Cross country primer: Wealth of returnees boost expectations for Hannibal, Monroe City girls

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Before answering the obvious question, Hannibal cross country coach Jim Coniglio paused.

Then he took a deep breath.

Then he smiled.

“Yes, I’m optimistic,” he said. “I’m 100 percent optimistic.”

Coniglio’s enthusiasm is easy to understand.

The Hannibal girls return all but one of their top seven runners from a team that finished 13th in last year’s Class 4 state meet. Barring any unforeseen developments, the Pirates should be an elite club.

How elite?

Coniglio feels a podium finish at state is within the realm of possibility. That kind of expectation can show itself when there’s a returning list like senior Ava Bonvillian, juniors Jordan Peuterbaugh, Piper Berhorst and Matti Harvey, plus sophomores Mikayla Harsell and Grace Munger. The only name missing from the 2023 lineup is Jocelyn Dorsey, who is now a freshman member of the Truman State squad.

“There’s a bull’s-eye on our back and we know it,” Coniglio said. “I just want the girls to basically do what I know they can. The key is preparation. Complacency has never been a problem — these girls will push each other.”

All of the Hannibal girls ran personal bests in last year’s state meet on the Gans Creek course in Columbia.

“Near the end of last year the girls really started reaching their potential,” Coniglio said. “So much of running is a mindset.”

Hannibal will also be trying to defend its North Central Missouri Conference title. Coniglio expects the stiffest challenges to come from Kirksville, Mexico and Fulton.

“This is my fourth year of coaching this group, and I feel like they are my girls … and I know my expectations, and I’m excited,” Coniglio said.

He’s optimistic, too. One hundred percent optimistic.

High expectations in Monroe City, too

MONROE CITY, Mo. — There’s another Missouri girls program returning six of its top seven runners — Monroe City at the Class 2 level.

“I never envisioned the program developing as quickly as it has,” Monroe City coach Laura Mulvaney said. 

Mulvaney was speaking in terms of both depth and talent for a Panthers program that has been around for just six years but has a chance, she believes, for a top-three finish at state.

“It shows what kind of athletes we have,” Mulvaney said.

Bradi Keller, only a sophomore, returns as Monroe City’s No. 1 runner. She finished 14th at state as a freshman and splits her time in the fall with the Monroe City softball team.

The other returning veterans are seniors Avery Johnson and Grace Foss, junior Marissa Hays and sophomores Grace Thorne and Emily Spalding.

“This team has such a strong mentality,” Mulvaney said. ” They’re always supporting one another and constantly striving to improve.”

QHS boys, girls should both be strong

QUINCY — The Quincy High School cross country program might boast the most balanced program in the region. Both the boys and girls teams lost their No. 1 runners, but have a solid nucleus back.

“Developing depth will be our most important thing,” QHS coach Eric Davis said. “Our kids are motivated.”

The Quincy girls will try to replace the loss of Olivia Scheuring, who finished 130th in the 2023 Class 3A state meet and earned Tri-State Cross Country Coaches Association Runner of the Year honors. 

The Blue Devils’ No. 1 boys runner in 2023, Tommy Hess, is now a member of the Quincy University team. He was a first-team all-area selection.   

Junior Gavin Slee figures to set the pace for the QHS boys, joined by returning seniors Reid Steiner, Justin Kappner and Camer MacDonough, plus junior Lane Steinkamp.

The Quincy boys finished third in last fall’s Western Big 6 Conference meet behind Geneseo and Sterling. Davis expects a similar battle for this year’s league championship.

“We should be in the hunt again,” he said.

The QHS girls finished sixth in last year’s WB6 competition, but boast a solid corps of returnees in seniors Amick McClelland and Emily Arens, junior Elliana Pitcher and sophomore Amelia Knapp.

Don’t overlook these boys

Hannibal’s boys team might be the sleeper team in the area. Senior David Munger and sophomore Zach Locke competed a year ago at state and coach Jim Coniglio thinks they may have company. “I hope the boys can duplicate what the (13th-place Hannibal) girls did last year. They know what they need to do. We’re getting there. It’s a process.” Watch for potential breakout seasons from senior Josh Jaworski, juniors Jonas Thompson, Tanner Allen, Gage Akright and sophomores Camden Gheens, Landen Begley and Rhett Hayes.

South Shelby is a boys team to keep an eye on at the Class 2 level in Missouri. The Cardinals molded a seventh-place state finish a year ago and return seniors Noah Wilt and Titus Moore, junior Cooper Seaton and sophomores Beau Mason, Schyler Mason, Maxwell Mason and Caden Stevenson … Marion County seniors Porter Britt and Levi Wright are seeking a second straight Class 1 state berth … Senior Sam Northcutt is a returning Class 2 state qualifier at Mark Twain … Monroe City is counting heavily on sophomore Brady McNeil and junior Alston Richards, who both qualified for the Class 2 state meet a year ago … In Illinois, Liberty junior Lane Obert (Class 1A) is hoping to earn a return ticket to the state meet at Detweiler Park near Peoria … Quincy Notre Dame senior Joe Warning and Illini West junior Chase Mudd look to have excellent shots at reaching Peoria, too. 

Keep an eye on these girls

Mark Twain was 14th in last year’s Class 2 state meet and returns senior Sydney Miller, junior Lucille Norton and sophomores Jenna Ross and Ava Roberts … Pittsfield has three solid returnees in senior Michelle DeJaynes, junior Avery Wyatt and sophomore Kelsey Freeman … Two of the strongest sophomores in the area will come from Liberty in Bailey Heller and Briella Nielsen … South Shelby senior Abigail Osborn is another runner to watch in Northeast Missouri.