Written By: Nick Koetters, Tri State Cross Country Coaches Committee
Runner of the Year – Eli Poe, Fr., Quincy (Sr.) -
In high school boy’s sports, it takes a special athlete to come in as a freshman and make an impact, let alone be a dominant force. Eli Poe was that force. The Quincy High School freshman won 3 local races including the Running Raider Classic and Tom Oakley Invitational. Eli finished in the top 5 in 3 other meets including the Western Big 6 where he finished 5th to help lead the Blue Devils to the team championship. Eli once again would help lead the Devils at the Sectional at Normal Community as they advanced to the State Cross Country meet. Normally it takes a freshman some time to get adjusted to competing at the high school level, take a year or two to get low times and compete at a high level. With the great season that Eli had and the strong start to his high school career, it’s hard to argue that he will not continue to be a staple of cross country for the tri-states for years to come. Because of his consistency and overall resume for the season Eli Poe has been named this year’s Tri-State Cross Country Coaches Boys Runner of the Year for 2024.
Brendan Finnegan - Jr., Bowling Green
Running with 2 former all-area and all-state runners the last two seasons at Bowling Green showed Brendan Finnegan what it took to be great. This year he made that leap forward. An all-area runner last season, and a two-time state qualifier, Brendan continued to improve. Brendan wrapped up a great junior cross country season earning all-state honors by finishing 30th in Class 3 with a run of 17:38. He also set a new PR going under 17 minutes in the 5K with a time of 16:58.29 to finish third in the EMO Conference meet.
Lane Hubbard - Sr., Pleasant Hill
14 races in a cross country season is a heavy load to take on. Lane Hubbard did that and did it very well. Lane finished in the top ten 11 times, winning the St John’s Invitational in mid-September, the Dick Tucker Invitational in mid-October, and the Charger Invitational 5 days after that. Lane ran his PR at regionals completing the 3 mile course in 16:30.8 to take 6th place. Look for Lane for carry this success over to the track this spring.
Justin Kappner - Sr., QHS
Justin Kappner was named an honorable mention for the all area team last year as a junior. The senior Blue Devil runner had only ran under 17 minutes for 3 miles in one race before this season. A special season for the program coincided with a special individual season for Justin as well. Justin ended up running under 17 minutes on six occasions, 5 of those coming at the end of the year when it mattered the most. Just ran a 15:59.4 at Normal Community Sectional to be Quincy’s number three runner and help the Blue Devils advance to state as a team. That PR would drop the next weekend when he would run 15:37.6 at the state meet.
Mason McDaniel - Jr., Clark County
The 2023-24 school year saw a lot success for Mason McDaniel and put him on the stage as one of the top distance runners in Northeast Missouri. Mason was an 4 time all-stater (cross country, 1600, 3200, 4x800) and the Clark County track and field team took 2nd place as a team. How do you improve on that success? Put the area on notice with an even more dominating performance in the fall. Mason finished 6th or better in all 9 of the races he ran in. He won the Cougar Charge at the start of the season and 4 days later won the Palmyra Invitational. In mid October he won the Frank Lemons Invitational and carried that success into the postseason. Mason would repeat as an all-stater this season finishing one spot better in 6th with a time of 17:10.3 for 5K.
David Munger - Sr., Hannibal
Going into his senior season, David Munger had already been a two-time qualifier for Missouri Class 4 state, two-time NCMC all-conference runner, and an all area selection as a junior. But David still had high expectations and wanted to achieve more. David finished in the top 10 in the first six races of the season. He finished with a strong kick at the North Central Missouri Conference meet to take the crown of conference champion in 17:15.84 to win by only 4 seconds. David then punched his third straight trip to state. Wet and muddy conditions did not make for a great state run, but David put together a great career in cross country as a pirate.
