Pleasanton runner medals at state meet; Jayhawk, Prairie View runners place mid-pack

Pleasanton junior Myles Alvarez picks up a medal for his 13th place finish at the Class 1A State Cross Country Championships at Wamego on Saturday, (Pleasanton USD 346 Facebook)

By Roger Sims

rsims@linncountyjournal.com

For area high school cross country runners, the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) State Cross County Championship is a completely different animal from the invitational meets where they’ve competed throughout the fall.

Not just dozens, but rather 100 or more runners compete in each KSHSAA class. Runners run shoulder-to-shoulder at the start, making it difficult to jockey for good position in the pack. Even the finishes are tight as runners are more evenly matched.

More than 100 runners line up at the beginning of the Class 3A girls state cross country race. Jayhawk runner Lily Meyer is eighth from right with Prairie View runners Laramie Stevens and Demi Isenhower to the right of her. (Prairie View Cross County Facebook)

For most runners it is a noteworthy honor to qualify for the state meet, and even more of an honor to medal.

Pleasanton’s Myles Alvarez, the sole Blu-Jay qualifier for the Class 1A state meet at the Wamego Country Club, did just that on Saturday, Nov. 1. With a time of 17:30.60, the junior came in 13th out of 101 runners and earned a medal in the process.

The top time for the race was a blistering 16:02.80 set by Eli Gaeddert from Goessel High School. The second-place runner was 22 seconds behind. The top 15 runners in the meet received medals.

Jayhawk state qualifiers prepare to run on a cold Saturday morning. The runners include James Spitzenberger, Martin Shillito, Louis Shillito, Kollyn Malinowski, Jayden Mayhugh, Landon Higgins, Daniel Brake, and Lily Meyer. (Mike Meyer / Special to the Journal)

Jayhawks team places 11th

At the class 3A state meet north of Lawrence on Saturday, Jayhawk-Linn sophomore Lily Meyer placed 48th out of 107 runners with a time of 21:47. She was the only Jayhawk girl to qualify for the state meet.

The top 3A girls time of 18:27 was made by Tylee Coleman of Trinity Academy in Wichita. The second place finisher came in at 19:28, a minute behind.

Jayhawk Lily Meyer keeps up the pace midway through the state championship run at the Rim Rock course north of Lawrence. (Mike Meyer / Special to the Journal)

The Jayhawk boys team placed 11th at the meet. The team included Martin Shillito, Louis Shillito, Daniel Brake, Kollyn Malinowski, Jayden Mayhugh, Landon Higgins, and James Spitzenberger.

Freshman Martin Shillito had the top time for the team, placing 52nd with a time of 18:10. Other placings included Louis Shillito at 66th, Brake at 77th, Malinowski at 84th, Mayhugh at 102nd, Higgins at 103rd, and Spitzenberger at 109.

The Prairie View contingent at the state meet includes, from left, assistant coach Joy Epperson, Demi Isenhower, Laramie Stevens, and head coach Marcie Caldwell. (Prairie View Cross Country Facebook)

Prairie View girls compete

Two Prairie View girls competed at the 3A meet as well.

Demi Isenhower ended her freshman season finishing in in 62nd place with a time of 22:16. Her run at state ends a successful season. Junior Laramie Stevens came in 82nd with a time of 23:10.

The two girls have been top team finishers over the 2025 season.