The Warrenton cross country teams feature a mix of returning contributors and talented newcomers as they look to take strides this season. 

Warrenton is led by senior Wyatt Claiborne, who is looking to qualify for the state cross country meet for the third consecutive year after competing at the state meet in both his sophomore and junior seasons. Claiborne’s best finish at the state meet came in his sophomore campaign, when he placed 66th. 

“I want to set a new PR (Personal Record), which I think I'll do that,” Claiborne said. “And then place higher at state than I did my sophomore year. And for a team, we don't have any specific goals, but I think this is the best our team will be in all four years that I've been here.”

Warrenton also returns senior Phillip Kackley and juniors Noah Cline and Jacob Beckemeyer, who also ran on the Warrenton varsity squad last season. 

The Warrenton Lady Warriors return four seniors who competed at the varsity level last season: Briana Grooms, Abigail Palmer, Camryn Petersmeyer and Ashlynn Reeves. 

“The seniors are going to be very important to help the new runners and say, hey, this is how we do it. Don't go too fast and just kind of help, give them guidance on the process and procedures of what we do at practice and at meets,” Warrenton Head Cross Country Coach Jeremy Collins said. 

Collins cited the importance of offseason mileage in preparing for the fall cross country season. Collins took five boys runners and two girls runners to West Plains in the summer for a running camp. Collins thinks the camp is a challenge but helps the athletes see what other schools are doing and get to know other teams. 

Claiborne, who ran 400 miles this summer, and Petersmeyer both attended the camp. 

“I didn’t run quite as much as him but I did around 200 (miles),” Petersmeyer said. “I think a little over.”

Petersmeyer said her goal for the upcoming season is to set new personal records throughout the season. 

In the early part of the season, the Warrenton runners focus on a lot of mileage to prepare for the demands of the cross country season. 

“As the season goes on, we’ll start doing more workouts,” Claiborne said. “At first, there will be more slower paced stuff. But once the season starts coming to an end, we’ll do faster pace stuff and less mileage than we are doing right now.” 

Collins stressed during the season, the Warrior runners do a lot of workouts where the athletes may feel tired going into a meet. They ease back on the mileage going into districts and the state meet. 

“We definitely would want them to feel as close to 100% as possible going into districts and hopefully state,” Collins said. 

Warrenton will open the season at the Fleet Feet meet in St. Charles at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 30.