Silver no more Bill Hester May 31, 2011

Bill Hester profiles Lauren Waterbury who stood atop the medal stand 5 times on Saturday at the Class 3-4 state championship track and field meet.

A quiet one Bill Hester May 24, 2011

Bill Hester is back with a closer look at one of the top freshman in the US who also managed to defeat an 11 time state champion this weeked. Learn more about this athlete from California High School.

Titan Tradition Bill Hester May 05, 2011

Can a tradition be established in seven short years? It seems like the Lee's Summit West girls track and cross country teams are answering that question in a positive.

Missouri Athletes Dreaming Golden Stripes Bill Hester Apr 28, 2011

Westminster Christian Academy senior Daniel Everett passed by Icahn Stadium on a recent trip to Columbia University, where he will be attending college in the fall. Everett and two other St. Louis area track standouts hope to be performing inside the 12,000-seat stadium at Randall's  Island in New York City on June 11.

Eureka girls qualify for state meet Bill Hester Oct 31, 2007

Wildcats finish third at loaded Class 4 sectional

Eureka girls cross country coach Kally Fischer had a simple goal for her squad Saturday at the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 4 Sectional Meet at Jefferson Barracks Park.

"Last week, our goal was to make it through district and this week was to make it through sectional," Fischer said. "We were able to do that and now we will have to re-evaluate our goals."

The Wildcats finished third as a team in a loaded sectional to qualify to Saturday's state meet in Jefferson City for the fifth year in a row. Eureka has finished in the top 10 the past four years, including second place finishes in 2004 and 2005.

There were plenty of positive signs for Eureka at the sectional meet....

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Lindbergh struggles with fast pace, but still earns state berth Bill Hester Oct 31, 2007

The wait was a long one for Lindbergh girls cross country coach Tom Gose and his team as the numbers were being tallied at the end of the Class 4 sectional at Jefferson Barracks Park Saturday.

"There was such a long delay," Gose said. "Jim Wilder, who coaches the girls with me, had watched the Lafayette girls come in and felt that we made it. But neither one of us were sure."

But when the numbers were finally tallied Lindbergh had its fourth place finish and another trip to the state meet Saturday in Jefferson City as the top four teams and top 30 individuals qualified for state from each of four sections....

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Champion Bonte sets pace as Summit moves on to state meet Bill Hester Oct 31, 2007

Rockwood Summit's Amiee BonteThere were a lot of smiles and a tad of disappointment for the Rockwood Summit girls cross country team at the conclusion of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 4 sectional meet Saturday at Jefferson Barracks Park.

The big highlight was another impressive showing by senior Aimee Bonte, who is closing out her high school career in fashion. Bonte, the individual sectional champion, won the district title the week before and in both instances finished ahead of defending state champion Hilary Orf.

But even Bonte's effort was not quite good enough to give the Falcons a team title....

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Hancock doubles its pleasure at sectionals Bill Hester Oct 31, 2007

Hancock senior Quinton Simms is making a return trip to the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 2 cross country meet in Jefferson City Saturday.

And this time, he is taking a new friend with him.

Simms and junior Alex Eddings each finished in the top 10 at the Class 2 District 1 Meet last weekend at Jefferson Barracks Park to stamp their ticket to the state capitol. The top two teams and top 15 individuals in Class 2 qualify directly from the district meet to the state meet....

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Principia girls finish second at districts Bill Hester Oct 31, 2007

The Principia girls cross country team has been a perennial bridesmaid to Herculaneum in recent years.

That was the case again Saturday at the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 2, District 1 meet at Jefferson Barracks Park.

But, a bridesmaid in districts is not that bad of a thing, as the top two teams, along with the top 15 individuals, advance directly to the state meet, which will be Saturday in Jefferson City.

Herculaneum's girls were dominant once again winning the event with 23 points. The Blackcats had four of the top five finishers, including individual champion Megan Arnold....

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Pair of Hawks earn return trip to Jefferson City Bill Hester Oct 29, 2007

ST. LOUIS -- Kelly junior Tara Johnson had one goal in mind at Saturday's Class 2 District 1 cross country meet at Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis County.

"I just wanted to break the Herculaneum pack," Johnson said. "Last year they had all of their runners finish in the front."

Johnson realized if she was able to accomplish that goal that she would be headed back to Jefferson City next weekend.

Principia senior Jackie West and Johnson both finished ahead of the fifth Herky runner. Johnson was sixth overall as she finished in 22 minutes, 17 seconds.

"This is a very, very tough course," said Johnson....

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Angels nip Markers by one point Bill Hester Oct 03, 2007

\"St.St. Joe's Bleyer shaves more than minute off last year's time

Maurice Lewis might have a marathon to run in the near future.

Lewis is the trainer for St. Joseph's Academy senior Gena Bleyer. He promised the Angels runner if she finished in the top 10 of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Championships, he would indeed run a marathon with her.

And Bleyer is giving every indication she will be among the top runners at the state meet....

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Model of consistency runs his best race Bill Hester Oct 03, 2007

Timberland senior Derrick McKee has been a model of consistency in the first month of the cross country season.

But he was hoping to step it up a notch Saturday at the Priory Invitational.

"I have been consistently in the 17:20s," McKee said. "My main focus today was not a particular place but a good time."

He made that next step, running the course in 17 minute, 16 seconds, his personal best. That would have won the event in several of the other 12 years of the meet.

But this year it was good for third. It took a course record and a school record to beat him....

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