This may be jetting into your inbox at an unconventional time, but I’d disagree. While your kid is getting ready to head to the school to leave for state, or while you have a little bit of downtime before you have to hop in the car, you’ve got an in-depth state preview to hype you up as you make your way to either Lawrence or Wamego. If you aren’t going to either place and you’re watching the live results from the comfort of your couch, I’d urge you to grab your rain jacket and go watch the action in person! Besides, you only get this one day a year!
Though it may feel like it was just yesterday that we were getting set for the opening weekend of the season, we’re just hours away from the conlsuion of the KSHSAA cross country season. Here’s what you need to know about this morning’s slate of state championship racing.
Since her freshman year, Anjali Hocker Singh has been dominant to say the least. She’s won three-straight state titles in 6A, and hasn’t really been challenged in any of them. Despite nagging injuries popping up through some of her track seasons, the Olathe North star is always ready to go on the grass when it matters most. Today, Hocker Singh has just 3.1 miles between her and state history, as she looks to join Taylor Briggs (Chapman), Cailie Logue (Girard), Amy Mortimer (Riley County), Dodie Martin (Stanton County), Trisa Nickoley (Shawnee Heights) and Laura Roxberg (Blue Valley Northwest) as the only girls in state history to ever win four-straight cross country state titles. Throughout the season, Hocker Singh has solidified her status as top dog in the 6A, but over the last few weeks, a couple of athletes have shown they might want to spoil Hocker Singh’s big day. While the three-time defending champion is still the favorite in my eyes, keep a look out for Washburn Rural’s Payton Fink and Junction City’s Lorna Rae Pierce who look to be her biggest threat.
On the team side of things, Olathe West continues to dominate the state, and even after losing Charis Robinson and Paige Baker to graduation in May, their returning senior trio of Bree Newport, Kalyn Willingham and Kate Miller have kept the good times rollin’ as they’ve yet to lose to an in-state team. As of now, both Olathe North and Washburn Rural pose the biggest challenge to West, but the Owls’ incredible pack running and depth is something any team will have a tough time keeping up with.
After a year of having to deal with the beast that was Wyatt Haughton last year, Shawnee Mission North senior Micah Blomker is looking for his second state title in three years, but will have a couple of familiar faces to deal with first. Max Larson and Brock Olsen of Shawnee Mission South and Blue Valley West have been surging this season, but neither have been able to prevail over the 2021 champ. In their last matchup, Blomker beat Olsen and Larson 15:52-15:53-15:58, but Blomker owns the fastest time at Rim Rock this season by any guy in the state, running 15:07 at Sunflower League, the second-fastest time in course history. Heading into their matchup I’d argue Blomker has the upper-hand, but I don’t think a win is going to be a walk in the park.
Oof. This boy’s team race is going to be a dogfight. Personally, I think you could run today’s race a dozen times and there is going to be a different result every time. You can make arguments for why Gardner-Edgerton is going to win, but you can do the same for Free State. But Olathe East and Shawnee Mission North have just as good a chance as anyone else, and don’t sleep on teams like Junction City, Garden City or Mill Valley. For a guy who spent a few years competing in 6A, I don’t remember a team race being this competitive in a long time. Even if it were competitive, there was typically at least one team who people felt had at least a little bit of an edge over the rest.
If you didn’t know by now, Salina Central Katelyn Rupe dominates 5A, and that trend is most likely continuing today. Since winning a pair of state titles on the track as a freshman, Rupe has lost just one cross country race, and that was when she finished 13th at NXR Heartland. Excluding that loss, she’s gone 13-0, breaking 17:50 all but once. Most recently, she rewrote the record books and became the fourth-fastest Kansan of all-time, after running 17:05 in Junction City a few weeks back. Even with a rain-soaked course on deck today, it’ll take a lot to push her off course. Maybe she’ll even break her own course record today. Behind her is a pretty tight battle for second, as her freshman teammate Kaylie Shultz and Topeka-Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller will most likely round out the top-three, but either one could take home the silver. For Shultz, she’s been the second part of the Mustang 1-2 punch, as they’ve finished first and second in every race this year, except for the Swather Special where they were in separate races. She’s also run 17:43, and hasn’t run slower than 18:08 since Rim Rock. For Miller, she’s won her last five races and has run a blistering 17:24 during that streak. Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s Taylor Barringer, St. James’ Katie Price and Andover’s Madelyn Wallace are also names to look for, as they’re the only other three to break 19:00 this season.
Speaking of Price, she and her Thunder teammates have a big day at the office today, as they’re set to defend their 2022 state title, but the team in their way is incredibly similar. Both St. James and Great Bend lack a true frontrunner that will be contending for the individual title, but each has a 1-5 pack that’s as solid as any of them. They haven’t got to see much of one another during the regular season, only twice to be exact, and each team has won once. However, this time St. James has consistent scorer Quinn Hays back in the mix, who ran a lifetime best of 19:10 just a few weeks ago. As these two jockey it up front, fully expect St. Thomas Aquinas to take up a spot on the podium too. But don’t count them out of a finish higher than third, because I’d be more than willing to bet that Justin Wrigley’s squad isn’t going to be complacent.
