Jefferson City cross country coach Brett Phillips believes the Jays and Lady Jays have both had solid seasons.
But he also believes finishing strong at the biggest event of the year is the most important factor when examining the success of a team in a given year.
"It's like a basketball team that goes into the district tournament undefeated and then loses in the semifinals," Phillips said Tuesday. "Do you feel good about yourself? It's kind of like that type of thing."
The Jays and Lady Jays will look to put their best foot forward when they compete in the Class 4 championships today at the Oak Hills Golf Center. The boys race will begin at 9 a.m., while the girls race is set for 10:05 a.m.
"We feel like we're two of the better teams in the state," Phillips said. "We know we've vastly improved from last year. What we better do is waddle out there (today) and prove it one last time."
The Jays and Lady Jays will field full teams today after both programs earned second-place finishes at sectionals last week.
"I thought that was our best race of the year," Phillips said. "Virtually every kid had a great day. We really got out, and we positioned really well and were able to get past some teams that had beaten us previously."
The Jays and Lady Jays hope that will happen again on a course both teams ran on during the Capital City Challenge on Oct. 4.
"I feel like we all have confidence coming in (to the state meet) after we all laid down a good race last Saturday," Lady Jays senior Kaley Ruff said. "As a team we definitely figured out how we need to race. We peaked well, and hopefully we can continue that peaking effort."
Ruff, who finished 71st in 20:26 at state last year, is one of two runners back on the girls team that finished 15th out of 16 teams.
Lindsey Biesemeyer, a junior, is also returning, while senior Andi Stackman joins freshmen Kensie Gourley, Katie Ruth and Kayelee Payton as those getting their first go at the state level.
"On the girls side, I think we should be in the top half of the field," Phillips said. "If we have a lights-out day, maybe we've got a puncher's chance at sneaking into a trophy."
With three freshmen, there may be some extra nerves on the girls' team, but Phillips believes Gourley, Ruth and Payton are up to the challenge.
"Inexperience can be a factor in a peaking meet that's very intense," he said. "That's where (the coaching staff) has to prepare the kids for races and events like this. That's why we try to go to some regular-season events that are big events."
Meanwhile, the Jays are returning to the state meet after failing to qualify as a team last season.
"On the boys side, we felt like we under-performed to not qualify," Phillips said. "We feel like we should be a state-meet team every year."
Jackson Schwartz, a sophomore, will lead the Jays after turning in a sixth-place finish at sectionals. Joining Schwartz will be lone senior Eli Jacobs, juniors Saxon Teubner and Courtney Fitch, sophomores Jayden Walker and Josh Sabala, and freshman Cole Biesemeyer.
"I think it's reasonable on the boys side to shoot at the top 10," Phillips said. "I think that's a fair goal. If we're in the top 10, we will have had a good day."
After clocking in at 15:52 - 29 seconds behind the top finisher at sectionals - Schwartz hopes to at least place in the top 25, but has made it his personal goal to finish in the top 10 at state.
"I've never raced at a state meet, but I'm going in with the mindset that it's the biggest race in your life and you may only get to do it once," Schwartz said. "Make sure you raced your best and your toughest."