Final Kansas Coaches Cross Country Poll - click here

Regional cross country action is in the books and the State tournament now looms on Saturday, October 28th and headed into State the final Kansas Coaches poll has been released. The final polls feature five area teams ranked. 

Leading the way in the rankings is Hiawatha the lady Red Hawks are tied for first with Scott City while the Hiawatha boys are ranked fifth in the Top seven in Class 3A. Both Red Hawk girls and boys teams claimed Regional titles led by two individual Regional champions at Riley County as Elizabeth Kettler and Justin Hodge each grabbed those finishes. For lady Red Hawks they also had four other runners finish in the Top 12 at Regionals and the boys three others in the Top 20. 

A trio of Twin Valley League teams are in the Class 1A polls or receiving votes in the final cross country rankings of the season. The Frankfort boys are ranked third and qualified for State with a third place team finish at Regionals at Washington County led by Brodric Shirley who took second at Regionals, while two other guys finished in the Top 12. The Axtell girls and boys cross country teams are both ranked as the lady Eagles are tied for fifth and the boys are sixth. Axtell girls have only two runners and both are headed to State after Olivia Kuckelman and Jordyn Smith placed second and fifth at Regionals. While for the Axtell boys they are going to State as a team after placing third and were led by Quinn Buessing who placed sixth, while three other guys finished in the Top 25. 

Centralia Panthers are also in the mix in Class 1A and the girls and boys cross country teams are receiving votes in the final polls. The Panthers are sending both the girls and boys teams to State after third and fourth place team finishes at Regionals. A sixth place finish led the Centralia girls as Emma Holthaus posted the finish, while the boys were led by Dylan Boeckman who placed eighth. 

Also in Class 2A in the final poll of the year the Jackson Heights lady Cobras are receiving votes only three votes out of the Top seven. Jackson girls had a trio of gals qualify for State as Faith Little, Hanna Davault and Shelby Phillips earned finishes of eighth, 11th and 12th at Regionals at Riley County. 

Runners now turn their attention to the State competition on Saturday, October 28th with Class 4A, 2A and 1A competing in Wamego and Class 3A competing in Lawrence.