It's the end of the season as we know it🎬
well, the in-state season that is
Some may argue that I’m beginning the writing process a little too late this week (it’s 11am on Friday), but I’m going to go ahead and disagree. I’ve opted to focus on the state championship coming up in less than a day and refrain from summarizing a weekend full of regionals that saw some surprises around the state. With that being said, let’s ‘dive in it.’
6A
The state’s largest classification is back home at Rim Rock Farm, along with 5A and 3A. For the past two years, both 6A and 5A raced at the 4 Mile Creek Resort in Augusta, KS, one of the three sites that KSHSAA had agreed upon. Now, after a two year hiatus, Rim Rock Farm is back to hosting their portion of the championship, as fans flock back to North Lawrence for the third and final time this high school season.
At the beginning of the year, I had no idea if Olathe North phenom Anjali Hocker Singh was going to be racing after she was absent during the majority of her sophomore track season. She answered that question as she came by in the lead pack at Olathe Twilight, where she eventually finished as runner-up in 18:00.00. Since that run, she’s won three out of the four races she’s competed in, taking down strong 6A competition in each one. Not to speak prematurely, but I’d suggest that the two-time defending champ has rounded back into her previous form quite nicely, especially since she ran 18:02 at Rim Rock two weeks ago.
While Hocker Singh looks to separate herself from the pack, there is a strong group of girls who would like to close that gap as much as they can, and for me, there are five that stick out amongst the rest.
Charis Robinson — Olathe West
For at least another day, Olathe West’s front runner has thrown down the fastest time this season by any athlete in 6A. She did so down in Fayetteville, where she put herself in the mix and came out of it with a 17:51. Robinson has only broken nineteen on two occasions this season, but has raced well and put herself in the position to win races in nearly all of her races her senior year.
Hannah Gibson — Shawnee Mission South
One of only three Kansas athletes to finish ahead of Hocker Singh this season, and Gibson did it in exciting fashion at Olathe Twilight, as she had become the first 6A girl of the season to dip below 18, as she notched a six second victory over a competitive field at ODAC. Since then, Gibson has finished runner-up to her twice, but seems to be strong at the right time of the season, and will most likely be leading the charge to catch her.
Lida Padgett — Shawnee Mission East
Talk about flying under the radar! Padgett has had a fantastic junior year, finishing in the top five all but once (Chile Pepper) this season. Just like the other girls on this list, she isn’t afraid to put herself in a position to win, and runs her own race regardless of what the group around her is doing. With an 18:01 to her name, expect Padgett to be fighting for one of the top spots in the state.
Paige Mullen — Shawnee Mission Northwest
If you were at the state track meet in May, you should remember Mullen’s fantastic finish in the 3200m, where she closed in a 68 to edge out Blue Valley West’s Olivia Bakker by less than a second. Mullen has certainly made good use of that momentum from her state title, as she’s finished in the top three all five times this season, including a win in Baldwin. If it’s coming down to a kick between Mullen and someone else, well, “Good Luck Charlie”.
Payton Fink — Topeka-Washburn Rural
In the absence of senior Maddie Carter for the first couple weeks of the season, Fink took full advantage of the Jr. Blues needing a front runner, and has provided the team with just that. She’s finished in the top ten every single time this season, and lowered her PR to 18:10 on her home course earlier this month. Additionally, Fink is on a three-race winning streak, and I can imagine she isn’t going to want to finish too far back from the front of the pack.
In the team race, I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, it’s Olathe West’s world, and we’re all living in it. The Owls have won every in-state meet this season, with third place finishes at both Griak and Chile Pepper in back-to-back weeks. With their top five all at 18:50 or faster, it would take an extremely unlucky day to dethrone the back-to-back champs. Don’t worry, I knocked on wood. For example, even at league regionals, when some athletes may have been hurting or dealing with a setback, their depth was more than enough to help the team to a 66 and 27 point victory on both occasions. They’re one of the top teams in the region, and arguably the nation, and as they fall into their best form of the season, it may take quite a bit to take them down.
