Olathe West girls enter cross country season feeling confident following 2020 state title

Olathe West girls cross country runners were taken by surprise when they won the 2020 state title by a single point over Blue Valley Northwest.

But the Owls were not just shocked by their narrow margin of victory.

Even after winning the Sunflower League title and entering state with three returners from the second-place squad in 2019, the young group of runners were not sure they were ready to compete on such a big stage.

"They set the goal as a team to win state, I think there was just a lot of pressure on them," head coach Kelsey Carbajo said.

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing limitations on the number of competitors at each event, she said the team had mostly competed in small events that did not reflect the scope of the state cross country championships.

Carbajo said she thought the state experience helped, but the girls really started to grow their confidence levels with their accomplishments during the track season in the spring.

Sophomore Kate Miller, sophomore Bree Newport, junior Charis Robinson and Paige Baker added to their top-22 state finishes by becoming the state champions in the 4x800-meter relay team for the Olathe West girls, which took state runner-up in track.

"I think all of that has helped them going into this coming season because we're a lot more experienced," Carbajo said. "I don't think they're as scared as what they were last year."

Carbajo sees a visible confidence in her long distance runners that they display not only in competition, but they show when they walk the hallways during the school day. She thinks the confidence is due in large part to achieving many of their sports-related goals together as a group.

"They rely on each other to hold themselves accountable," Carbajo said. "When they're out at a race, they know they can count on each other to bring their best effort."

Carbajo added that that group, along with junior Aubree Blackman who is returning from a fifth-place state finish last year, have a special bond where they really feel and act like they are a part of a pack.

Now, the Owls are looking for just a couple more runners to round out this close group that is primed to repeat at state.

The team will need to replace Jenna Mullen, who graduated after finishing 31st last season, and senior Ava Wardlaw. Wardlaw finished 15th last year as a junior, but will not be able compete this season after tearing her ACL. However, Wardlaw has decided to stick with the team during the season to keep supporting "the pack."

"They've kind of rallied around her," Carbajo said. "She's been a huge leader for our team even though she's been injured."

The confident Owls will need to hold off a few top contenders among the 6A girls teams.

Olathe North will also return a majority of its runners after finishing just four points back of Olathe West at state in third place. The Eagles have Anjali Hocker Singh coming off an individual state championship as a freshman. Fellow sophomore Shea Johnson took ninth at state and the team has four seniors returning after finishing between 13th and 28th.

"We're optimistic that we've got a team that can do well at the state level, hopefully get on the podium," head coach Levi Huseman said. "We'll just see what happens when we go out and do our best. I think we'll be in a good spot."

Shawnee Mission East will look to get into the mix despite losing two of their top three runners from a season ago. Senior Grace Meyer returns from a sixth-place finish at state in 2020, along with four competitors who are juniors or younger returning after gaining state experience.

For the boys side of 6A, Lawrence Free State will look to replace three seniors, including two in the top 10, from its 2020 state championship team. Senior Ben Shryock will give the Firebirds a seventh-place state runner from a season ago. Shyrock will be joined by 14th-place finisher Jack Keathley-Helms and two other returning state qualifiers from a season ago.

Manhattan lost a lot of top runners as state champion Daniel Harkin graduated alongside two other teammates with top-42 finishes at state. The team will have Ben Mosier (11th place), Max Bowyer (21st place) and another state qualifier returning.

Gardner-Edgerton could work its way into the conversation for the top 6A boys team as it returns four state qualifiers despite the graduation of state runner-up Quenton Wallon and two other top-48 state finishers.