By Lucky Kidd
WAMEGO, Kan. – Another spot on the banner wall at Buhler High School’s Jim Baker Fieldhouse was filled Saturday, as the Crusader boy’s Cross Country team won another 4A cross country title in Wamego. The Crusaders placed three runners in the top ten, Layne Whisler was the top finisher for Buhler in 5th place with a time of 16:10.05 with Kaden Lohrentz placed 6th, and Gavin Lindahl 7th.
Proud of these kids and how they performed yesterday! #ReignOn #StateChamps pic.twitter.com/Zb0rbWRQNP
— Buhler Cross Country (@BuhlerXCountry) October 29, 2023
“They performed at their absolute best at the State Meet today,” said Head Coach Curtis Morgan. “The gentlemen brought home the state title in dominant fashion and the ladies brought home 4th place running the best races they have ever run.”
McPherson had the individual 4A boys winner in Caleb Mueller who finished just over a second ahead of Zachary Arnold of Eudora., as they placed 9th as a team.
Ain’t that a kick! McPherson’s Muehler powers to 4A state title#KSHSAACovered x @CapFed https://t.co/66upIio3Th
— KSHSAA (@KSHSAA) October 29, 2023
“Both the girls and boys teams wrapped up successful seasons at the State meet today and I couldn’t be more proud of the way they competed today and throughout the season,” said Head Coach Nikolous Rempe. “Caleb had a huge kick in the final 100 meters to win and bring home an individual State Championship.”
The Buhler girls finished 4th and McPherson 11th in the 4A team standings. Buhler’s top runner was Corbin Starkweather who finished 19th, and McPherson was led by Lexi Patterson in 14th place.
At the 1A meet in Wamego Pratt Skyline’s Boys placed 4th with Goessel 6th, Pretty Prairie 11th and Burrton 12th. Central Christian’s Blake Yoder was the top area 1A boys runner, placing 2nd. Goessel’s Eli Gaeddert finished 7th, St. John’s Quade Smith 14th, James White III from Pretty Prairie 15th, and Joel Valdez of Stafford 16th.
In the 1A girl’s race Elyria Christian”s Laney Reiff finished 3rd with Kaitlynn Bina from Centre 11th, Elyria Christian brought home 3rd place from Wamego.
Trinity Catholic had three 20 finishers as the team took second in the 2A boys meet in Wamego, with John Lindstrom placing 12th Cameron Kiser 15th and Jacob Lindstrom 17th. Berean Academy finished 6th as a team, led by an 18th-place finish from Jeremiah Briscoe. Marion’s Luke Wessel placed 16th.
It’s a Great Day to be a Celtic! 2023 2A KSHSAA Cross Country State Runners-Up! For the 2nd time in school history, three individual State medalists! Sophomores Jacob, 17th; Cameron, 15th and John, 12th. Many PRs and everyone ran AMAZING!https://t.co/0jjZZ81EkG
— Trinity Catholic Cross Country (@TCXC_Hutch) October 29, 2023
Salina Sacred Heart, Remington and Sterling finished 1-2-3 with Berean Academy 5th and Hillsboro 9th in 2A girls. Sterling had two runners in the top ten with Faith Ekart 4th and Katie Inwood 10th, with Julia Kilgore finishing 15th. Also medalling was Quinlyn Funk of Hillsboro who placed 11th, and Berean Academy’s Autumn Hirsch who placed 19th.
At Rim Rock Farm near Lawrence, Southeast of Saline won the 3A girls’ title, led by medalist Breckyn Alderson in 11th. Piper Brown in 14th., Abby Commerford in 16th and Anna Jackson in 19th. Hesston’s Ashley Lehman finished 5th and Reese Quinn 12th in the 3A race. Smoky Valley’s Keira Mullen was 18th. Cheney, with no runners in the top ten, was able to bring home a 4th place team finish.
Here’s some photos of the 3A State XC girls champs
Wichita Trinity’s Emily Hein wins a state title by knocking off reigning champ Bree Allen of Prairie View.
SE of Saline earns the 4-peat. #KSHSAACovered x @CapFed pic.twitter.com/QYMz4RmEnC
— Mac Moore (@MacMoore_KSHSAA) October 28, 2023
Southeast of Saline also brought home a 3A boys runner-up finish in the team standings, with medals for Cayden Walker in 8th, Levi Allen in 12th Brayden Walker in 12th, and Jacob Bircher in 17th.