However, there is going to be a super exciting race for the remaining two podium spots, as four schools are fighting for two spots. Washburn Rural, Mill Valley, Shawnee Mission East and Olathe North are all running their best cross country of the season and will battle it out tomorrow for some hardware. From the looks of it, Washburn Rural has looked more and more dangerous throughout the latter half of the season, as Maddie Carter has re-entered the playing field, giving the Jr. Blues three under nineteen, and all five under twenty. The Lancers also have a frontrunner in Padgett, but their four and five are a little back from Rural’s, but still running strong this season. Olathe North is understandably enjoying having Hocker Singh back, and will look to get their 3-5 as close to their top two as possible. Also, Shea Johnson PR’d by half of a minute last year at state when it mattered most, and we may experience some deja vu tomorrow. Mill Valley is what makes this race even more fun. The defending 5A champs made the move to 6A, where they will still be competing for a podium finish. They too have all five under twenty, and Charlotte Caldwell as their top runner is a dangerous one. Their 2-5 are all within half of a minute of one another, and will look to close that gap even more and close the distance between them and Caldwell.
Since the chaos that was Olathe Twilight, I would argue that two runners have separated themselves from the rest of the 6A boys field, but are being very closely chased by another group of five.
Wyatt Haughton is coming off the greatest track season of his career, one that saw a pair of state titles, and times of 9:17, 4:12, and 1:54 in the 3200m, 1600m and 800m. This fall, Haughton has proved that he is also a beast on the grass, as he’s broken fifteen twice and claimed the state record in a time of 14:46. Along with winning four races this year, he’s beaten defending state champion Micah Blomker of Shawnee Mission North on four separate occasions. For Blomker, after a “slow” start, he has been running fairly well in October, and remember, anything is possible in October. Blomker himself has won a pair of races, with one of those being a blazing 15:13 in Baldwin. Going into tomorrow, Haughton has the advantage and will look to win his first cross country state title.
While those two battle it out up front, the likes of Carter Stewart, Henry Born, Parker Walion and Caden Peters will have a battle of their own. Peters has the fastest PR out of the quartet, running 15:18 at Olathe Twilight. Born, Walion and Stewart have respectively all run 15:20, 15:24 and 15:25, which is nothing to slouch at. The four have traded off victories over one another, but Stewart and Born are coming off of two sub-sixteen performances at regionals, and Walion and Peters were both in the 16:10’s. I’d say it is up for anybody’s taking, but Stewart and Born are carrying a lot of momentum into this weekend after regionals.
In the team battle, it would appear that Shawnee Mission East has what it takes to win both the individual and team title, but the defending champs may have something to say about that. The Lancers are led by Haughton, and have two more under 15:45 with Peters and Blair Ptacek. Their four and five are fifty seconds back of Ptacek, giving the five a nearly two minute pack time. The Falcons on the other hand have their 1-4 just eighteen seconds apart, and their five is hypothetically ahead of Shawnee Mission East’s four. What makes this even more interesting is Garden City and Olathe East. The Buffaloes aren’t making the five hour drive just to race; they want to leave with a trophy in hand, and they have a very good chance to do that. Similar to Olathe South, they’ve got roughly a thirty second pack time, and have a front runner that could score single digit points. Olathe East on the other hand has their front runner contending for a top three finish, along with their two Diego Barron also under sixteen. With their 3-5 ranging from 16:34-16:58, things are bound to get interesting. Additionally, keep in mind that both Olathe East and Gardner-Edgerton took down Olathe South at regionals, and the Falcons were 5th at Sunflower League behind four other 6A teams. It’s just hard to completely count out the defending champs who statistically have a good chance to repeat. I’m not as confident in my predictions for the 6A boys, so I’m going to hold off from setting anything in stone.
