wins at QND’s Running Raider in 19:42, the Tom Oakley Invitational in 18:20, and the Liberty Invitational in 18:14, all for 3 miles. In fact, she went undefeated during the Blue Devils regular season, including the Western Big 6 individual championship in 17:56 for 3 miles at the Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, IL. On that day the Blue Devil women also won the team championship, checking off yet another goal.
Riding her hot streak into the postseason, she did not disappoint. Placing 5th overall at the 3A Granite City Regional running 17:48 for 3 miles allowed Schuering to advance to the Normal Sectional. There, she would place 6th overall in a time of 18:04. Had Illinois been able to run a State Championship meet, Anna Schuering would have been an individual qualifier in the fall of 2020. As a consolation prize, Anna was invited to run at the Shazam Championship, an event put on the weekend following the sectional events as a pseudo IHSA State meet for Illinois athletes. There, Anna ran 19:12 for 5k and placed 33rd overall.
So what does next season hold for Anna Schuering? Coach Matt McClelland believes there is a lot ahead. "Looking ahead, Anna has some big goals in Track this spring. Beyond that, I would love to see her get the chance to compete at the IHSA State Cross Country Championship at Detweiller Park next season. She has earned the right to be mentioned with the best names in the state” said McClelland.
For her efforts on the course in the fall of 2020, Anna Schuering has been named this year’s Tri-State Cross Country Coaches Girls Runner of the Year.
First Team All- Area - (Alphabetical Order)
Olivia Bishop, Sr., Macomb – There is no doubt that Bishop is one of the top area runners. The Bombers consistent #1 won 6 of the 11 meets that she raced, one of the biggest being the West Central Conference Championship. Bishop was 7th at QND and placed 3rd overall at the Liberty Regional to advance to the Elmwood Sectional. At Elmwood, Bishop placed 21st overall running 20:15 for 3 miles, a place that would have advanced her to the IHSA Championships had it been run.
Grace Buschling, Jr., Clark County – In a season that had a slow start due to COVID-19 quarantine, the Clark County Junior added to her already decorated resume. She was 3rd overall at the Clarence Cannon Conference meet before winning her 2nd straight Missouri District meet. To finish off her 2020 campaign Buschling placed 4th overall at the Missouri Class 2 State Championships, running an impressive 20:18 for 5k.
Khyliegh Diggs, Jr., Macomb - Diggs has yet another solid season for the Bombers in 2020. Placing 2nd at the Macomb Invite to her teammate was just one of the highlights. Diggs was 3rd overall at the West Central Conference Meet running 22:42 for All-Conference honors. She finished her season by placing 8th at the Liberty Regional to advance to the Elmwood Sectional where she would finish 45th overall running 21:02 for 3 miles.
Rachel Klott, Fr., Bowling Green – As sister to multiple time Tri-State 1st teamer Kate Klott, you can bet following in her footsteps is not something Rachel likes to hear about. However, the younger Klott may just be on her way to writing her own page in Bowling Green cross country history. A strong freshman campaign included finishing the season as the Bobcats #1 runner. She was 7th overall at the Bobcats conference meet running 22:18 for 5k before finishing 15th overall to finish her 2020 season at the Missouri District meet running 21:59 for 5k.
Alexandria Meyers, So., QHS – Meyers was a vital part of the Devils top 5 punch during the 2020 season, placing 2nd at the QND Invite and 5th overall at the QHS Tom Oakley meet. A mid-season COVID quarantine could have derailed her season, but Meyers stepped up and trained by herself during that two week time. Being cleared to run at the Western Big 6 Conference meet 3 hours before the start, Meyers stepped up huge for the Devils, running 19:05 for 6th overall and All-Conference Honors.
