Festus Cross Country State Champion Runners are Applebee's Athletes of the Week

2023 State Champion Festus Tigers Cross Country Team. Back Row L to R: Bryson Rhine, Carson Driemeier, Aidan Cole. Front Row L to R: Lucas Campbell, Jimmy Wacker, Tate Uding and Lucas Kavanaugh. Photo Courtey of Hal Neisler

(FESTUS) The Missouri Class Four Boys State Champion Cross Country runners are this past week’s Farmington Applebee’s J-98 Athletes of the Week.

The team finished with a score of 91, just ahead of Platte County with 99 points and taking third place was Lincoln College Prep with 110 points. The seven runners who medaled at the state meet were Lucas Campbell, Bryson Rhine, Lucas Kavanaugh, Jimmy Wacker, Carson Driemeier, Aidan Cole and Tate Uding.

Junior Lucas Campbell winning the championship was a terrific experience.

Bryson Rhine came back from a serious knee injury to get on the podium as a senior.

Junior Lucas Kavanaugh says he was overcome with emotion at the finish.

Senior Jimmy Wacker, who recently transferred from Parkway South says he didn’t get any sleep the night before the meet.

We asked sophomore Carson Driemeier who finished third overall, if he was “haulin’ down the stretch”.

Junior Aidan Cole comments on what it’s like to run for Coach Bryant Wright and his assignment from Wright for the off season.

Junior Tate Uding says it is good to win a state title.

During our meeting with the team, each of the seven runners were given a certificate, a T-shirt and a coupon for a free entrée at Applebee’s in Farmington.