5A
Katelyn Rupe is on her way to being a generational talent (she’s probably already there), and we get a front row seat to watch. Just a sophomore, Rupe has broken eighteen four times this season, running 17:45, 18:59, 17:45, 17:26, and 17:24. Keep in mind her 17:26 and one of her 17:45’s came at Milford Lake and Rim Rock Farm, two unforgiving courses. After her dominance on the track in the spring, I feel that Rupe is going to add her third state title to her resume. Also, a little birdie told me (and Twitter) that she’s going after the course record of 17:32 set by the legendary Molly Born. While Rupe is chasing history, Kansas City-Piper senior Grace Hanson is chasing her. Hanson is coming off of a MASSIVE PR at regionals, where she clocked a 17:42, nearly a thirty second PR. Hanson has been dominant this season, winning six races, with her only loss coming at the hands of Rupe. The pair are considerably ahead of the rest of 5A, and will be challenging to catch. However, Topeka-Seaman’s Ryin Miller is the next fastest runner, and as a freshman has already run 18:36, while finishing third or better in all but two of her eight races, including four consecutive runner-up finishes. With Miller running so well and so consistently, she’d have to be my pick to take 3rd.
Like the 6A girls, there is a team in 5A that is just so dominant, it’s hard to see how they couldn’t win. St. James Academy has displayed excellence all year, and are a force to be reckoned with, regardless of classification. They have their top five within twenty-five seconds of one another, and their sixth runner is only three seconds back. Despite being without their top runner Sophia Schultz, who hasn’t raced since October 1st, the Thunder won the Eastern Kansas League title and their regional, scoring 35 and 38 points along the way. If that wasn’t enough, they’ve also put up a nine second and a twenty-one second pack time in back-to-back weeks. Wow.
With Mill Valley off in 6A, the door opened up for Seaman, De Soto and St. Thomas Aquinas to fight for the next two podium spots. In a virtual meet I put together, it goes Seaman, De Soto, and St. Thomas Aquinas, 91-97-108, which is pretty dang close. Each team has a front runner that can be up in the top eight finishers, and show very similar traits throughout the remainder of their lineups. Honestly, either of the three teams could 2nd, 3rd and 4th, but I have no idea.
As for the boys, is this the year we see a break in the dynasty that is St. Thomas Aquinas? With Blue Valley Southwest and Kapaun Mt. Carmel running well this season, I’d say there’s a good chance. However, I’m not going to count out a team led by Justin Wrigley, because regardless of what happened at regionals, the Saints were seven points away from winning the region. However, both Blue Valley Southwest and Kapaun Mt. Carmel have displayed strong pack running, making them both a contender to win it all. The Timberwolves, on a good day, can put their three ahead of the Crusaders two, but Kapaun would respond with their two and three just a few places back. It’s going to be a close one, and could go either teams’s way. Not to mention Maize runners, who have thrown their names into the hat, and have put all five under seventeen. Led by Kaleb Glazier, they also have a good chance to end their season on the podium. Perhaps one of the most interesting teams to watch tomorrow would be the private school out of Overland Park. Everyone knew that losing the top two finishers from a year ago would be difficult to come back from, and boy have they put up a valiant effort in the process. Led by the fastest man in 5A, Colby King, the Saints have their 2-5 between 16:36 and 16:50, who have all been running great as of late. There are so many different storylines that could play out tomorrow, and I’m excited to see which one becomes a reality.
When it comes to the individual champion, all eyes turn to King of Aquinas. He’s run under fifteen this year, and hadn’t run slower than 15:37 until a windy regional. He’s also won his last three races and was runner-up the two prior. King has simply been dominant this season, and is looking to take down his 5A competition again, just as he did in the 3200m last track season. Just like Rupe on the girl’s side, King has a very fast competitor trying to chase him down, and that is no other than the “People’s Champ,” Lenny Njoroge of Topeka West. Why is he the people’s champ? I don’t know, but it felt right. After breaking his leg last spring, the Charger sat out his junior season, but bounced back for track, where he took 4th in the 3200m. This cross country season has been phenomenal for him, as he’s currently riding a six race win streak, and is 7-1 on the year. Coming off of a 15:17, Njoroge is in peak form and could give King someone to run with, which is very possible in what will be the pair’s first head-to-head competition of the year.
Some other runners that will be toward the front of the race are De Soto’s Joshua Fulmer, Kaiden Esfeld and Kaleb Glazier of Great Bend and Maize, along with both duos of Jackson Esquibel and Kory Sutton of Shawnee Heights and Blue Valley Southwest’s Thomas Caul and Micah Paschke. I can’t forget about Gabe Onelio of Arkansas City, or St. James’ Andrew Hartegan and Kapaun’s Luke Brock.
