Teams that qualify for the state cross country meet at Gans Creek in Columbia send seven runners out to take on the challenge of the 3.1-mile (5K) course in their biggest race of the year.
The top five finishers from each team have their times recorded for a collective team score. And unlike most sports – golf is an exception – the lower the score, the better.
After having won the last two Class 4 state championships, the Festus girls team returns seven runners who’ve already competed at Gans Creek. And Festus head coach Wes Armbruster didn’t mince words about what that meant for a possible threepeat.
“We’re all healthy and happy,” Armbruster said. “A lot of hard work was done, and I really believe it’s the best (girls) team we’ve had. It’s the deepest. People automatically assume we’re the favorite, but there’s been some adjustment to the (Missouri State High School Activities Association) Championship Factor, so there’s going to be some new players in (Class 4).”
Armbruster is referring to one of the criteria in which private schools are classified. Enrollment and postseason success determine where private schools compete. In Class 5 last year, the top three teams were public schools, ahead of St. Teresa’s Academy (fourth place), St. Joseph’s Academy (fifth), Cor Jesu Academy (sixth) and Father Tolton Catholic (eighth). STA, SJA and CJA all have enrollments of more than 800 this year. Festus reported an enrollment of 819 to MSHSAA. Cape Girardeau Notre Dame won the Class 3 title and has 319 students.
Armbruster said CJA could drop down. MSHSAA releases the class and district assignments for boys and girls cross country on Sept. 11. The Chargers have won Class 4 and 5 state team trophies in this decade.
“They’ve got some talented freshmen coming in and talent returning, and we know it’s not going to be an easy path,” said Armbruster.
Added to those responsibilities this school year, Armbruster has the task of replacing one of the most successful coaches in any sport this state’s ever seen. Bryant Wright stepped down last school year as boys coach, and Armbruster was hired to replace him and keep a program on track that Wright guided to 11 state championships (eight in a row from 2014-2021) and 17 consecutive top four state finishes.
Fortunately, Armbruster can settle into both jobs knowing he has a cast of veterans who are used to the expectations that come with running at Festus.
“Slightly different places as far as my knowledge of both teams, obviously,” he said. “I feel we have a good feel of where the girls are because of the relationships we have together. From my perspective, it’s the best summer we’ve had.”
Which could turn into a fall to remember if seniors Lucy Boyer, Bailee Tolbert, Kendall Counts and Kayla Rousseau, juniors Marisa Peter and Elise Nelson and sophomore Kyndall Gildea pick back up where they left off the last time they competed.
Boyer was all-state the last two years, finishing third in 19:36.3 in 2024 and ninth in 19:14.8 last year; both were top team finishes. Gildea was second across the state finish line in 2025 for the Tigers with a 15th-place time of 19:38.4. Tolbert was the other all-state (top 30) Festus runner in 23rd in 19:46.4. Peter was 37th in 20:16.8. Counts ran at state last year and was all-state in 2024. Rousseau (2023) and Nelson (2024) have both raced at state.
“We have two or three freshmen who are probably ready for varsity competition, and there’s another two or three who will be ready in the near future, so we have a lot of confidence we have 16 or 18 runners who are ready,” Armbruster said.
The Tigers began the season Aug. 29 with a 3-mile race at Civic Memorial High School in Illinois and cruised to the championship with 24 points. Out of a field of 104 runners, Boyer was the only one to clock in under 19:00 with a winning time of 18:57.74. Five of the top nine finishers were Tigers.