Katelyn Rupe and Max Larson Shine In Season Openers 🍁👟
After months of waiting, the 2024 cross country season is finally here and the first two days of racing did not disappoint.
With the rest of the state opening up their respective seasons tomorrow, both Great Bend and Olathe East played host to stellar season openers for a pair of state champions and other high caliber runners around the state.
Here’s a quick look into what went down on Wednesday and Thursday’s 2024 season openers.
On Wednesday, Olathe East hosted their annual Olathe East Invitational at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, where hundreds of athletes from across the Kansas City Metro shook off any dust over 4000m.
In his first cross country race since kicking his way to a 6A 3200m state title, Shawnee Mission South star Max Larson pulled away from Olathe East’s Evan Thompson to start his senior campaign off on a high note, winning in 11:51 to Thompson’s 11:59.
Larson’s Raider teammates Liam Kirkpatrick, Ian Dodson and Charlie Eyler found their way across the line not too long after, going 3-5-6 to help South take the team title over East, 26-51. The Hawks put up a valiant fight as Caleb Thompson and Nate Barnes notched top ten finishes of their own, crossing in fourth and eighth.
Blue Valley sophomore Carter Moser was all by himself as he won the Freshman/Sophomore race, running 12:43 to win by 22 seconds.
In a field loaded with 6A firepower, it was Christ Preparatory’s Isabelle Wood who took the win, separating herself from Olathe East’s Erin Barnes who finished runner-up. The pair of juniors created a sizable gap on the chase pack, clocking 14:51 and 14:58, while the next finisher was roughly 20 seconds back.
In the team standings, Lawrence Free State didn’t leave anything up to chance as they packed six girls into the top nine spots, tallying just 26 points while Olathe East was second with 67 points.
The top runner for the Firebirds was Cayman Barnes, who finished third in 15:17.
Christ Prep sophomores Mirabel Bucher and Eiley Nicholl went 1-2 in the Freshman/Sophomore race to give the KSHSAA Approved School a clean sweep.
They crossed in 14:43 and 14:45, respectively, clocking the two fastest times of the day.
Out west in Great Bend, Katelyn Rupe got back to her winning ways in historic fashion, opening up her senior year in 17:14, the fastest season opener ever ran by a Kansas girl. The two-time defending champion’s performance bested Cailie Logue’s 2016 debut of 17:20 at the Girard Invitational.
Just like they did in all eight in-state races a year ago, the Mustangs of Salina Central put together a 1-2 finish as sophomore Kaylie Shultz was second in 18:05, 15 seconds faster than her time on the same course last fall.
Over the last few years, the ladies of Great Bend have continually put on a clinic on the art of pack running, and even after losing key contributors to graduation, Sienna Smith and company got back to their winning ways.
Smith, Marissa Boone and Bella Long went 5-8-9, putting three in front of Bishop Carrol’s number two, holding off the Golden Eagles 46-59. Bishop Carroll sophomore Gwen Sattler found herself in a distant third as she crossed in 19:25. For her first ever cross country race (according to MileSplit), I’d say that’s not too shabby.
Junction' City’s Anna Fontaine was fourth in 19:35.
On the boy’s side we got an early look at two of the top contenders for the individual 3A title, as Southeast of Saline’s Brayden Walker and Holcomb’s Brody Deniston both made their season debut alongside 2023 4A state champion Caleb Muehler of McPherson.
Although the trio didn’t all race head-to-head, Walker threw down the fastest time of the day to win in 16:08, the fourth fastest time of his Trojan career.
Deniston, who is the top returner from last year’s state championship finished just ahead of Muehler in the Varsity Red race as the pair crossed in 16:11 and 16:12, respectively.
Overall, Garden City won the merged team title with a 5k average of 16:53, taking down 3A power Holcomb and 6A contender Junction City, 63-89-95.
At Basehor-Linwood’s Bobcat Invite, 2023 5A 1600m/800m champion Izzy Ross (BV Southwest) picked up the win in her season opener, holding off Eudora’s Hanna Keltner, 19:27-19:33.
Keltner may have not left with the individual win, but the Cardinals took down Ross and the Timberwolves 64-77 in the team race as they pursue their fourth straight 4A state title.
One of the biggest performances of the day came from the Holton Wildcats who nearly stole second place right out from under Southwest, just a point behind with 78. Maya Doney, Eva Cortes and Ava Clayton led the way for the ‘Cats with a 3-4-5 finish, making them a sleeper team for some hardware later this year.
On the boy’s side it was Eudora freshman Grayson Masterson that picked up the win, running 17:18 in his Cardinal debut.
Evan Carter (Shawnee Heights) and Cole Hubbard (Basehor-Linwood) rounded out the top three finishers in 17:23 and 17:44.
The hosting Bobcats comfortably took the team title over Shawnee Heights and Eudora, winning 31-71-95.
Additional Noteworthy Performances🌻
Bree Allen, Prairie View’s six-time state champion ran 20:04 to win the Jerry Howarter Invitational, Baldwin’s Irelyn Kennedy was second in 20:04
The Central Heights boys went 1-2-4-6-7-8-9 at the Burlington Wildcat Classic with Connor Burkdoll winning the 2-Mile race in 10:25
Ellis junior Avery Boydston won the Smoky Valley Invitational in 19:56, winning by a minute and six seconds
Ryker Vieux won the Meade Invitational (2-Mile) in 10:42
Lakin’s Austin Ritsema and Alex Luce went 1-2 at Goodland Invitational in 16:24 and 16:58,
Meets To Watch This Weekend📆
Greg Wilson Invitational, 📍JCCC - Overland Park, KS
JK Gold Invitational, 📍Clapp Park -Wichita, KS
Manhattan Invitational, 📍Warner Park - Manhattan, KS
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