4A
In what will be her last trek around the Wamego Country Club, Nebraska commit and Clearwater senior Hayley Trotter will look to claim her fifth state title, while defending her cross country title from a year ago. So far, signs are pointing to another Trotter victory, as she’s won all but one race this season, which came at the Rim Rock Farm Classic. Besides winning races, Trotter has PR’d on five separate occasions, her most recent coming at the AVCTL meet, where she ran 18:43 to win. The good thing for Trotter is that she’s familiar with Wamego, and already has a victory on the course this year. Her biggest competition? Freshman stud Brett Jacobson of Towanda-Circle. Jacobson opened up her high school career with a win at the JK Gold Classic, and has since picked up a trio of victories in the last three weeks. She joins Trotter as the only other athlete to break nineteen. However, though her PR is just seven seconds behind the reigning champ, Trotter has won all four head-to-head matchups, with the closest margin of victory being fifteen seconds at Wamego.
The team to beat however is Eudora, the defending champs from a year ago, who are even better than they were a year ago. Led by the duo of Hanna Keltner and Sydney Owens, the Cardinals have won five meets this year, including the last three. The Cardinals are also one of only two teams to have multiple girls under twenty, and the only team to have two girls under twenty and all five scorers under 21:30. They also have yet to miss a beat this season, and from the looks of it, are on the way to their second straight 4A title. There are a few players in the fight for the next podium spots, as Winfield and Baldwin lead the charge for second and third. Winfield’s Kayli Myers leads a strong Viking team that is looking to stay ahead of Baldwin and secure second. Baldwin, who lost their top three finishers from state a year ago, are in position to finish on the podium yet again, thanks to the addition of Irelyn Kennedy, a freshman who has made immediate impact. Also be on the lookout for Clay Center, Circle, Rose Hill and Buhler to make their presence known.
After we enter an era absent of the trio of Tanner Newkirk, Sawyer Schmidt and Tanner Lindahl, Eli Gilmore has risen to the challenge, and taken 4A by storm. The Tonganoxie senior lost just once this season, where he was 3rd behind Wyatt Haughton and Colby King at Rim Rock. He’s one of only two boys under sixteen this season, and already has a dominant win in Wamego, and is looking to add another to close out his high school career. Clay Center’s Grant Smith has made a late charge to close the gap on Gilmore, running 15:55 and 16:09 the last two weeks, but I think Gilmore is too strong of a racer and is looking to claim his first state title.
In terms of team titles, it is going to be CLOSE between four-time defending champs Buhler and host Wamego. On one hand, Wamego has four ahead of Buhler’s three, but Buhler has a fifty-two second pack time and an extremely strong sixth runner in case it comes down to a tie breaker. Regardless, I can imagine this is going to be a single digit victory for whatever team does come out on top, but there is not enough to get me to confidently say which team I think is going to pull it off. As for third, it is another extremely close battle between Winfield and Augusta. Corban Priest and the Vikings would love to make it a podium finish on both sides, but Dawson Schmidt and Augusta wouldn’t mind extending their own podium streak.
3A
Now that Jentrie Alderson isn’t here to wreak havoc on 3A, it’s time for a new runner to claim the throne as their own, and it could be a number of girls. Based on times, I could argue that Halstead’s Addisen Wills or Wichita-Trinity’s Brecken Howell are in the best position to cross the line first, and don’t get me wrong, they both have a strong shot and will definitely be in the mix. One thing that they don’t have is the post season experience or course experience that Prairie View’s Bree Allen and Heritage Christian’s Hannah Thong have.
Wills is the fastest in 3A, and based off on PR, considerably ahead of the rest. She ran 19:10 earlier this month, and has broken twenty four times this season. For Howell, she proved that her Twilight time was no fluke, running even faster (19:33) at the Bishop Carroll Invitational on the first of the month. While both girls come into the state meet faster, both Allen and Thong bring experience to the table. Plus, Allen just took down Wills at regionals by thirty-four seconds. I don’t necessarily like predicting who I think is going to win and not win, cause I don’t want athletes to take anything I say to heart. But, I’ve already predicted outcomes a few times before this, so why stop now? I think that Allen has the best chance at coming away with the win, and here’s why. She’s run this course before, meaning she doesn’t have to learn the course as she races it. She also has performed well in the postseason throughout her young career, placing 2nd last year, and then finishing 2nd, 3rd and 3rd on the track in May in the 3200m, 1600m and 800m. I do think it’s going to be a close race, but if I was Lee Corso, I’d put on a Buffalo mascot head right about now.