Last year it was St. Thomas Aquinas senior Colby King who ran away with the title, and this year signs point to Jackson Esquibel of Shawnee Heights taking on that role. First off, Esquibel has just one loss, and that was to Micah Blomker last month. Besides that, he’s 7-0 and since the end of September, no one has finished within 30 seconds of him. Though he’s my pick for the favorite, he’s not invincible, and will have Kapaun Mt. Carmel sophomore Daniel Enriquez and Canyon and Crew Buehler of Blue Valley Southwest to deal with too.
Though it was a little uncertain at the beginning of the season, the defending champion Blue Valley Southwest Timberwolves come into today’s slate of state competition as the favorites to repeat, thanks to their strong 3-5 running behind the Buehler brothers. Behind them, a quartet of teams including Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Spring Hill, Bishop Carroll and De Soto all have the ability to take a podium spot for themselves, but remember, anything can happen once that gun goes off.
For years, the 4A girls have had a very short list of names dominate the classification. From 2013-2016, it was Cailie Logue. From 2017-2020, it was Taylor Briggs. From 2021-2022, it was Clearwater’s Hayley Trotter. Now, it’s someone else’s turn to be the 4A state champion. Based off times, you would think Circle’s Brett Jacobson is up next, but a 6th place at regionals last weekend has me feeling a tad uncertain. Yes, Jacobson is fast, and incredibly talented, but after not finishing the race as a freshman and a un-ideal tune-up, I don’t think she’s immune. Plus, she’s still just a sophomore, and a lot of the contenders behind her have had their fair share of Wamego. Two of those athletes are also teammates, as Eudora duo Hanna Keltner and Sydney Owens wouldn’t mind a final 1-2 finish in Owens’ last cross country race in a Cardinal uniform. Also, Clay Center’s Lauren Smith will be in the mix, and others, including myself, don’t think she has garnered even remotely enough of the attention she deserves.
For the past two years, Eudora has been the team to disrupt the Baldwin dynasty, which up until 2021 had claimed 12 titles since the turn of the century. This year, after graduation left Eudora without a few key pieces, their defense is going to have a difficult path against a Baldwin team that didn’t lose any of their top-five from 2022, and added future 4A star Shea Griffith, the freshman who has run 20:07 this year. The two powerhouse programs who are practically next-door neighbors have met in each of the last two weeks, with Baldwin winning at league and Eudora winning at regionals. Eudora nipped the Bulldogs by 12 points last weekend, but did that against a Griffith-less Baldwin squad. With Griffith presumably back in the lineup this morning, make sure you get to the course in time to watch this showdown. Clay Center and Buhler will be two of the top teams battling it out for third, but Clay Center’s 1-2 punch of Smith and Kylie Pfizenmaier may be a little much for anyone to overcome.
Maybe it’s Zach Arnold (Eudora), or maybe it’s Blake Logan (Circle)—actually, it could be Caleb Muehler (McPherson), Drew Elliott (Chapman) or maybe Peyton Parker (Wamego)? What if it’s freshman Gavin Lindahl (Buhler)? There are a number of guys who could head home with a first-place medal around their neck, but at least to me, there is one guy that has patiently waited and worked for this opportunity. For years, Eudora’s Arnold has been on the outside looking in, watching guys like Tanner Newkirk, Sawyer Schmidt and of course Eli Gilmore win title after title after title. This time, Arnold doesn’t have to worry about anyone else but himself, and he’s made it known all throughout this fall that he wants to win. A 15:33 PR and only one finish outside of the top-three boosts his credentials in my eyes, and gives me confidence in his result today. But, like I mentioned before, there are plenty of guys who don’t want to hand Arnold the win, and whoever does come out on top who should pat yourself on the back, because I can imagine you had to truly earn that win.
From 2018-2021, Buhler was at the top of 4A, and it wasn’t even close. Plenty of state medalists and a state title for TannerLindahl highlight the golden years for Buhler before it all came crumbling down last year. (Please understand that’s a joke) Sike! Buhler was still one of the best teams in 4A last year, but they just unfortunately had to go up against an incredibly talented, experienced and hungry Wamego squad. This year, Buhler is back in the driver seat and once again controls their own destiny. Led by freshman GavinLindahl, and accompanied by senior duo KadenLohrentz and LayneWhisler, it’ll take their worse day and someone else’s perfect day to keep the Crusaders from winning their fifth title in six years. Behind Wamego, Tonganoxie looks like the next team up on the podium, despite losing Eli Gilmore to graduation.
