Doniphan West girls build culture with 1A championship run

There was a time not so long ago when Doniphan West not only wasn't considered a cross country power, it was barely a program.

But it only takes a spark to start a fire. And the spark for the Mustangs began as a flicker in middle school five or six years ago.

"This was a group that people up here knew was going to be talented when they were in middle school," first-year Doniphan West cross country coach Keith Edmonds said of his girls team. "As they developed, of course, that's how it played out."

Certainly, it has. Not only have the Mustangs established themselves as a solid program, they've quickly risen to the pinnacle.

Doniphan West's girls captured the first state championship in program history – and school history in any sport since the unification of Highland and Midway-Denton – when they edged out Berean Academy and Lincoln for the 2019 Class 1A state championship (winning by one point and having four points separating the top three). Last year, they backed it up, outscoring Lincoln by 12 points to go back-to-back.

This season, the Mustangs are eyeing a triple crown. All but one runner returns off last year's state championship squad and with their top challengers from a year ago suffering big graduation losses, it's hard to picture anyone dethroning them as long as they can stay healthy.

"The thing about this girls team is it's built on senior leadership and it's built on culture," Edmonds said. "Right now, we're building a culture and trying to establish an identity. These girls come and work hard every morning and some of them dual sport. They're just hard-working athletes."

Senior Elle Williams has led the program's rise, placing 15^th at state as a freshman in 2018 before moving up to fourth as a sophomore in 2019. Last year, she finished runner-up to three-time state champion Jaycee Vath of Lincoln.

Fellow senior Emma Albers is a four-year program runner who was an All-Twin Valley League performer last year but suffered an injury three days before the state meet when she was trampled by a cow, forcing her to miss the meet. Junior Claire Cole is a two-time state placer, taking 11^th last year as a sophomore after placing 16^th as a freshman.
Juniors Alyson Gobin, Lilly Clark and Zoee Edie also return from last year's state squad, while Edmonds is excited about the prospects of newcomers Lena Leatherman and Cassidy Blanton.

"They're really excited for this season and not only do they want to PR, they want to do something we've never done in school history," he said. "That's contend for a third state title. That's the overall goal. We're doing stuff that's never really been thought of."

Doniphan West would have been even stronger in its bid to accomplish that but saw junior Chloe Clevenger move to McPherson when her father, Chad Clevenger, took the head cross country and track coaching position at McPherson College after spending 11 years in those positions at Highland Community College.

Chad's wife, Gina, had served as coach of the Doniphan West program for the past several years, including both title seasons before Edmonds, an assistant last year, took over this season.

While losing Chloe – fifth at state last year and two-time state placer – is a big loss, Edmonds said the team simply moves forward.

"One runner does not define a team, leadership defines a team," he said. "Experience defines a team. Elle's one of the hardest workers I've ever been around. She's dedicated and she's a great leader.

"And that's what you need. I'm a firm believer in going out and coaching a practice and letting those girls go out and do their things at meets. I'm not a coach that's going to sit there and sit right next to them and say, 'You need to do this, this and this.' I let them go out at meets and show it on the course. You coach at practice and you perform at meets. That represents what we do."

Doniphan West began the season with a runner-up finish at the Marysville Invitational to Class 3A contender Sabetha. Williams led the way, taking the individual title.

Edmonds said he firmly believes the Mustang program now has plenty of staying power with 14 runners out at the middle school level. It's a trickle-down effect from the success being achieved at the high school level.

"The biggest thing is the younger kids are buying in," he said. "That's how you build a great program, or a dynasty as some people might call it. I look at leadership and these younger kids really look up to these older kids, even down into the middle school. When you build that type of culture that kids can look up to, they're going to follow. What you do and how you act is what defines you as a team and a program."

Who will challenge Doniphan West this season? Well, it's kind of up in the air. Vath is now longer around to lead Lincoln, which only had four runners on last year's state team.. The other three return, led by senior Raegen Stewart so if additions are made, the Leopards could remain in the hunt.

Wichita Classical took third and lost its lone state placer, but returns four others, while Meade was fourth and returns two of its four state runners.

On the boys side, Meade ran away with the 1A state title last year, scoring 30 points to easily top runner-up La Crosse (63 points). The Buffaloes were led by a trio of freshmen a year ago with Trent Roberts taking 12^th, Logan Keith 14^th and Brock Keith 17^th.

La Crosse graduated its top runner but returns three from its runner-up squad, while Quinter was third and has two of its top three runners back.

The top-five individual placers on the boys side all graduated with Jackson Heights' Daniel Little the highest returning state placer.