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2017 All-Southeast Missourian Cross Country Team
Caleb Cornelius, jr., Saxony Lutheran
Instagram handle: @caleb.XC
Favorite place to run: LaCroix Trail
Favorite song to run to: "Believe" by Imagine Dragons
Favorite memory of the season: Being able to go to state with my team
Favorite pre-race food: Peanut butter and jelly
Favorite pre-race pep talk: "It's only around 16:00 minutes of pain"
Favorite running shoe: Saucony
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Winning state
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not going to state freshman year
The longest distance I've ever run is: 12 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: That it is surprisingly relaxing
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: I get to my goal quicker
Running is: 90% mental and 10% physical
Jared Neikirk, jr., Cape Central
Twitter handle: @jaredneikirk
Favorite place to run: CJHS track, downtown
Favorite song to run to: "Smokey Joe's La La" by Googie Rene
Favorite memory of the season: Throwing up in the bathroom after winning our home meet
Favorite pre-race food: Thai noodles
Favorite pre-race pep talk: Taking a knee with Coach B
Favorite running shoe: Brooks
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Seeing my team develop and planting the principles of hard work
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not making it to XC state my sophomore year
The longest distance I've ever run is: 13.1 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: Anyone can do it, even a nerd like me
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: There is a certain intensity to it that feels like nothing else
Running is: an exercise of willpower
Joseph Baer, jr., St. Vincent
Favorite place to run: Country roads
Favorite song to run to: I don't listen to music, I listen to my friend Andrew talk
Favorite memory of the season: When our team received all-state fourth place
Favorite pre-race food: Pasta dinners
Favorite pre-race pep talk: We pray for strength, we pray for the will to compete, and most importantly, we pray for speed
Favorite running shoe: Asics
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Going to state with all my brothers
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not breaking 17 minutes
The longest distance I've ever run is: 12 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: It is just as much a mental sport as it is a physical sport
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: To finish the race faster
Running is: Something that continually challenges me both physically and mentally
Benton Keran, jr., Notre Dame
Favorite place to run: Country roads and back roads in Cape and Jackson
Favorite song to run to: "Careless Whisper" by George Michael
Favorite memory of the season: Carb parties and bus rides with the team
Favorite pre-race food: Eggs and orange juice
Favorite pre-race pep talk: Something along the lines of run for the team
Favorite running shoe: Nike Pegasus
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Getting ninth at the 2017 state meet
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Having a bunch of bad races during this season
The longest distance I've ever run is: 11.5 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: It's more about the team than it is you and your times
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: The rest of the team and just seeing other people willing to do it with you
Running is: Difficult but fun
Blake Morris, soph., Notre Dame
Favorite place to run: Back roads around town
Favorite song to run to: "Careless Whisper" by George Michael
Favorite memory of the season: Winning our home meet and all the guys just had great races
Favorite pre-race food: Waffles with peanut butter and banana
Favorite pre-race pep talk: Our coach comes in and just hypes us up and then we all say a prayer
Favorite running shoe: Saucony and Mizuno
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Benton and I both getting all-state together this year
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not making it to state as a team this year
The longest distance I've ever run is: 10 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: There's more to it than just running, it's like a family
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: My coaches and teammates all inspire me to push myself as hard as I can
Running is: A lot of fun and a great stress reliever
Ean Buffington, sr., Jackson
After-graduation plans: Attend either Missouri S&T or Mizzou for engineering
Instagram handle: @buffington_post
Favorite place to run: Levee on the Illinois side of the Emerson Bridge in Cape
Favorite song to run to: "Wake" by Hillsong Young and Free
Favorite memory of the season: Manfire, a cross country boys campout that is nothing but mayhem
Favorite pre-race pep talk: Coach Stove, "Go out there, be courageous and have some fun"
Favorite running shoe: Nike Vomero
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Using my God given abilities to inspire the next generation of Christian athletes as an FCA power camp leader
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Tearing my ACL after freshman year
The longest distance I've ever run is: 12 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: It is not just a "run in the park"
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: Running offers me a way to challenge myself to become the best person I can be. The virtues of endurance, mental toughness and guts are found in the sport.
Running is: Faster than a walk but slower than a drive
Kennedy Bauer, jr., Jackson
Twitter handle: @bauer_kennedy
Favorite place to run: A path in the park the team likes to call "Susan"
Favorite song to run to: "The Greatest" by Sia
Favorite memory of the season: Finding out Margo was going to run with me at state and giving her the biggest hug ever!
Favorite pre-race food: Night before -- Mac and cheese in a bread bowl!