Olivia Schuering, Fr., QHS – Reliability was the name of the game for the youngest Schuering in 2020. Never finishing outside the top 5 in any meet she ran in until reaching the 3A Granite City Regional, Olivia was nothing but consistent. Finishing 3rd at the QHS Tom Oakley Invite and 2nd at the Liberty Invite were just some of her local highlights. However, her last races were her best. She ran 18:55 at the WB6 Conference meet to place 3rd overall and secure her 1st All-Conference honors. She then went on to run 18:59 at the Granite City Regional to place 16th overall before finishing 47th at the 3A Normal Sectional.
Laruin Sheputis, Fr., Palmyra – You would not be able to tell by Laruin’s 2020 season that she is only a freshman. Although partially sidelined by injuries late in the season, Sheputis was able to rattle off a strong finish to her inaugural High School campaign. She was 6th at the Panthers conference meet on their home course in a time of 23:14 before she placed 8th at the Bowling Green District meet in a time of 22:40 to help the Panthers secure their trip to the State Championships. In a strong run at the Missouri State Championships, Laruin was able to run 23:02 for 5k and place 38th overall.
Delaney Straus, Jr., Marion County – The reigning Tri-State Runner of the Year had another stellar season in 2020. Although she was not able to cross the river and battle the Illinois contingent this fall, her results spoke for themselves. Straus had meet victories at Mexico, Bowling Green, and Wellsville. She also won the District meet in 20:19 before placing 3rd overall at the Missouri State Championships with a time of 20:40 for 5k. Straus has now been named to the 1st team her entire high school career. Don’t look for that trend to stop in 2021.
Reese Terstriep, So., QHS – After transferring across town from QND, one would have thought this may have been a transition year for Terstriep. That was not the case for the sophomore, and now 2-time 1st teamer. Reese was 4th at the QND Invite, 4th at the QHS Tom Oakley, and 3rd overall at Liberty. She ran 20:04 at the Western Big 6 conference meet to place in order to help the Lady Devils secure the team victory before placing 27th at the Granite City Regional and 40th at the Normal Sectional running 19:42 for 3 miles.
Emma Whitaker, Fr., Illini West – A mid-season injury didn’t stop Emma Whitaker from accomplishing a lot late in the 2020 season. The Chargers freshman missed multiple weeks of training before she was able to battle back and finish strong. Her strong finish included a 2nd place overall finish at the West Central Conference meet earning All-Conference honors, but that was just the start. Emma went on to place 6th overall at the Liberty regional running 21:03 to advance the Elmwood sectional where she would run 21:06 for 3 miles for 47th overall. There’s no doubt that Emma gained a lot of experience in her first high school season and will be a runner to watch in 2021.
Emmalee Williams, Jr., Monroe City – Williams had a banner year for the Panthers in 2020. Medaling in every meet she raced in, Williams will be the one others look to follow in the Monroe City program. Top 5 finishes at the Centralia Invite and Bowling Green Invite were just the start for Emmalee. The finale included a 4th place overall finish at the Clarence Cannon Conference Meet, before she placed 3rd at the Missouri District meet running 21:08 for 5k. However, her crowning achievement for 2020 was placing 12th overall at the Missouri Class 2 State Championships running 21:09 for 5k giving her the first All-State medal in Monroe City cross country history!
All-Area Honorable Mention -
Bowling Green- Bailee Kent, Jr., Megan McMillen, Jr.
Clark County- Cady St. Clair, So
Illini West – Katelyn Dennis, Jr.
Liberty- Arianna Neisen, Fr., Larissa Neisen, Jr., Grace Schell, So.
Macomb- Sylviz Barclay, Sr.
Marion County- Olivia Wood, So.
Mark Twain- Lauren Booth, So., Matera Ellis, So., Cynthia Resor, Fr.
Mendon- Elizabeth Adams, Jr.
Monroe City – Ella Hays, Fr., Lauren Smith, Sr.
Palmyra- Aly Noland, So., Bella Perkins, Sr.
QHS- Jade Schneider, Sr.
QND- Teresa Drotar, Jr., Abigail Genenbacher Fr.
West Hancock – Jaley Huffman, Sr.