Herculaneum looks to get over championship hump at state cross country

(Herculaneum) The Herculaneum Blackcats have had one of the top boys’ cross country teams in the state in Class 3 over the last 3 years.

But each season, the Festus Tigers would get in their way of winning not just at the local level, but a state championship as well.

So, with a District 1 team title now in tow and Festus moved up to Class 4, Blackcats head coach Kyle Davis says his guys believe they might do something big at Thursday’s state race.

Leading the way for the Herky boys is senior Cody Glisson, who finished second in District 1 and is one of 4 Blackcat runners to individually qualify for state.

Davis says Glisson leads by example for youngsters like freshman Damian Luther and sophomores Keith Vance and Baden Costlow.

The Herculaneum girls’ team also will compete at state and had 5 individual runners qualify, led by sophomore Raven Vance’s fourth-place finish at districts.

Davis says Vance has shown promise late this season.

Sophomore Brianna Pinson, junior Samantha Maddox and seniors Laura Maddox and Persepheni Berry will join Vance in the MSHSAA Class 3 girls’ state championships at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia Thursday.

The Herculaneum girls will run at 12:30, with the Blackcat boys to compete start at 2 p.m.

To hear the full interview with Herky head coach Kyle Davis, click play below.

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