The Park Hill South cross country teams are both looking to replace key runners from last year’s teams but will also have a solid base back as the 2018 season begins.
Expectations were high for the Pam Jurgensmeyer’s squad last fall and the team delivered the school’s first-ever cross country state championship. The Panthers, who won their first sectional title in 2016, used a trio of top 25 finishes to buoy the way to a state crown in Class 4.
Junior Olivia Roth returns after earning all-state honors by taking 22nd place last year, while junior Paige Snider and sophomores Skyelar Nelson and Marsia Garcia each ran at the state championship course in Jefferson City, Mo. The Panthers also return state alternates Maryann Ball and Sidney Strong.
Park Hill South lost three runners from last year’s squad, two that went to run at Division I schools: Emma Roth — Olivia’s older sister — is now at Missouri, while Marti Heit landed at Oklahoma. Roth was a two-time all-state cross country runner, while Heit earned all-state honors last year, finishing one spot behind Olivia Roth. A third runner, Keely Danielsen, signed to run at Northwest Missouri State.
Last year marked the second straight year for the Panthers to have two Division I runners. The 2016 team featured Missouri’s Lexi Maddox and Missouri State’s Jasmine Crawford.
That group of runners have helped Park Hill South win five straight Suburban Conference Red Division titles, three straight sectional and district titles and bring home a fourth-place finish in 2016, a precursor to the success last fall.
“Our key to success the past few seasons is the strength the athletes can gain off one another,” said Jurgensmeyer, who will be assisted by Jane Jackson and Kurtis Werner, both entering their third year on the staff. “Early meets will help give us an idea of what can develop for the team this season. “
AJ Roth, entering his fourth year at the helm of the boys team, has a trio of all-conference and all-district runners back, but will look to replace three of his top placers at the state championships.
The Panthers took 12th at state, coming up short of the team goal of a top-10 showing, but minor injuries played a role in that.
Prior to state, Park Hill South had a successful postseason by taking second in the conference race, followed by third-place showings at districts and sectionals.
“Last year, I credit all of our success to our guys,” Roth said. “They really bought into the program and put in the work and led by some great seniors.”
Gone are team captains Ewan Frick, Eli Guzman and Trey Rouse. Guzman and Rouse each had top 30 finishes, but came up short on earning all-state honors.
The returning group includes senior Christian Ludtke and juniors Ethan Mick, Quentin Worley and Max Goertzen. The first three all ran at the state championships.
Those battling for a spot in the top seven include seniors Mason Reno and Duke Maddox, juniors Ben Knittig and Trevor Church, sophomore Charlie Scott and freshman Tyler Clippard.
“When looking at the 2018 season, there will be come challenges,” said Roth, who is assisted by Werner and Chris Leibrand, the school’s new girls track and field coach. “Our goal is to make it back to the state championship meet as a team. The sectional meet will be a key meet for us to reach that goal. In my eyes, it is one of the hardest sectionals in the state with teams like Blue Springs, Blue Springs South, Rockhurt, Lee’s Summit North, St. Joseph Central and Liberty. Our guys have worked hard this summer and we can’t wait to compete against these teams.”