At this point, if you’re a fan of 3A and you don’t know about Bree Allen, open a new tab and get yourself caught up to speed. Since last fall, the Prairie View junior has won four state titles and has only lost five times total. She also has run 18:44 this season, which is a lifetime best. Do you want to guess where she ran that? I’ll give you a hint, it rhymes with gym sock. Not only does she have experience on the course, but she runs superb every time she’s there. Last year at state is where she set her previous PR, and out of the three times she’s gone sub-19, two of those performances have been in Lawrence. However, I think it’s possible Trinity Academy sophomore Emily Hein or Hesston’s Ashley Lehman could give her a run for her money, but there are almost too many factors in favor of Allen, plus, she’s never given me a reason to think she isn’t capable of winning again tomorrow.
Even though graduation wasn’t all too kind to Southeast of Saline, I’d be a dang fool to think they are any different than they were a year ago. Yeah, they don’t have JentrieAlderson scoring one point for them like they did for so long, but now their pack is producing the same results week after week. For example, at regionals, the first Trojan (Anna Jackson) didn’t cross for two minutes after Allen won the race, but after Jackson did, it took just 35 seconds for the rest of the squad to come in. They won 41-84, putting all seven girls in front of West Franklin’s fifth runner. Hein and the Trinity Academy Knights may be the biggest threat to a four-peat. On paper, Trinity has three before Saline’s top runner, but Saline has all seven finishers before Trinity’s fifth runner. It’ll be the battle of the ‘pack attack’ vs. low-stick scoring. Norton Community’s duo of EmmaCollins and MackenzieClydesdale should keep them in the hunt for the podium, but they could potentially finish closer to the other two teams than hypotheticals show.
You know him, you love him (if not that’s mean), it’s Clay Shively, one of the best runners in the country and a state record holder both on the track and on the grass. Though he’s only raced four times this season, two of those have been record-breaking performances. First, he set the Kansas soil and overall state record, winning in 14:42 over a fast field. A few weeks removed from that, he won at Roy Griak, lowering the course record by seven freaking seconds, which for those of you that don’t realize its significance, that’s incredible. He’s already got three state titles to his name; this is the first one he’s able to defend, and he doesn’t tend to lose big races. Depending on how Shively takes the race out, he could either end up in no-man’s land with himself and the gator, or he could start conservative and have a number of guys with him through the mile. Regardless, I can’t really see him losing this race, but the battle behind him is going to be fun. His teammate Sam Ferguson, along with Wichita Collegeiate’s Will Meyer, West Franklin’s Kodi Downes, and Girard’s duo of Gabe Onelio and Houston Mcgown will all be aiming for second. Did I forget to mention Southeast of Saline sophomore Brayden Walker who hasn’t lost this season? Cause yeah, he’ll be in that group for sure.
Now this is where it gets interesting. From 2018-2020, Southeast of Saline were the kings of 3A, and in 2021, the beginning of the Trinity Academy dynasty had finally arrived. After upsetting the pre-season favorites, the Knights handily won a year ago, and heading into the season looked poised to do it again. But, a few lingering injuries and absentees have a little cause for concern. Only Shively and Ferguson have seemingly been able to run the bulk of their schedule, while both Jacob Hobson and Caleb Tofteland have competed off and on over the last two months. Additionally, their anchor of a fifth runner from last fall, Wes Ferguson, has raced just once this season, but not once in October. This all means that Trinity Academy may be as vulnerable as they’ve been in the last two years. After finishing runner-up the past two years, now is as good of a time as ever for the Southeast of Saline Trojans to take 3A back, and right now, they’re a locomotive heading full-steam down the tracks. With Brayden Walker, their undefeated frontrunner at the helm, followed closely by Levi Allen, Cayden Walker and Jacob Bircher, today might be the day we see David slay Goliath. At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to the pace of the race. If the race goes out hot, that favors Saline, but if the race is slower, that most likely favors Trinity. Regardless, I don’t know who’s going to win. These are two of the best small school programs not only in the state, but in the country. If Trinity wins, they complete the three-peat shorthanded and shift their focus to NXR Heartland. If Saline wins, they’re the ones who broke up the Trinity dynasty and asserted themselves back on top of the classification. Both teams more than deserve to win, and both have the pieces to do it. But there can’t be two winners; that’s why there is only one trophy.
