If Jadrian Thurmon returns to the state cross country meet this fall, he hopes the weather will be much warmer than it was in last year’s meet.

Thurmon had to compete in chilly conditions in his state debut at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia. By race time, temperatures were in the low 40s with windy conditions after rain hit the Columbia area earlier in the day.

Still, Thurmon turned in a strong finish, running a 17:59.8. It was the third time in the 2022 season he ran under 18 minutes.

“Last year was an experience,” Thurmon said. “I feel like it’s good to have races like that because they really do help determine strength in runners because the cold, harsh rain and wind are something you can’t control. To have to fight through that is a whole different mental game. Some people just don’t do well in it. Some people thrive in it. Some people just figure it out during the race or force themselves to figure it out because once you get there at state, there is no looking after this unless you go to the NXN (Nike Cross Nationals) or anything like that.”

Thurmon is back for his third year with the MCHS boys cross country team this fall. So far, he is enjoying an outstanding career that includes eight medals, two all-Eastern Missouri Conference awards and a trip to state.

Thurmon began his junior season on Aug. 26 with a fifth-place finish in the boys division at the COMO Kickoff in Columbia. He said he has been excited to come back to the Wildcats since practice began on Aug. 7.

“It’s a little different this year than it was last year,” Thurmon said. “I feel so much more prepared this year than I was last year. I’m already running pretty much as good if not better than I was at the end of last year. My lungs feel so much stronger and my breathing feels so much deeper.”

Last year, Thurmon earned five medals, including a 29th-place medal at the Class 3 district meet in Fulton that clinched him a state berth. Thurmon also ran a personal-best time of 17:36.5 in his sixth-place finish at the EMO meet.

Thurmon said his main goal this fall is to stay healthy. He is recovering from an injury he suffered during track season last spring.

“I just have to play it safe, not (run) so much high mileage and kind of listen to my body and really let myself recover correctly instead of rushing into things,” Thurmon said. “This is my junior year. It’s one of my most important years, especially for colleges.”

Thurmon leads a MCHS boys cross country team that has three other returning runners – juniors Beckham Cothren and Brendan Craven and sophomore Cooper Sellenriek – and freshman Jacob Roesner.

“I just have to keep working and working and become the best that I possibly can and beyond and just help inspire my teammates to do the same and encourage them to become their best,” Thurmon said. “Watching them grow is such a gift that a lot of people don’t realize until after their time is over. I just really love watching them grow and become close to the family. This is probably the most family-oriented team I’ve had in my entire life. They’re incredible.”