Fourth Kansas Coaches Cross Country Poll -- click here

As we approach the final stretch of the season before Regionals and State for cross country there has been a shake up for area teams in the latest cross country polls in Kansas.

Class 3A and Class 1A houses three area teams apiece in the latest rankings for six area teams in the rankings, while five others are receiving votes.

In Class 3A it’s the girl’s side of competition touting the ranked teams as Pleasant Ridge, Hiawatha and Sabetha are all three ranked in that order at fifth, sixth and seventh in the latest polls. The Rams recently performed well on their home course placing seven girls in the top 30 on the day including a pair of top 10 finishers. Kristina Silvers lead the way for the Rams finishing second at her home Invitational, while her teammate Hailey Worthington notched a tenth place finish.

The Hiawatha Red Hawks have registered multiple top flight performances all season taking first place at multiple events with multiple girls registering top 10 finishes on a regular basis. Over the last week the Red Hawks won their home Invitational with six girls finishing in the top 30 on the day including three top 10 finishes. Defending Class 3A State champ, Jordan Puvogel took home second as she was beat for the first time since her freshman year, while Molly Kettler and Kailey Davis notched fourth and ninth place finishes. Hiawatha then took home third place as a team at the Sabetha Invite last Thursday falling only to 4A schools Baldwin and Clay Center both ranked teams. Puvogel regained her top spot taking a first place finish for the Red Hawks in the matchup.

For Sabetha they have enjoyed a solid season and continue to do some minus one of their top runners, but senior, Brianna Gruber has been leading the charge for them. At the Hiawatha Invite Gruber had her best finish taking home third place at the meet, while teammate, Miranda Huettner placed sixth and two other Bluejays notched top 20 finishes. At their home Invitational it was fifth place team performance for the Bluejays last Thursday.

On the boys side both Sabetha and Hiawatha are receiving votes in the latest cross country poll. Hiawatha last week took more hardware this season winning their home Invitational as four guys finished in the top 10. Brandt Houk lead the charge taking home a first place finish, followed by Jesse Quinn who took third and Tyler Boeckman and Connor Winters finished eighth and ninth. At the Sabetha Invite the boys matched the Red Hawk girls with a third place boys finish with Houk leading the way again finishing sixth.

Class 1A is the other classification that features three area teams ranked in the latest cross country rankings. On the girls side it’s the Axtell Eagles who are ranked fifth and on the boys side it’s the Frankfort Wildcats and Wetmore Cardinals who are ranked second and third.

For Axtell, they recently competed at the Riley County Invite over the weekend and were led by Susan Peschel who registered a 17th place performance; two other Eagles finished in the top 50 on the day.

Frankfort was once again led by Adam Koch who continued to notch top flight performances finishing third at the Riley County Invite over the weekend. Four other guys finished in the top 50 helping Frankfort finish fifth as a team on the day.

For the Wetmore Cardinals they continued to have strong showings competing against teams from Class 4A and 3A at the Sabetha Invite and coming away with a fifth place team performance. Cardinals were led by Josh Ballenger who took home a tenth place finish on the day, while two more Cardinals finished in the top 25.

While the Axtell Eagle boys are receiving votes in Class 1A after a stron showing by Tracy Schmitz in their last competition at the Riley County Invite as he finished sixth.

Jefferson County North is the only other team getting attention in the latest cross country polls as both the girls and boys teams who have been ranked at points of this season are receiving votes this time and on the outside of the top seven at the moment in Class 2A.

Teams and runners now turn their attention to their league meets coming up this week and then its Regionals a week from Saturday to decide who will earn a spot in the State competition.