By Jimmy Gillispie In vastly different ways, Shawnee Mission East swept the boys and girls Sunflower League titles Friday at Rim Rock. The boys had only a single runner in the top 10, but they won a tight race by four points. The Lancers scored 94 points, just edging past Lawrence at the 14-team meet. Meanwhile, the Shawnee Mission East girls easily won the league championship. The Lancers won with just 37 points – 24 ahead of Mill Valley. The SME girls were led by league cha

Liberty North junior Lucy Wright won the KC XC Classic on Saturday. (photo by Matt Noonan) By Jimmy Gillispie It was a busy weekend of cross country meets all around the region as runners enjoyed true fall temperatures for the first time this year. Teams from the Kansas City area competed in various meets, including the Kansas City XC Classic, Maple Leaf XC Classic, Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and even the Nike XC Town Twilight Invitational in Terre Hau

Rockhurst finished third in the Elite Division of the Gans Creek Classic on Friday night. Rockhurst junior Jack McGovern broke the state record with a time of 14:25.8. (photo by Rockhurst Athletics) Rockhurst junior Jack McGovern made headlines Friday night after he ran the fastest time ever by a high school runner on the Gans Creek course in Columbia, Missouri. Under the lights, McGovern paced all runners at the Gans Creek Classic and brought home a victory in the Elite Divi

Lexington sophomore Ellie Lichte, junior Phoebe Engelbrecht and senior Addison Smith finished first, second and third, respectively, at the Odessa Invitational meet Saturday. (photos by Jimmy Gillispie) By Jimmy Gillispie ODESSA — The two-time defending state champion Lexington girls cross country team was challenged a bit Saturday morning, but its top three runners paced the squad to victory. Lexington won the Odessa Invitational with 30 points, beating just four other schoo

Photo by Stephen Slaughter (https://skslaughter.smugmug.com/) Blue Valley Northwest senior Jacob D’souza added another victory to his resume Saturday night. Last year’s Class 6A state champ won his second meet of the year, winning the Olathe Twilight varsity boys race. His winning 5K time was 15:17.8 – winning by six seconds. Andrew Claar, Blue Valley Southwest junior, was the runner-up Saturday night, in a time of 15:24. He helped his squad finish fifth out of 20 teams in

Cross country teams began competing last week, and they will continue for the next two months before the postseason ramps up late next month. Here are some Class 5A boys to keep an eye on this fall. 1. Blue Valley Southwest’s Andrew Claar has established himself as one of the top cross country runners in Kansas after a standout sophomore season. Claar finished 15th at the state meet as a freshman in 2024 before making a huge jump as a sophomore, placing third in 2025. His thi

Liberty senior Lily Hurt, right, out sprints Liberty North junior Lucy Wright down the final stretch of the Tim Nixon Invitational on Saturday morning. Hurt won the race by less than a second. By Jimmy Gillispie LIBERTY — Two teams who are expected to compete for MSHSAA Class 5 state titles this fall won team championships Saturday at Capitol Federal Sports Complex. On the boys side, Rockhurst cruised to an easy win at the Tim Nixon Invitational. The Hawklets scored 44 points

After more than two weeks of practice, cross country runners all across Kansas are beginning competitions this week. Here is a list of Kansas City area runners to watch in the Class 5A girls division. 1. Although she’s a bit outside the KC area, the Class 5A girls preseason preview wouldn’t be complete without Salina Central’s Kaylie Shultz. She has established herself as one of the most accomplished distance runners in Kansas, putting together an extraordinary career at Sali

After more than two weeks of practice, cross country runners all across Kansas are beginning competitions this week. Here is a list of Kansas City area runners to watch in the Class 6A girls division. 1. Blue Valley Northwest’s Jacob D’Souza has put together one of the most impressive distance-running progressions in the Kansas City area over the past three seasons. The Blue Valley Northwest standout finished 34th at the state cross country meet as a freshman in 2023, then m

After more than two weeks of practice, cross country runners all across Kansas are beginning competitions this week. Here is a list of Kansas City area runners to watch in the Class 6A girls division. 1. Shawnee Mission East’s Charlotte Hardy has quickly established herself as one of the premier distance runners in Kansas. The Shawnee Mission East standout has been a fixture near the top of the Class 6A state meet since her freshman season, when she finished 15th in 2023. Sh

Now that the season is underway, it’s time to take a look at some Kansas City area runners who will be names to watch this fall. There will always be surprises along the way, but here are a few names to keep an eye out for during the next two months. 1. Lexington's Addison Smith has established herself as the standard in Class 3 girls cross country, winning back-to-back Missouri state championships as a sophomore in 2024 and a junior in 2025. After placing 19th at the state

Now that the season is underway, it’s time to take a look at some Kansas City area runners who will be names to watch this fall. There will always be surprises along the way, but here are a few names to keep an eye out for during the next two months. 1. Odessa's Natalie Doney has been one of the most consistent distance runners in Missouri throughout her high school career, improving her state finish in each of her first three cross country seasons. After placing 50th as a f

With the first meets of the season just a couple of sunsets away, runners are ready to ready to take on the 2026 season. There are a handful of Kansas City area runners who will be names to watch this fall. There will always be surprises along the way, but here are a few names to keep an eye out for during the next two months. Class 4 Girls 1. Warrensburg's Skyler Knight emerged as one of Missouri's top young distance runners during the 2025 cross country season, finishing 11

With the first meets of the season just a couple of sunsets away, runners are ready to ready to take on the 2026 season. There are a handful of Kansas City area runners who will be names to watch this fall. There will always be surprises along the way, but here are a few names to keep an eye out for during the next two months. 1. Rockhurst's Jack McGovern enters the season as the defending Missouri Class 5 cross country state champion after putting together one of the state's

With the first meets of the season just a couple of sunsets away, runners are ready to ready to take on the 2026 season. There are a handful of Kansas City area runners who will be names to watch this fall. There will always be surprises along the way, but here are a few names to keep an eye out for during the next two months. 1. Caroline Bowen of St. Teresa's Academy has quickly established herself as one of Missouri's top distance runners and enters the upcoming cross count

WICHITA — The Olathe North boys won only a single event at the Class 6A state track and field meet, but the Eagles scored enough points in other events to bring home a team championship.

WICHITA — Winning four individual events and another two relays propelled the Olathe North girls track and field team to a huge win and state championship in the Class 6A girls competition.

WICHITA — A victory in the 4x400-meter relay secured a state championship for the St. James boys track and field team.

WICHITA — Wellsville senior Ellie Strain won two gold medals and finished runner-up in a pair of others to lead her team to a third-place finish at the Class 3A state track and field meet.

WICHITA — Thanks to another gold medal race, the Baldwin High girls track and field team brought home a third-place trophy from the Class 4A state meet.