Written By: Nick Koetters, Tri State Cross Country Coaches Committee
Runner of the Year – Peyton Kuhl, Fr., Quincy (Sr.)–
Coming into high school as a freshman looking to make your mark, get adjusted to new things, and trying to get established in a sport is difficult to do. A freshmen girl had not been named Tri-State Cross Country Coaches Runner of the Year since the inaugural year of 2015. But the tremendous season that Quincy High School freshman Peyton Kuhl put together more then earned her the right of being named the 2024 Tri-State Cross Country Coaches Runner of the Year. Peyton started the season strong with a win at the Jacksonville Kickoff Meet in early September running 18:31 and never looked back. Along the way Peyton would win all but 2 regular season meets, including the Running Raider, Tom Oakley and Liberty Invitationals. What might be even more impressive for Peyton’s season is how much she improved as the season went on. For a lot of athletes, a season will extend and the body gets fatigued and sometimes the time just stays the same. Peyton cut off almost 2 and a half minutes between a meet in mid-September and the state meet in November. Peyton earned the accolades of Western Big 6 champ by going 18:41.3 at Galesburg and Regional champ going 18:11.97 at Quincy. An 18:02.51 at the Normal Community Sectional punched her ticket to the state meet. At the famed Detweiller Park, Peyton ran a PR of 17:36.9 to place 36th overall and the 3rd fastest freshman in the field. For her efforts, Peyton Kuhl has been named this year’s Tri-State Cross Country Coaches Girls Runner of the Year for 2024.
First Team All- Area - (Alphabetical Order)
Emily Arens - Sr., QHS
Emily Arens finished off her Quincy High cross country career helping the team tie for 1st place at the Western Big 6 Conference meet and advance to Sectionals as well. Earning honorable mention on the all-area team last season, Emily took a step forward to earn all-area honors by finishing in the top 10 in 3 separate races. Emily ran a PR of 20:13.1 at Sectionals for her final high school cross country race, a good way to end a career.
Hannah Karre -Sr., Keokuk
In her second year of running cross country, Hannah Karre put together a nice senior season. Hannah placed in the top ten in 4 of the 5 regular season meets she raced in. Hannah eventually earned a spot in the Iowa State Championships and ran a time of 20:28.2 for 5K to finish her career. Hannah is the first Keokuk runner to be named to the all-area team.
Bradi Keller - So., Monroe City
It is hard enough trying to be a top notch distance runner in your area and state, add on being a two-sport athlete and still being one of the best. Bradi Keller only finished outside the top 10 twice this year and that was at the always loaded Bowling Green Invitational and the Class 2 State Meet. For a second year in a row, Bradi earned all-area honors and all-state honors by finishing 16th with a time of 20:54.7. Bradi juggles training and racing while also being a starting middle infielder for the Monroe City softball team.
Samentha Koper - Fr., South Shelby
Samentha Koper came into high school cross country with large expectations after a good middle school career and she matched them. Finishing in the top 10 9 times Samantha put herself on the map as a force to be reckoned with in the future. Those finishes included a 3rd place at the Clarence Cannon Conference meet and 4th place at Centralia Invitational. Samantha made her way to state and ended up running 21:24.8 in 5K to miss all-state honors by two spots, finishing in 32nd place.
Amick McClelland - Sr., QHS
Amick McClelland started her cross country career on a great note earning all-area honors as a freshman. A number of injuries and setbacks cost Amick from showing her true potential the next two years. With health on her side finally, Amick put together a fantastic season. Amick finished in the top ten on 7 occasions. In many meets, the only other person beating her was her own teammate. Amick earned all-conference finishing 3rd in the Western Big 6 with a time of 18:58. Amick ran a PR at sectionals in 18:52.7 for 3 miles, this time qualified her for 3A State Championships and ranks her as the 8th fastest time in Quincy High School history.