Move over Chesney Peterson, there is going to be a new queen of 2A, and shocker, I have no idea who. At least I have a few names who come to mind, so that makes it a little better, right? The first name I thought of was Wabaunsee junior Payton Wurtz, who has been patiently finishing runner-up behind Peterson for two years. But, a late start to the season and a ton of worthy competitors, may have made her path to the top harder than it looked at the end of May. Introducing Madison Howland, the Smith Center freshman who is 7-1 on the year, coming off of a 18:58 PR at regionals. Howland is talented; we know that much, but similar to McCrory in 1A, it’ll be interesting to see how her lack of experience plays out compared to that of Wurtz, or Faith Ekart of Sterling or Emma Cubit of Central Heights. Eureka’s Rose Buck and Ellis’ Avery Boydston are both underclassmen as well, but have the times and wins to back themselves up. It’s also worth noting that none of the ladies I’ve mentioned have run at Wamego this season, meaning they’ll all either be formally introduced or re-introduced to those hills today.
The team race could very well come down to the very end, but if I had to decide, Remington seems to hold the upper-hand over Oskaloosa right now, but it’s going to be a close one. Remington is ahead after one runner, but then Oskaloosa has four in front of Remington’s two, but then Oskaloosa’s fifth runner is a way back of Remington’s. With tough course conditions and a competitive field, it’s anyone’s game.
On the boy’s side, there are a number of guys that could pick up the win, and a lot of them are planning on having a teammate right next to them throughout all 5k. Andrew Schumacher and Spencer Mumford of KC-Christian have the first and third fastest times of the season, while Central Heights’ trio of Cody Hammond, Connor Burkdoll and Owen Miller fill out the rest of the top-five. What about Carson Fouard and Garrison Zerger of Ell-Saline? Maybe Meade’s Logan Keith and Ryker Vieux? There are a lot of deadly duos (and trios) that will utilize their teammate in the racing tactics, which is also going to play a major role in the team race.
One of the few times I’ll say this, but I feel pretty confident in a clear frontrunner for the team race. Even on a bad day, I think Central Heights has more than enough pieces to reign supreme, holding off Trinity Catholic and Hoxie, along with the rest of 2A. The battle between those two will be a nail biter, with both squads near-identical strengths in terms of how they’ll shake out in Wamego. But, if you see some purple on the podium, don’t say I didn’t warn you, because Meade has had a year to adjust to 2A, and it’s going pretty smoothly so far.
If high school cross country sports betting was legal, I would put down a good chunk of money on Northern Heights freshman Ellei McCrory to win her first state title today. And no, that’s not a dig at any of the other athletes in 1A, that’s just how dang good she is. After her season opener of 19:46, I thought “Yeah, she’ll probably be a contender.” A week later after she ran 18:49 at Wamego, I felt confident in saying she was going to be a state champ. Despite this being her first-ever season of high school cross country, McCrory has won all seven races, running under 19:00 five of those times, and set a lifetime best of 17:48 at the Osage City Invite. The only thing that I could possibly argue against her is her lack of experience, but from the way she’s composed herself and won her races, I don’t think this is her first rodeo. But, after a season best on her comeback from injury, two-time defending champion Emma Weiner of Golden Plains isn’t looking to share the crown with anyone else. Keep in mind, this is the same Emma Weiner that won a state title with a BROKEN LEG, so for one thing, she’s tough as nails, and she has the experience that McCrory does not. Purely based off how well the freshman is running, I think McCrory is still a pre-race favorite, but if you expect Weiner to go down without a fight you’re dead wrong.
The team race looks to be favoring defending champs South Gray, but anything is possible come race day. Both Northern Heights and Colony Crest, led by sophomores Josie Walter and Peyton Schmidt are looking to take down the Rebels and end their streak before it begins. What South Gray lacks in a low-stick frontrunner like Northern Heights and Colony Crest they make up for with a 1-4 spread that’s half as long as their biggest competitors.
Just as it seems to be every year, the boys’ race for the individual title is so up in the air, you could probably pull a name out of a hat and have the best odds of being right. On paper, Lebo’s Caleb Durst would be the true frontrunner with Ness City’s Broxton Gall not far behind. With Wallace County’s Evan Pearce in there too, who knows? What about Jude Nelson (Skyline), Grady Buessing (Axtell), Kaleb Arnold (Olpe), Elliot Churchwell (Quinter), or Kiowa County’s Sam Martinez? There are so many athletes that have the chance to win big, but honestly it’s so hard to try and put together a solid prediction without second-guessing myself. For all I know, a guy who I didn’t name could easily win today, it’s that close.
I wish I could say it was different for the team aspect of things, but it’s eerily similar. Based off hypotheticals, Quinter and Ness City are neck and neck with one another, each with a low-stick guy up front and 2-4 spread under 20 seconds. Don’t count out Northern Heights or Skyline, who are in incredibly similar positions. I do feel it’s safe to say that it will be three of those four teams that make up the podium in any order, but the guys from Axtell could see this tonight and win a title just to shut me up. Only time will tell who the best in 1A is, and luckily, we’ve only got one more sleep before the big reveal.
Wherever you’re watching the races today, stay warm and cheer on all those kids braving the tough conditions, and if you’ve got a cow bell, you better ring it!
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