2023 Boys All Area

Ben Chance is your 2023 Boys Tri-State Runner of the Year!

2023 Tri-State Cross Country Coaches Boys All-Area Team

Tri State Cross Country Coaches Committee 

Runner of the Year – Ben Chance, Sr., Bowling Green -

The 2022-2023 school year was one to remember for Ben Chance.  Ben was the EMO conference champion in cross country, then took second place in districts and state, losing to national power Connor Burns of Southern Boone.  In the spring, he was a part of a historic track season in which he became a 2-time all-stater in the 1600 and 3200 while helping his team win the school’s first track state championship.  With all of that on his resume, how could things get any better for him?  In the fall cross country season Ben put up one of the most dominant cross country seasons this area has ever seen.  Ben started off the year with high profile meets at Memphis Twilight, Gans Creek Classic and Chile Pepper Festival and put up a great show.  Then Ben went on a winning streak winning the final 6 meets of the year.  That streak ultimately culminated in Ben becoming the first individual cross country state champion in Bowling Green history.  Ben took the lead about a mile into the race and never surrendered it the rest of the way.  As Ben neared the finish line, he was able to finally relax a little and realize his hard work and dedication was going to become a reality.  That realization was noticeable by the smile that was on his face for the final stretch of race to the finish line.  Ben crossed the finish line in his last race as a Bowling Green Bobcat with a school record 15:25 and the program's first individual cross country state champion. Because of the historic year and career that Ben put together, Ben Chance has been named this year’s Tri-State Cross Country Coaches Boys Runner of the Year for 2023. 

First Team All- Area - (Alphabetical Order)

Jack Dunseth, So., Macomb

Brendan Finnigan, So., Bowling Green

Elija Henningfeld, Jr., Bowling Green  

Tommy Hess, Sr. QHS 

David Munger, Jr., Hannibal

Lane Obert, So., Liberty  

Parker Quinlan, Sr., West Hancock  

Gavin Slee, So., QHS 

Reed Steiner, Jr., QHS

Joe Warning, Jr., QND  

All-Area Honorable Mention -

Bowling Green – Keegan Smith, So.

Hannibal – Zach Locke, Fr., Sam Schisler, Sr.

Highland - Ethan Clow, Sr.

Illini West- Chase Mudd, So.

Marion County – Porter Britt, Jr., Levi Wright, Jr.

Palmyra – Jacob Barnes, Sr.., Carter Harper, Sr.

Pittsfield- Vinny Olson, Sr., Brayden Veile, Sr.

QHS-  Justin Kappner, Jr., Cameron MacDonough, Jr.

South Shelby - Cooper Seaton, Jr., Noah Wilt, Jr.

West Hancock - Dominick Quinlan, Sr.