Even with Alderson gone, the Trojans of Southeast of Saline ladies have run well, and are on track to win their third straight 3A title. However, Wichita-Trinity isn’t going to just let them have it. The Knights, who are a growing program on both sides, have turned themselves into a 3A threat, thanks to front runner Howell. While Trinity Academy has a faster number one, the Trojans have their top three in front of Trinity’s number two. Like a lot of battles that are going to take place tomorrow, it’s going to be a close one. Will the Trojans go back-to-back-to-back, or will Wichita-Trinity look to start a dynasty of their own? It would be rude if I left out Abbye Hudson and Cheney though, because they’re on pace to take the third spot on the podium, but maybe they’ve got their eyes set on finishing even higher.
Remember how I said Wichita-Trinity had a growing program? Their boys’ program is a full-grown adult with a 401k. Not to mention, NONE of their top five will be graduating this spring. Led by junior Clay Shively, Trinity Academy is aiming for their second consecutive state title and to check another box off as they apply for “Dynasty Status.” After upsetting Southeast of Saline a year ago, the roles are seemingly reversed, but not by much. Trinity has three boys under sixteen, and they still have three under sixteen if I take out their fastest times of the season and base this off their second fastest times instead, cause I know there may be some of you that would prefer that. I more than expect the Knights to have three athletes in the top six, and possibly four in the top ten. Honestly, anything is possible with this team. But while Shively and co. look to defend their title, Levi Allen and Southeast of Saline are looking to take it back. After dominating 3A for the previous three years, the Trojans are looking to get back on track. They graduated state champion Dylan Sprecker in May, but still have a strong squad to give Trinity a challenge. Their top four range from 16:24 to 16:47, and already have a race at Wamego under their belt this season. In my eyes, if they want to truly contend for the title, it comes down to their number five.
While Wichita-Trinity and Southeast of Saline are fighting up front, West Franklin is in a good position to take 3rd, as Hunter Bailey is looking to lead his team to the podium. For the individual finishers, look for Wichita Collegiate’s front running duo of brothers, CJ Meyer and Will Meyer. Maryville’s Silas Miller and Nemaha Central’s John Langill will look to put themselves up front as well.
2A
Chesney Peterson is nearly halfway done with her senior year, on her way to ending what has been a historic high school career for Stanton County. Currently, she’s won her last 55 races, and shows absolutely zero signs of ending that streak anytime soon. Again, I’ve knocked on wood, so take it easy. Obviously, she’s undefeated this season, and has run under eighteen four times, with her quickest of the four being 17:43 last week. In addition to the individual title she’s chasing, she also has the chance to lead Stanton County to their fourth straight team title as well, and by the looks of it, they are in a great position to do so. With their next three runners under twenty-two minutes, they have their top four ahead of the next closest team’s number three runner, which in this case is Sacred Heart out of Salina. Joining the chase for Stanton County is Remington, who is led by Ava Klaassen, as they’ll look to finish on the podium, either just ahead or behind Eva Matteucci and Sacred Heart.
In the individual race, Payton Wurtz is back, along with Madison Sutterfield and Avery Boydston. All three girls have run under 19:30 this season, with Wurtz the fastest in 19:21. Wurtz has also won all eight of her races this season and is looking for another top three performance. If Wurtz takes second, it will be her fifth runner-up finish to Peterson at state. Sutterfield has also been very consistent this season, as she’s broken twenty three times and has never finished outside of the top three. For Boydston, it’s a similar story, as she’s broken twenty three different times, but has won four races, while finishing as runner-up in the other two. I’d be very surprised if these three runners weren’t making up the 2nd-4th spots, simply because of how well they’ve competed all year.
