Four Callaway schools to showcase 13 runners at state cross country meet

It will be a baker's dozen for Callaway County at the 2015 MSHSAA boys' and girls' state cross country championships this weekend.

Thirteen Callaway runners - eight from New Bloomfield, three from Fulton and one apiece from North Callaway and South Callaway - will compete at the state meet Saturday at Oak Hills Golf Center in Jefferson City. New Bloomfield not only qualified three individual runners on the boys' side, but advanced as a team.

Here is a breakdown and preview of the state qualifiers from each school; district places and times are in parentheses:

CLASS 1

NEW BLOOMFIELD

Qualifiers are senior Charlie Schattgen, sophomore Payton Culwell, freshman Robert Morningstar, senior Nicolas Granich and sophomore Kyle Emerson in the boys' division, and sophomore Kassi O'Dowd, freshman Macy Puckett and junior Kate Baxter in the girls' division.

"To get this amount of kids to qualify for the state meet is simply outstanding," New Bloomfield head coach Jacob White said. "It's a first in the history of this program ... What this group of kids has done for the program is great.

"This boosts the program in the right direction and sets the bar for kids in the future. ... It all came together this year and this season has truly been a great accomplishment for all of these Wildcat runners."

Charlie Schattgen (first place, 17 minutes, 50.81 seconds)

"Charlie needs to run the same type of race he ran at districts," White said. "His (time) he posted to be the district champion would earn him all-state honors if he were to repeat that again on Saturday.

"Charlie manages his pace well and is a seasoned runner with plenty of miles under his feet. If he gets through the first two miles on a good pace, he will finish strong and run a great time."

Payton Culwell (fifth, 18:49.94), Robert Morningstar (ninth, 19:06.99), and Kyle Emerson (18th, 20:02.10)

"Payton, Kyle and Robert are all young runners and will need to get out fast, and post fast mile splits in order to run a time worthy of all-state honors," White said. "These three are totally capable of this and are learning more about what they are truly capable of each race."

Nicolas Granich (16th, 19:29.43)

"Nicolas has been to the state race before and his strategy is to get out fast and hang on," White said. "If he takes this strategy and gets through the first two miles, there's no doubt he will have a great grace."

Kassi O'Dowd (fourth, 23:16.41) and Macy Puckett (sixth, 23:32.26)

"Kassi and Macy both just started this season and are also young runners," White said. "They tend to work together for the first mile. The second mile is key for them. They need to post a solid second mile and then empty the tanks in the last mile.

"Kassi is posting great times already and Macy is a few seconds behind her. They both can be in contention for all-state honors with a solid race on Saturday."

Kate Baxter (11th, 24:59.95)

"Kate Baxter is improving every race; at districts there was a two-minute improvement," White said. "Every race she learns more about herself and how the pacing works. I have no doubt she will again PR (personal record) on Saturday.

"Her third mile is usually her slowest. If she paces herself correctly, she will put herself in the front half of the state pack for sure."

The Class 1 girls' race is scheduled for 9 a.m., with the boys' race set for 10:15.

• • • • •

CLASS 3

FULTON

Qualifiers are sophomores Mason Gaines and Nathan Quick, and junior Tanner Steffen.

"This year is really special because this is the first time in my six years that we will have three of our kids running in the state meet this weekend," Fulton head coach George Yates said. "(Assistant) Coach (Janelle) Harrison and I felt pretty good about Mason getting back to the big race, we knew Tanner was ranked well and he had a pretty good shot, but Nathan was the one on the bubble this year and the young man pulled it off.

"These boys deserve these spots at the state race very much. The competition at districts was tough and all three of these guys ran their hearts out and earned a spot on the starting line this Saturday."

Mason Gaines (fifth, 17:30.30), Tanner Steffen (sixth, 17:37.61), and Nathan Quick (13th, 17:49.99)

"All three of these guys race very smart," Yates said. "They know how to start off the line and know where they need to be time-wise at each mile. They typically know who they are going to have to race at each meet too.

"If anything, they need to focus on their own race and not get too caught up in the surge off the start line. A race at this level can get really adrenaline-heavy and some kids fall victim to wanting to win the race at mile one, only to fall back in the pack at mile(s) two and three. They just need to run the races they have been fine-tuning all season with Coach Harrison and enjoy the moment."

The Class 3 boys' race starts at 11:25 a.m.

• • • • •

CLASS 2

NORTH CALLAWAY

Qualifying is sophomore Reyna Schmauch.

"Reyna qualifying for state means so much to me personally," North Callaway head coach Chad Craghead said. "Because I worked with her the past two years in track, I knew she would be a special athlete. Her success thus far is of no surprise to me. She bought in from day one what we wanted to do this year and has not questioned anything I have asked of her.

"She had a great summer training and all her hard work has paid off. ... She has run so well when faced with big numbers of great runners and I know she is going to do great at state. She is running the best she has run all year and she is ready for the test."

Reyna Schmauch (second, 20:10.67)

"Reyna needs to go out with the lead pack," Craghead said. "Too many times in a big race with lots of runners, that pack slips away and it's hard to catch back up. We have been in two big races this year with notable talent and Reyna ran well both times. Running with great runners makes for fast times and we hope to have a fast time.

"No matter what the outcome is on Saturday, I am so proud with how this girl has performed this year."

SOUTH CALLAWAY

Qualifying is sophomore Adrian Mann.

"I am beyond thrilled to see Adrian qualify for state this year," South Callaway head coach Stephanie Turner said. "She has competed at a level that has allowed her to medal in every race she has run in this season. Adrian is the type of athlete that is never satisfied, but instead is always looking for ways she can improve.

"... She is an athlete that any coach loves to have because she takes in all advice and strategies, and begins working on them immediately. She spends time outside of practice breaking down times and creating new goals in hopes of cutting her race time the next week. Adrian's hard work and dedication this season has been top-notch and being a state qualifier is a well-earned honor."

Adrian Mann (fifth, 22:08.92)

"This is her first time seeing and participating in the state meet," Turner said. "It is a completely different level of intensity than any of the other regular-season meets and can really make a runner nervous. Adrian will need to stay calm and not go out too fast. I feel this is the biggest mistake runners make in state competition, then they pay for it the rest of the race.

"She is excellent at pacing herself and will make it a goal to continue to focus on that. She will pick other runners off the rest of the race as they hit the wall. She was able to run the state course earlier this season in the Capital City Challenge and loves running on that course."

The Class 2 girls' race begins at 9:40 a.m.