Liberty Takes Second at Chile Pepper...So Does Riddle
Webb City's Ryan Riddle was the top Missourian at Chile Pepper unsurprisingly, but the way he got to that runner-up finish was unconventional, according to those on site. Riddle got out to a characteristically fast and up-front start, coming through the mile in 4:51 before slowing in the 2nd mile and coming across around 10th. A surge put him back into the hunt, but Fayetteville (AR)'s Camren Fischer had already taken off and secured a 15:06 victory. Riddle came across 2nd in 15:31 and was 9 seconds of the next closest Missouri finisher. Riddle's 15:31 at Chile Pepper, a much faster course, was 3 seconds behind Mugeche's 15:28 at Capital City, but depending on what happened in that 2nd mile, there is no cause for panic all you Riddle fans. There still will be an epic showdown to be had at state in a month as we still have plenty of time until we settle this boys race.
The biggest storyline of the day belonged to the Class 3 showdown that occurred between Festus junior Max McDaniel and Springfield Catholic senior Stephen Kielhofner. Long assumed as the favorite in Class 3, Kielhofner in fact yielded the victory in this matchup to McDaniel who used his elite-level finish to separate from Kielhofner late and finish 5 seconds ahead of him. McDaniel is also starting to round into form and appears ready to make a run at the Class 3 title. We aren't counting out Kielhofner just yet, especially after watching race and win state championships the past couple years, but we are now on high upset alert as we move through October. This will probably be their only matchup before State. In other Missouri individual news, though, Liberty senior Ryan Flood and Jackson senior Ean Buffington went under 16:00 as well, recording 11th and 12th place finishes in 15:51 and 15:54 respectively. Zachary Grover from Blue Springs recorded a noteworthy PR, running 16:04 to be the 6th fastest MO boy on the day.
Team results were both shocking and impressive as Liberty took 2nd out of 78 in a 600+ individual race. The boys were led by Ryan Flood, but benefited by a 55 second split and 16:26 average. Sophomore Ryan Mata was their #2 man at 16:20 and they put their 5th man at 16:46. With four front running teams in Blue Springs, Rockhurst, Parkway West, and West Plains, it appears that Liberty has officially thrown their hat into the ring as a team that will be competing for a spot on the podium in November. Not to be outdone, Webb City placed 4th overall led by Riddle and helped along by a 16:22 from FRESHMAN Joseph Dawson and sophomore Haddon Spikereit's 16:27. Festus took 9th, averaging 16:35, and Central (St. Joseph) had an impressive showing on the boys side, too, led by senior Boston Small's 16:10. They were 10th.