While Peterson looks to defend her title, senior teammate Kamryn Golub is looking to do the same but may have a bigger challenge on his hands. Golub is coming into championship weekend the second fastest boy in 2A, behind Berean Academy’s Andrew Harder. His 16:08 was run on a flat Sterling course, but 16:08 is 16:08, and it shows that he’s got that performance in him. Both are coming off a regional victory and have yet to compete against one another, and what better place to introduce themselves to each other than at state? Other names in the mix include Harder’s teammate Zach Briscoe, Meade’s Logan Keith, Spencer Mumford of Kansas City Christian and Ell-Saline duo of Garrison Zerger and Carson Fouard.
In the team race, Berean Academy is looking to re-assert themselves as the 2A power, who had won the previous two state titles before Stanton County were crowned champions in 2021. This year, with Harder and Briscoe leading the charge, the odds are most definitely in their favor. However, the fight for runner-up will be a close one between Hutchinson-Trinity Catholic and Marion, who have a very similar average time and 1-5 split. It could go either squad’s way, as both have been consistent throughout the year.
1A
Last fall, Golden Plains’ Emma Weiner won state with a broken leg, and this year she’ back with a non-broken leg. She’s run 19:03 this year, and has run under twenty two additional times. Not to mention, she’s also a crisp 7-0, and has a great chance of winning her second straight cross country state title. I would have said that Sutterfield of Meade was a threat, but with their reclassification to 2A, that is no longer. However, freshman Hailey Walden out of the Classical School of Wichita has run 19:39 this season, and may be the biggest threat to a successful title defense for Weiner. She’s only broken twenty once, but has been under 20:30 a few times, so I would keep an eye out for her. Along with Walden, Colony Crest’s Josie Walter is the third and final girl under twenty, as she ran 19:59 earlier this month. Just like Walden, she only has one sub-twenty performance to her name, but again, don’t leave her out of the mix.
After pulling a huge upset on Doniphan West a year ago, a title defense is in the name of the game for the ladies of Quinter, but Ness City, Osborne, and South Gray wouldn’t mind taking it for themselves. As of now, Ness City has been improving throughout the year, and sits in a good spot with all four runners in the projected top twenty-five scorers. They’re also sporting a fifty second split time and the quickest average of any team in the field. Quinter has the faster first and second runners, but their fourth runner is two minutes back, leaving a lot up to fate. For Osborne and South Gray, they each have a solid top three, but their fourth runners are farther back than they’d like, but if they can close the gap, it’s not impossible.
With Logan Keith in 2A, the 1A title is up for grabs, and could be anyone’s for the taking. The trio of Brenden Ellis, Blake Yoder, and Broxton Gall from Ingalls, Hutchinson-Central Christian and Ness City have all run under 17:10 this season, but none have done that since late September. Ellis is the only one of the three coming off a regional win, and that momentum could be enough to propel him over Yoder and Gall, but it’s still way too close to call. A key piece to the puzzle could be how close the team battle is for Quinter and Ness City. If Gall knows that it’s close, could it be enough for him to make the move and shoot to score a single point for his team? I don’t know, but we’ll find out.
Speaking of the team race, it’s a head to head fight between Quinter and Ness City, who are both capable of taking the win for themselves. Ness City has the advantage of having a true frontrunner in Gall, but Quinter’s 1-4 split of forty-six seconds is dangerous in its own way. Quinter could hypothetically put their first three before Ness City’s number two, but even then it’s still super close. Beloit-St. John has a strong case for being the 3rd place favorite, but Brewster, Hartford, Osborne and Axtell could very well make it interesting if things go their way. Just like most of these races we’ll see, this is going to be close and could go either way.
Now that this is finally done and I can give my hands a break, I want to wish everyone good luck if you’re competing tomorrow! If you are a fan, parent, supportive teammate, or anyone involved in the sport, please go to Wamego or Rim Rock and support the hundreds of athletes who will be competing.
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Cheney has proven to beat Trinity this season and last season (regardless of Trinity’s twilight times earlier in the season). They have a very solid chance of finishing as state runner up.
For some unknown reason late in the 3A section I commented about that race taking place in Wamego. I knew better but that didn't stop me. My apologies for the error. Thanks for reading and subscribing to The Lead Pack.