Favorite pre-race pep talk: Coach Stoverink -- "Run with courage and confidence"
Favorite running shoe: Brooks
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Winning the 2016 state championship with my team and going back to state again this year (finishing 18th)
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Suffering from shin splints most of my track career
The longest distance I've ever run is: 10 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: The sport takes more than "just running," it makes a strong mind and strong will
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: Running pushes me to be the best I can be every single day
Running is: the talent I believe God has given me to bring glory to Him. And the opportunity to have a second family while doing what I love!
Faith Littleton, jr., Jackson
Favorite place to run: "Susanne," one of the new paths in the Jackson Park (leading to the civic center)
Favorite song to run to: "The Greatest" by Sia
Favorite memory of the season: Sweeping our conference meet
Favorite pre-race food: Protein bars
Favorite pre-race pep talk: Anything Coach Stove or Margo Motes says
Favorite running shoe: Brooks
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Helping my team win the Class 4 cross country state title in 2016
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Getting mono at the end of last track season
The longest distance I've ever run is: 8 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: Running is about endurance and our practices consist of more than just going on runs, we do core, weightlifting, speed and interval workouts and practice our hills
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: My coaches and teammates who always inspire and push me to challenge myself
Running is: faster and much more fun than walking but slightly more painful
Margo Motes, sr., Jackson
After-graduation plans: I will be attending Truman State University. I plan to major in biology and will be running cross country and track.
Twitter handle: @margomotes_
Favorite place to run: "Susan," a trail our team named, and Main Street
Favorite song to run to: Anything upbeat or motivational
Favorite memory of the season: The moment I crossed the finish line at sectionals and told Kennedy Bauer we were going to state together. We gave each other a huge hug and started crying.
Favorite pre-race pep talk: "Run with courage and confidence." -- Coach Stove
Favorite running shoe: Brooks
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: This past season as a whole. I pushed myself harder than I ever had and didn't give up when it got hard. I learned how to be mentally tough regardless of the situation.
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: The little injuries/pains I've had through the years, but they've taught me how to persevere
The longest distance I've ever run is: 8-10 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: How much of a mental sport it is. Anyone can go the distance, but you have to be mentally tough to push on when it gets hard.
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: My coaches, teammates and family inspire me to run and I love the feeling after a hard work out or race
Running is: One of my favorite ways to pass time. It's where I make the most memories with my team and do most of my thinking.
Corin Carroll, sr., St. Vincent
After-graduation plans: Attend Mizzou in the fall
Twitter handle: @corin_carroll
Favorite place to run: Streets of Perryville
Favorite song to run to: "No Problem" by Chance the Rapper
Favorite memory of the season: Pasta nights with my team
Favorite pre-race food: Candy
Favorite pre-race pep talk: "In roughly 25 minutes the race will be over"
Favorite running shoe: Newtons
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Placing at state for the past three years
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not winning districts my senior year
The longest distance I've ever run is: 11 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: Anyone can do it
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: You don't walk when you want something really bad
Running is: Awesome
Claire Morrill, sr., Notre Dame
After-graduation plans: I plan to continue my cross country and track and field career in college
Twitter handle: @clairemorrill
Favorite place to run: State course
Favorite song to run to: "Stamina" by Sia
Favorite memory of the season: Starting off the season with a great race in Memphis followed by a fun photo shoot
Favorite pre-race food: Baby oranges and Pedialyte
Favorite pre-race pep talk: Our team huddle where we share how much we love each other followed by a prayer
Favorite running shoe: BROOKS!!!
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Overcoming my obstacles in cross country and re-learning to love the sport
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not ending the season like I wanted and not diving into the potential I had as an athlete
The longest distance I've ever run is: Maybe eight? Who's counting?
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: It is a team sport just as it is individual! It takes all seven members to succeed.
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: I learned to find satisfaction and accomplishment in the pain
Running is: What shaped me into the person I am today
Alaina Baumgart, sr., Notre Dame
After-graduation plans: Studying pre-vet at Mizzou
Favorite place to run: Cape Trail
Favorite song to run to: "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran
Favorite memory of the season: Carb parties the night before races
Favorite pre-race food: Oatmeal
Favorite pre-race pep talk: We pray and get each other pumped up
Favorite running shoe: Mizuno
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Getting third at state sophomore year
What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not qualifying for state as a team this year
The longest distance I've ever run is: 13.7 miles
One thing most people don't understand about cross country running is: That it's a team sport, not an individual sport
Why run when you can walk (what inspires you to run)?: My teammates and coaches
Running is: Exhilarating and rewarding