Inductees
Warrensburg High School Cross Country Program
Scroll through the list of Missouri high school cross country state top four finishers, and Warrensburg High School takes up a ton of real estate: 31 top-fours combined for the boys and girls programs, including 10 state championships.
That’s why Warrensburg runners from the 1970s and early 1980s beam about it all these days.
After all, many tattered running shoes, sweat and tears went into making it one of the most successful in the state. That’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted the Warrensburg High School Boys & Girls Cross Country Programs with the Class of 2021.
The boys started in 1972 and have 20 top four finishes, with six state championships (1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1995, 2011) and nine runner-up finishes (1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1989, 1990, 2001, 2012, 2017). They placed third in 1979 and 2013 and fourth in 1975, 1983 and 1996.
The boys program had 31 district titles, produced 26 All-State selections and 10 college runners. Rob Carter (1985) and Edward Wilhite (2017) won state titles, with Wilhite earning a scholarship to the University of Missouri.
Coaches have been Ron Clawson (1972-1995), Jamie Moreno (1996-2003), Dan Plott (2004-2014), Kacy Stuber (2015-2018) and Creighton Collier.
“In the mid-1970s, we had to learn how to handle pressure at state,” said Clawson (MSHOF 2020). “We always felt like we had the talent to do better and felt like it was a matter of time before we would win a championship.”
To build and maintain interest, Clawson dole out T-shirts with each runner’s season miles. Paul Brown, who ran from 1978 to 1980, logged 8,000 in his career.
“With Coach’s techniques and us working hard, it helped the guys later on,” Brown said.
The early 1980s fueled the fire, too, especially in 1982, when Kevin Dorn-led Warrensburg finished 10 points shy of winning state.
“1982 was a real heartbreaker. We had finished second behind Herculaneum in 1980 and 1981, plus 1982 was going to be the year to break their strings,” Clawson said.
The 1984 champs scored a program-best 47 points and featured Jay Miller, McCarter and Greg Wickham.
The 1985 Tigers repeated as McCarter won the program’s first individual title and Scott Faubion placed 11th.
McCarter (8th) and James Milburn (10th) paced the 1986 team.
The 1991 Tigers featured Dan Callaway Paul Birnbaum and Dan Bingham finishing 12th, 14th and 15th.
The 1995 champs surprised many. Joe Mack (13th) led a team that included a wrestler, a hurdler, and other runners who quietly put in the work.
The 2011 champs upset Festus to win state thanks to Top 18 finishes by J.P. Espinoza, Alex and Max Burson and Trent Classen.
“I had a group of talented, talented young men,” Plott said. “We packed it into a great nucleus.”
Meanwhile, the Warrensburg girls began in 1979 and have 11 top four finishes, including four state championships (1986, 1988, 1989, 2003). The girls were runners-up in 1985, 1987, 2002, placed third in 1992 and fourth in 2001, 2009 and 2019.
The late 1980s teams called themselves Salt and Pepper as runners from different racial make-ups spurred the success.
Tamie Lossman was a four-time All-State finisher, including a 1986 state champion. Stephanie Clendenin was a two-time state champion (1987, 1988).
The 1986 girls included Terri Hunter (8th), Clendenin, Christy Dahlhauser and MeShell Nelson. The team scored a 59.
Clendenin led the 1988 state championship team, with Lossman placing second. Team members were Shawn Mohler, Kathy Pilcher, Nicki Dahlhauser and Melanie Hunter.
The 1989 team was led by Lossman (8th) and Mohler (15th). Other team members were Michele Gray, Kathy Pilcher, Libby Olson, Nikki Dahlhauser and Kristi Stephens.
“Looking back over my years from 1985-1988, I can honestly say they are some of my most cherished memories,” Clendenin said. “From the endurance running to the intense hill work and interval training, along with the occasional after practice popsicle, we had the best of times.”
When Moreno took over, the girls program had only four runners. In 1999, the middle school offered the sport, and 100 girls turned out.
In 2002, Kara Eckard won an individual state title, her only victory that season.
Moreno’s 2003 team then won state behind four-time All-Stater Jennifer Woods, Sarah Cunningham and Mary Andrew. The program had 15 All-Staters.
“Those girls weren’t just content with going to state,” Moreno said. “(Woods and Cunningham) were very direct that they wanted to win state.”
Overall, what a run it’s been.