Lane Obert - Jr., Liberty
With a name like Obert, you know the kid can run well. Lane Obert has been a fixture on the all-area list so far in his cross country career. Lane made the all-area team as a freshman, sophomore, and now as a junior. Consistent running and high placing has led to that success. 2024 was no different. Lane placed 8th in the Tom Oakley Invitational in early October, was crowned conference champion the following Saturday, took 5th at regionals and then finished in 37th place at Sectionals, missing out on a return trip to state. Expect to see Lane back on this list next season and pushing for that top spot.
Charles Ray - Fr., QHS
On a team that has a great running tradition and lots of talent to choose from, it is hard for a freshman to see a chance to run in varsity races a lot of times. It becomes even more impressive that a freshman like Charles Ray to shine in a situation like that. The freshman Blue Devil finished in the top 10 in 6 races this past season. Running in the 5th position most of the season for the Devil’s squad, Charles saved his best for the end. Charles finished as the number 4 runner for Quincy at Sectionals pushing them to a birth in the State meet. He then finished as Quincy’s number two runner at the state meet running a PR of 15:39.3 for 3 miles. The future is full of possibilities for this young man.
Cooper Seation - Jr., South Shelby
Cooper Seation has seen steady development in his first 3 years as a distance runner. After being named an all-area honorable mention last year Cooper took a big step forward to make the all-area team this season. Cooper achieved 5 top ten finishes on the season, earned second team all-conference in the Clarence Cannon, and placed 9th at districts to help South Shelby be crowned District champions. Cooper came through at state as well helping the Cardinals secure the first trophy in program history taking 3rd place over 4th by 3 points.
Gavin Slee - Jr., QHS
Gavin Slee is the model of progression you want to see from runners over the course of their career. As a freshman he made the honorable mention list after being a varsity runner, running under the 17 minute mark for 3 miles once, and showing he could be a force in the area. Gavin then made the all area team as a sophomore running a PR of 16:15 at the end of the season. Entering his junior year, Gavin looked to continue that trend. Gavin finished with 4 top ten finishes and a PR set at the state meet with a time of 15:56.3.
Reed Steiner - Sr., QHS
Reed Steiner makes his second appearance on the all area team after being named in 2023. The Quincy High senior was a leader for a Quincy cross country team that won a Western Big 6 title and went to state as a team. From an individual standpoint, Reed did quite well winning the Liberty Invitational, coming in second at the Tom Oakley Invitational, the Liberty Travel Meet, and the Runnin Raider Classic. Overall Reed ended up placing in the top ten in 6 meets and running a PR of 15:49.4 for 3 miles.
Noah Wilt - Sr., South Shelby
Noah Wilt did not have a whole lot else to accomplish in his cross country career coming into his senior year. A 3 time state qualifier with 1 all state honor and two other times in the top 40. A 3 time all conference runner with a conference champion title from 2022. Pretty good career. The one thing missing from a competitor’s viewpoint was the team achievements. That was achieved this year. Noah still did the individual thing; all conference, 7 top ten finishes, all state in 17th place. But that crowning achievement was that Noah led his South Shelby cross country team to the program’s first state trophy. South Shelby finished in third place to cement Noah’s legacy as a great runner but a great leader as well for South Shelby.
All-Area Honorable Mention
Bowling Green - Keegan Smith, Jr., Nathan Schellman, Jr.
Hannibal - Rhett Hayes,So., Zach Locke, So.
Illini West - Chase Mudd, Jr., Bryar Rodeffer, Fr.
Liberty - Blaine Deege, So., Dillon Hocking, Jr.
Macomb - Kyler Glaue, Sr., Alex Simmons, So.David Simmons, Sr
Mark Twain - Hutson Browning, Fr.
Marion County - Levi Wright,Sr., Porter Britt, Sr.
Palmyra - Wesley Summers, Jr.
Quincy Notre Dame - Joseph Warning, Sr., Oliver Moore, Sr., Devin Bradfield, Jr., Austin Shull,Jr.
South Shelby - Beau Mason, So