The Fair Grove Junior Varsity Cross Country Team finished their running season for the school year at the Mid-Lake Conference at Reed Springs. This race took place on October 22, 2025.
The cross country coach is Jalen Supancic. Supancic has been coaching both middle school and high school cross country for six years at Fair Grove. This upcoming spring Supancic will also be coaching middle school track.
The junior varsity cross country team competed at 10 meets in the 2025 season. Supancic said, “They are working hard to build themselves up and continue to get faster so that they can earn varsity spot.”
Unlike the varsity runners, junior varsity does not compete in state or district competitions.
Supancic explained, “The junior varsity race will have runners who are working to earn their spots for varsity.” He added that the varsity races typically have the faster runners.
Paxton Seehusen (10), a varsity runner for Fair Grove, said, “The best part of cross country is the support I get from the team.” Seehusen added, “…them cheering for me even when I do bad.”
Out of all of the meets junior varsity had, Seehusen said, “The meet I was most excited for was at Hermitage, Missouri.”
Seehusen explained, “I look up to Ben Hofius (10).” Hofius recently moved up from junior varsity to the varsity level, Seehusen continued to explain, “…at the beginning of the season he was very hurt, and had to run at beginning pace but before too long he was one of the best on the team again.”
To be a part of the varsity team, you have to have top seven 5K time. Supancic stated, “I think we will have another competitive team next year, so any varsity spots that we have will be competitive.”
However to be varsity you have to work for it. Supancic explained, “Those who put in a lot of off-season work tend to make the biggest gains and improvements.”
Even though Fair Grove cross county is competitive, they don’t have very many teams to run against. The main schools are Strafford, Springfield Catholic are both conference competitors, and Aurora is a main district competitor.
At the last junior varsity meet in Reeds Springs, Missouri, many of the junior varsity runners finished the season with multiple personal records.