Abby McDonough - Fr., QHS
Abby McDonough came into her freshman year and showed great consistency on the course. Abby had 5 top ten finishes for the Blue Devils, including a 3rd place finish at the Tom Oakley Invitational that helped Quincy score a perfect score of 15 as a team. Abby set a PR of 20:10.2 for 3 miles, a time we can hope to watch her break again and again over the next three years.
Grace Munger - So., Hannibal
Two years in cross country, two years being named to the all-area team. Grace Munger continued a nice start to her career by running as a solid number 2 for a Hannibal squad that repeated as North Central Missouri Conference champions. Grace was also able to finish 22nd in districts with a time of 22:04.84 and secure a second straight trip to the state meet.
Briella Neisen - So., Liberty
After making the all-area team as a freshman, Briella Neisen came out with a strong sophomore campaign as well. Briella recorded 3 top finishes in a reduced amount of races. She captured 2nd in the West Central Conference meet, 6th at the Tom Oakley and 7th at the Running Raider Classic. Briella showed at the end of the season what she is capable of running a seasons best of 20:10.
Jordan Puterbaugh - Jr., Hannibal
An all-area selection last season, Jordan Puterbaugh became the leader of the Hannibal cross country team with standout Jocelyn Dorsey graduating. Jordan led by example for her team finishing in the top ten 5 times, earning runner up in the North Central Missouri Conference race with a 5K time of 21:39.59, and being a state qualifier. Following her leadership, the Hannibal girl’s team repeated as conference champions. Jordan will look to finish a strong career next season as a senior.
Anna Russell - Fr., Monroe City
Anna Russell stepped into a Monroe City squad that has had growing success over the past few years, and gave them an extra boast to help them keep that growth going. Individually Anna finished with 7 top ten finishes including 2 wins. Anna won the Cougar Charge and 4 days later the Palmyra Invitational. Anna saved her best for last as she ran a PR of 21:09.6 at the Class 2 state meet to finish in 24th place earning all-state honors. Anna’s contribution helped Monroe City win their second consecutive Clarence Cannon Conference title and place 5th as a team at the state meet. Expect to see much more of Anna’s name for the next 3 years.
Meghan Spears - Jr., QND
Meghan Spears put together a cross country season to be proud of. After earning all-area honors as a freshman, Meghan bounced back in her junior year to earn the honor again. Meghan finished in the top 10 in 7 of her 12 races. A 3rd place finish at the West Central Conference meet and a PR of 20:17.8 for 10th place at the Rushville Regional were top highlights for the season.
Elcee Waters - Fr., QND
The freshman Raider had a great first season in cross country for Quincy Notre Dame. Elcee Waters finished in the top 5 of every local race she competed in. Running 20:26.1, Elcee won the West Central Conference meet and earlier in the season won the Macomb Early Bird meet. Elcee ended the season running a fantastic time of 19:11.24 for 3 miles at sectionals to finish in 25th place and barely miss out on a trip to state. With a freshman year like that, you can bet Elcee will be extra motivated to come back and improve as a sophomore.
All-Area Honorable Mention
Bowling Green - Harley Haywood, So. Addison Lilley, Jr., McKinley Vanhooser, Fr.
Hannibal - Ava Bonvillian, Sr., Kendall Kurz, So., Ella Bonvillian, Fr.,
Keokuk - Baylee Billings, So., Allison Ames, Sr.
Liberty - Sophia Schell, Fr., Bailey Heller, So.
Macomb - Ava Weaver, So., Lorna Brown, Sr.
Marion County - Ella Dougherty, Fr.
Mark Twain - Ava Roberts, Jr., Sydney Miller, Sr., Lucy Norton, Jr.,
Palmyra - Delania Meyer, Fr., Audrey Reid, Fr.
Pittsfield - Kelsey Freesmeyer, Jr., Shelby Patterson, Jr., Michelle Dejaynes, Sr., Hannah Williams, Sr.
Quincy High School - Amelia Knapp, So.
Quincy Notre Dame - Ari Waters, Jr