Two Mid-Missouri teams podium at the 2025 high school cross country championships

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The first day of the Missouri state cross country meet has come to a close.

Classes three, four and five competed for a state title on Friday, which saw several local teams take home some hardware.

Friday’s contests opened with the class three boys championship, where Centralia successfully defended their 2024 crown by a single point, beating out Westminster Christian 94 to 95. After going to their first state meet in school history just four years ago, Jason Watermann’s squad has secured a third place finish, and now two back-to-back state titles.

Sophomore Nolan Spickert was the first Panther across the line finishing second overall with a time of 15:37.5. Senior Wesley Robertson and sophomore Jensen Decker also picked up all-state honors for Centralia.

In the class five boys race, Rock Bridge put together a late surge to steal silver from St. Louis University High. Senior Luke Sievers was the first Bruin to finish, placing fifth with a time of 15:15.6. Fellow RB seniors Cook Hudson, Matthew Kim, and sophomore Hayden Jokerst all placed within the top 30 to earn All-State honors. This is the seventh time in a row head coach Neal Blackburn and his team have finished on the podium.

You can find a full list of local All-State recipients below:

• Class 3 Boys:
  • 2nd Place: Nolan Spickert (Centralia)
  • 8th Place: Wesley Robertson (Centralia)
  • 9th Place: Zachary Holtmeyer (Owensville)
  • 13th Place: Daniel Morris (Helias)
  • 16th Place: Caiden Casey (Blair Oaks)
  • 20th Place: Jensen Decker (Centralia)
  • 25th Place: Benson Koeppen (Osage)
• Class 3 Girls:
  • 9th Place: Emily Pickett (Blair Oaks)
  • 10th Place: Magdalena Barnes (Helias)
  • 11th Place: Maddie Rademan (California)
  • 24th Place: Hannah Gehlert (Owensville)
  • 29th Place: Rosie Falter (Osage)
• Class 4 Girls:
  • 19th Place: Averie Hotle (Camdenton)
• Class 5 Boys:
  • 5th Place: Luke Sievers (Rock Bridge)
  • 9th Place: Cook Hudson (Rock Bridge)
  • 15th Place: Matthew Kim (Rock Bridge)
  • 30th Place: Hayden Jokerst (Rock Bridge)
• Class 5 Girls:
  • 8th Place: Makaylin Viet (Tolton)
  • 25th Place: Leisel Schultz (Rock Bridge)
  • 29th Place: Kaitlyn Reid (Rock Bridge)