Hesston High School junior Avery Larson enters her junior season as one of the top runners to watch in Kansas Class 3A after playing a major role in back to back state cross country team championships for Hesston during her first two years of high school.
Sports in Kansas recognized Larson as one of its Class 3A girls cross country runners to watch in 2026.
As a freshman, Larson finished seventh individually at the state cross country championships while helping Hesston capture the state team title.
She followed that with another strong season as a sophomore, finishing 14th individually at state as the Swathers repeated as state champions.
Larson has also found plenty of success on the track. As a freshman, she helped Hesston’s 4×800-meter relay finish fifth at state as the Swathers finished second as a team.
Her sophomore season included a state runner up finish in the 4×800, a seventh-place finish in the 1,600 and a state team championship for Hesston.
Her accomplishments extend to the national level as well. Larson was part of a second-place 4×800 relay at the 2025 USATF Junior Olympics in the 15-16 division.
In 2026, she earned AAU Junior Olympics All-American honors with a sixth-place finish in the 15-16 4×800 and also qualified in the 1,500 meters.
Hesston will have plenty of talent around Larson as the Swathers go after a third consecutive state cross country championship in 2026.
Reese Quinn, Josie Heinrichs and Mary O’Halloran are among the other runners Larson believes could contend for all-state honors this fall.
“I am grateful to get to run with most of the same girls from our previous years as we all have such a tight bond,” Larson said in an interview with Sports in Kansas.
We are excited for the opportunity to come back this year with even more girls to compete for a third state title,” Larson said about the upcoming season.
Hesston’s boys and girls cross country teams open the 2026 season Sept. 3 at the Smoky Valley Invitational in Lindsborg.
The Swathers’ first home meet is the Hesston Invitational on Sept. 10. Hesston competes at the Herington Invitational Sept. 17, the Southeast of Saline meet Sept. 23, Berean Academy Oct. 1, Ellsworth Oct. 6 and the Central Kansas League Meet on Oct. 15.
