Buhler High School senior Corbin Starkweather (19 minutes, 14.33 seconds) and junior Isabella Friesen (19:28.16) placed third and fourth at the Kansas Class 4A state cross country meet in 2025.
Starkweather and Friesen and 81 other state-placing runners return for the 2026 season, according to Sports in Kansas.
The list includes four individual state champions: Shawnee Mission East senior Charlotte Hardy, 6A, 18:23.5; Salina Central senior Kaylie Shutlz, 5A, 17:26.3; Wichita Trinity Academy sophomore Tylee Coleman, Class 3A, 19:27.06; and Smith Center senior Madison Howland, Class 2A, 19:16.77.
The list also includes four other second-place state finishers: Wichita Kapaun Mount-Carmel junior Ava Claasen, Class 5A, 17:36.8; Paola junior Ella Needham, Class 4A, 19:12.96; Bluestem junior Regan Neal, Class 2A, 19:29.63; and Golden Plains junior Elizabeth Weiner, Class 1A, 20:35.65.
Other returning third-place finishers at state are Manhattan senior Gabrielle Converse, Class 6A,18:51.49; and Hesston senior Reese Quinn, Class 3A, 19:37.62.
Other returning fourth-place finishers at state are Ellinwood junior Eleanor Joiner, Class 2A, 19:49.69; and Golden Plains junior Elizabeth Weiner, Class 1A, 20:35.65.
Other returning placers from the area are Great Bend senior Decorah Schroeter, 14th in 5A, 19:24; McPherson sophomore Adeline Kramer, 10th in 4A, 20:24.19; Andale sophomore Ayvah Banda, 19th in 4A, 20:39.99; Pratt sophomore Tara Girard, 20th in 4A, 20:46.08; Southeast of Saline senior Piper Brown, fifth in 3A, 19:57.72; Ellsworth senior Molly Ehrlich, sixth in 3A, 19:59.7.
Cheney senior Abigail Blundell, 12th in 3A, 20:11.34; Hesston junior Avery Larson, 14th in 3A, 20:13.64; Ellsworth junior Lakyn Beckman, 17th in 3A, 20:22.21; Berean Academy junior Addie Busenitz, 18th in Class 2A, 20:36.44; Moundridge junior Baylee Schriner, 19th in Class 2A, 20:39.21; and Pretty Prairie senior Amity White, 13th in Class 1A, 21:06.94.
