Brianna Krueger wins individual Class 3 title, leads St. Charles West to a rare 3-peat

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Brianna Krueger looked down at the word stenciled on the front of her team's uniforms as rain battered her face.

The St. Charles West sophomore read the stylized "Warriors" and took one last deep breath before the gun went off Saturday at Gans Creek Cross Country course.

She went to work, intent on proving that name correct.

"Honestly, that's what the sport of cross country is about," Krueger said. "We don't come out here expecting sunshine and rainbows all the time. This is a sport where we have to fight."

In driving rain and terrible conditions, Krueger attacked the course to claim the Class 3 individual championship in 18 minutes and 46.2 seconds while also leading St. Charles West to its third successive team state championship in dominant fashion.

"It's super special," St. Charles West coach Sheldon Keence said. "The girls work so hard. That connectivity they have is so apparent. The girls ran fantastic. It's awesome." 

St. Charles West crushed the field with 51 team points. Herculaneum (113), Owensville (173) and Notre Dame de Sion (180) rounded out the top four team finishers. 

According to the Missouri State High School Activities Association, St. Charles West became just the 10th girls program in Missouri state history to win three successive girls team championships.

With temperatures dropping and the course getting more soaked with each passing second, Krueger didn't wait for the rest of the field to join her. The sophomore, who became St. Charles West's first individual state champion since Lillian Jackson in 2020, raced out to the front and never relented.

"I love that she took it from the beginning," Keence said. "The plan was to throw that surge at the 3K mark, and she did to stretch it out more. She's immensely talented and so driven."

Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, she pushed herself at every corner.

Krueger won by almost 20 seconds over Notre Dame de Sion freshman Kelly Frank (19:05), with Owensville senior Ilene Limberg taking third (19:11.7).

"I think today, I proved to myself what it means to be a warrior — to fight through the conditions and to make the most of what you're giving," Krueger said. "It's been six months of hard work. I've been putting in the work for this moment. It feels so good for it all to come together. Honestly, I'm just on cloud nine. This is insane."

Couple that with sharing the championship feeling with her teammates just added to her blissful feeling.

"I feel like we're so close and have so much fun together," Krueger said. "It feels so good for us to have this experience together."

The Warriors had four runners finish in the top 15, including senior Claire Horstmann (20:04.8) in sixth place. 

Fellow senior Genevieve Wacker (20:24.7) grabbed a 12th-place finish, with junior Miley Jackson (20:25.2) crossing 14th.

Despite the rain, Horstmann joked she preferred it better than the alternative.

"Honestly, it's better than heat. I do not run well in the heat," Horstmann said. "The rain was pounding in my face. I was like, 'Well, I guess I've got do to this.' "

Wacker echoed her teammates' sentiments.

"I like running in the rain," Wacker said. "It distracts me if I'm hurting or tired. I can focus on the rain. It's cool and I can't run in the heat. It's good. I like it."

Horstmann and Wacker have been a part of all three state championship teams and are happy to have laid the foundations for the future of St. Charles West running.

"Even after doing it three times, it doesn't get any less exhilarating," Horstmann said. "It's just still such a privilege to have these teammates and to be friends with everybody. Being able to do this. That's so much fun."

Wacker is certain that she'll hear about the Warriors capturing a fourth consecutive state title next year.

"I think they will win next year. For sure," Wacker said. 

Only five programs have completed a four-peat, the last of which was Fatima, which won a state-record seven in a row from 2013-19. 

Keence had to put the brakes on talks of a potential four-peat.

"We'll worry about next year, next year," Keence said with a smile.