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January 20, 2015

2014 All-Missourian Cross Country

Meet the members of the 2014 All-Missourian cross country team.

Laura Simon and Glenn Landberg

Chelsea Drum, jr., Jackson Twitter handle: @chelsea_drum Favorite team tradition: Pasta dinner and praying before each race Favorite memory from the season: When we found out both teams qualified for state this year Favorite pre-race food: Waffles Favorite course to run: Memphis Twilight Relays and Chile Pepper in Fayetteville, Arkansas Favorite flavor of Gatorade: Fruit Punch What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Ninth place at state and qualifying as a team this year What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Not performing as well as I wanted to last year as a sophomore The longest distance I've ever run is: A half marathon One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: That mental strength plays a large role in how well you perform along with your physical abilities The best way to improve your course times is: To kill it in the preseason training Running is: Awesome when you have great teammates like I do Photo by LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Carli Knott - Jackson High School

Katie Hanners, so., Notre Dame Twitter handle: @katie__hanners Favorite team tradition: Praying before we run Favorite song to run to: Katy Perry Favorite memory from the season: Crossing the line at Forest Park Favorite pre-race food: Granola and dark chocolate Favorite course to run: Forest Park in St. Louis Favorite flavor of Gatorade: Blue What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Improving my times and being a strong leader What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Failing to place high enough at districts to advance to state The longest distance I've ever run is: The donut half mile marathon at Joe Bill Dixon One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: A huge part of the sport is mental The best way to improve your course times is: Base, mileage, more running Running is: The best thing in my life Photo by LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Katie Hanners - Notre Dame Regional High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Katie Hanners - Notre Dame Regional High School

Levi Krauss, jr., St. Vincent After-graduation plans: Making it into college Favorite team tradition: Pasta nights before meets Favorite memory from the season: The district meet, because I won individually and our team won the meet, which made us back-to-back district champions Favorite pre-race food: A banana Favorite course to run: Forest Park in St. Louis Favorite flavor of Gatorade: Lemon Lime What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Getting a state medal What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Not winning the state meet as a team this year after the tie-breaker The longest distance I've ever run is: 9 miles One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: The hardest part of meets is the mental battle you have with yourself. The best way to improve your course times is: Run more distance Running is: Watching other team members who thought they couldn't finish a race at the start of the season run at the state meet Photo by LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Levi Krauss - St. Vincent High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Levi Krauss - St. Vincent High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Levi Krauss - St. Vincent High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Alaina Baumgart and Alleigh Emmendorfer - Notre Dame Regional High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Alaina Baumgart and Alleigh Emmendorfer - Notre Dame Regional High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Rudy McClellan and Brock Kasten - Notre Dame Regional High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum, Tayler Winick and Carli Knott - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum, Tayler Winick and Carli Knott - Jackson High School

Rudy McClellan, so., Notre Dame Twitter handle: @RudeAwakening Favorite team tradition: Chinese Buffet before state Favorite song to run to: Rider Future Favorite memory from the season: Making it to state as a team Favorite pre-race food: Pancakes Favorite course to run: State (Oak Hills Golf Course in Jefferson City) Favorite flavor of Gatorade: Blue What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Breaking my brother's mile record as a freshman What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Not being able to race at state last year The longest distance I've ever run is: 14 miles One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: We do a lot more than running The best way to improve your course times is: To run six days a week no matter how far Running is: A stress reliever Photo by Laura Simon ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum, Tayler Winick and Carli Knott - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Jack Jeffers, Ean Buffington and Jackson Givens - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Rudy McClellan - Notre Dame Regional High School

Ean Buffington, fr., Jackson Twitter handle: @1ean1 (Instagram) Favorite team tradition: Leg shaving before the Chile Pepper meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas Favorite song to run to: Don't listen to music during runs. Can't hear anything around me Favorite memory from the season: Man fire after districts (campout) Favorite pre-race food: Bagel or peanut butter and jelly and yogurt and a banana Favorite course to run: Chile Pepper in Fayetteville, Arkansas Favorite flavor of Gatorade: I'm mostly a water drinker What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Breaking two school records in junior high track last year in the 800 and 1600 meters and making it to state as a freshman What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: The state meet, along with falling in the first mile, I had an injured foot The longest distance I've ever run is: Around 10 miles One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: My name is not Forrest Gump The best way to improve your course times is: Training beforehand, but it really all comes down to how hard you push yourself every day and during the race. Running is: "Fun..." GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com

GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Ean Buffington - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Rudy McClellan - Notre Dame Regional High School

GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Ean Buffington - Jackson High School

Jack Jeffers, sr., Jackson After-graduation plans: Running track at Troy University Twitter handle: @jeffersjack Favorite team tradition: Man fire Favorite song to run to: "Duel of the Fates" by John Williams Favorite memory from the season: Playing rock-paper-scissors tournaments on long runs Favorite pre-race food: Onions Favorite course to run: Chile Pepper in Fayetteville, Arkansas Favorite flavor of Gatorade: Cool Blue What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Being all-state as well as being district champion, individually and with my team What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Being 6-foot in sixth grade and never growing since. Now, I'll never be in the NBA... The longest distance I've ever run is: 14.7 miles at Joe Bill Camp One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: We can lift more than the football team Photo by GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com

GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Jack Jeffers - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Rudy McClellan - Notre Dame Regional High School

Jackson Givens, jr., Jackson Favorite team tradition: Rock band at Jack's house Favorite memory from the season: Going on long runs Favorite pre-race food: Pasta Favorite course to run: State (Oak Hills Golf Course in Jefferson City) Favorite flavor of Gatorade: Cool Blue What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Having a personal record at state What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Losing to Caleb Bess The longest distance I've ever run is: 14 miles One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: Doughnuts are good The best way to improve your course times is: Banana the curves Running is: Somewhere between walking and sprinting Photo by GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com

GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Jackson Givens - Jackson High School

GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Jackson Givens and Ean Buffington - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Rudy McClellan - Notre Dame Regional High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Rudy McClellan - Notre Dame Regional High School

Tayler Winick, sr., Jackson After-graduation plans: To run in college and go to school to become a pharmacist Favorite song to run to: "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift Favorite memory from the season: Starting off our season by getting second place at the Chile Pepper meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas Favorite pre-race food: Subway Favorite course to run: Memphis Twilight Relays Favorite flavor of Gatorade: Blue What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Being able to run a half marathon with my team at Joe Bill Dixon running camp What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Struggling through my hip injury all season The longest distance I've ever run is: Half marathon The best way to improve your course times is: Using your teammates to help push you to go faster Photo by LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Tayler Winick - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Tayler Winick - Jackson High School

Alaina Baumgart, fr., Notre Dame Favorite team tradition: Praying in the huddle before each race Favorite song to run to: "Final Countdown" Favorite memory from the season: Winning at conference as a team Favorite pre-race food: Bananas Favorite course to run: Forest Park in St. Louis Favorite flavor of Gatorade: Lemon Lime What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Getting all-state What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Not making it to state as a team The longest distance I've ever run is: 8.1 miles One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: How much of a team sport it is The best way to improve your course times is: To believe in yourself and give it everything you have Running is: Amazing and has become a huge part of my life Photo by LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Alaina Baumgart - Notre Dame Regional High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Alaina Baumgart - Notre Dame Regional High School

Alleigh Emmendorfer, so., Notre Dame Twitter handle: @alleighe75 Favorite team tradition: Praying before each race Favorite song to run to: "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield Favorite memory from the season: Team speeches at the Farmington Invitational Favorite pre-race food: Granola bars Favorite course to run: Memphis Twilight Relays Favorite flavor of Gatorade: Glacier Cherry What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Ran 7.5 miles in under one hour What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Getting 16th at districts when they only take 15 girls to state; with that, I let down my team and myself. The longest distance I've ever run is: 7.5 miles One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: The crazy practices are completely worth it. Being able to help out the team is an amazing feeling The best way to improve your course times is: Set goals and have people to help motivate you; in return, you should motivate them. Running is: Intense. It's hard but well worth it. The rush is the most relaxing feeling I've ever encountered. Photo by LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Alleigh Emmendorfer - Notre Dame Regional High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Alleigh Emmendorfer - Notre Dame Regional High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

Brock Kasten, sr., Notre Dame After-graduation plans: Attending Maryville University and possibly running cross country Twitter handle: @BrockKasten Favorite team tradition: Chinese Buffet before state Favorite song to run to: "Now or Never" by Kendrick Lamar Favorite memory from the season: Going to state as a team for the first time Favorite pre-race food: Chicken alfredo Favorite course to run: Engler Park in Farmington Favorite flavor of Gatorade: White Cherry What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Getting second place at state as a team What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Getting called for all-state and then finding out they miscounted. I got 26th. The longest distance I've ever run is: 13.1 miles One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: That it really is a team sport The best way to improve your course times is: Work hard in practice every day Running is: My relief from school Photo by LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Brock Kasten - Notre Dame Regional High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Chelsea Drum - Jackson High School

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Cross Country - Brock Kasten - Notre Dame Regional High School

Carli Knott, jr. Jackson Twitter handle: @car_knott Favorite team tradition: Praying before we run Favorite song to run to: "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift Favorite memory from the season: Finding out we advanced to state as a team Favorite pre-race food: Granola Favorite course to run: Engler Park in Farmington Favorite flavor of Gatorade: Pink What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete: Being able to qualify for state in both cross country and track What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete: Not being able to run at the conference meet this year because of an injury The longest distance I've ever run is: A half marathon One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: It is not only just about the running; it includes your mind, strength and heart. The best way to improve your course times is: Pushing yourself until the end and having a kick at the end Running is: A love/hate relationship but always makes me feel accomplished after doing it Photo by LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com