Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

The Free State girls cross country team finished in the top three at its regional meet to qualify for state. The Firebirds boys squad did the same, setting up the full program for a home stand with state held at the Rim Rock Farm course in Lawrence.

Lawrence Free State’s boys and girls cross country teams, along with Lawrence High runners Oliver Schwartz and Andie Garrett, punched their tickets to the KSHSAA Class 6A champion meet on Saturday.

Competing in the 6A Regional 4 meet in Wichita, Free State’s boys and girls flexed their muscle with a pair of third-place team showings.

The Free State boys were paced individually by senior Nicky Johnson’s third-place showing in the 5,000-meter (3.1 mile) event. Johnson blazed to a time of 17:43.12, putting him approximately 12 seconds off the first-place time. Trailing Johnson were fellow senior teammates Jonah Frye (8th) and Jasper Hansen-Perry (13th). The first 15 runners to cross the finish line can qualify individually for state — as well as the top three teams. Also helping Free State to the bronze medal finish were Anderson Bateman (16th) and Caleb Yang (32nd).

Johnson said after last week’s league championship meet at Rim Rock that the team is peaking at the right time.

“Every race is a gift,” he said.

Led by freshman phenom Taylor Hulcher (4th-place), the Free State girls placed four runners in the top 13 — including fellow freshmen Eloise Frye (11th); Nadia Karadupa (12th) and Beau Hulcher (13th). Rounding out the scoring for Free state were Gracie Christline (19th) Addyson Tenbrick (22nd) and Julia Velasco (27th).

Having recently navigated Rim Rock, Taylor Hulcher is set to return to course for next week’s state championship meet. Despite setting a personal record during her previous outing there, Hulcher said that multiple steep inclines proved to be challenging — but added that “it’s smooth sailing once you get up them.”

Schwartz followed up a strong showing at Rim Rock Farm last week with a sixth-place finish Saturday, as Lawrence High played host to both the Class 5A and 6A Regional 2 meets. Schwartz’s time of 16:25.74 placed him just four seconds off a top four finish and roughly 21 seconds off the top time. Lawrence’s next highest finisher was Garrett Rhea in 35th, as LHS placed eighth at the nine-school meet.

Schwartz, who is looking to finish his junior campaign with a flurry, was idle two weeks ago when LHS hosted the Billy Mills Classic. He said the extra rest allowed him to refocus on his workouts, and he has since turned in consecutive sixth-place finishes. The load management was planned in advance as a way of recharging for postseason meets.

“That’s my favorite week,” Schwartz said after returning for last week’s Sunflower Conference championship meet. “We get in a lot of rest and good workouts to be fresh for the next couple races.”

Garrett, a senior, secured her trip to the state meet courtesy of a 14th-place finish and time of 20:05.28. Teammate Chloe Griffith slotted into 29th-place as LHS recorded an eighth-place team finish. Garrett and several teammates were idle for last week’s conference championship meet while grappling with illness and injury.

LHS head coach Kyle Morgison, who was pleased to see his top girls runners competing this week, said the key to postseason success centers on mental preparation.

“Not being overwhelmed with the moment,” he said. “Just going in knowing what the job is and focusing on that.”

Free State returns home to host the Class 6A championship meet on Nov. 1 at the famed Rim Rock Farm course, along with the two Lawrence High state qualifiers. The 6A girls race is scheduled to start at 10:35 a.m. while the 6A boys race is slated for 12:20 p.m. The awards for the 6A girls race is set for 1:05 p.m., followed by the 6A boys at 1:20 p.m.

Results

KSHSAA 6A Regional 4 meet at Wichita East High School

Free State boys: Nicky Johnson, 3rd-place, 17:43.12; Jonah Frye, 8th, 17:55.44; Jasper Hansen-Terry, 13th, 18:09.08; Anderson Bateman, 16th, 18:14.55; Caleb Yang, 32nd, 19:16.92; Isaac Horner, 33rd, 19:17.77; Kyle Sikes, 42nd, 20:00.27

Free State girls: Taylor Hulcher, 4th-place, 20:11.08; Eloise Frye, 11th, 20:48.62; Nadia Karadupa, 12th, 20:50.36; Beau Hulcher, 13th, 20:51.10; Gracie Christline, 19th, 21:46.42; Addyson Tenbrick, 22nd, 21:52.37; Julia Velasco, 27th, 23:10.05

Team scores
Boys: Manhattan, 62; Washburn Rural, 62; Lawrence Free State, 72; Junction City, 99, Derby, 124; Wichita East, 128; Wichita Southeast, 194; Topeka High, 217; Wichita Heights, 255

Girls: Manhattan, 19; Washburn Rural, 55; Lawrence Free State, 59; Derby, 118; Junction City, 121; Wichita East, 180

KSHSAA 6A Regional 2 meet at Haskell Indian Nations University

Lawrence High boys: Oliver Schwartz, 6th-place, 16:25.74; Garrett Rhea, 35th, 17:32.49; Logan Druen, 36th, 17:46.59; Riley Swart, 44th, 18:02.99; Paul Radley, 46th, 18:08.09; Conner Popp, 49th, 18:17.97; River Cunningham, 46th, 18:25.43

Lawrence High girls: Andie Garrett, 14th-place, 20:05.28; Chloe Griffith, 29th, 21:12.16; Juliet Outka, 38th, 21:54.98; Hayley Swart, 59th, 23:43.00

Team scores
Boys: Gardner-Edgerton, 70; Olathe Northwest, 86; Olathe West, 92; Olathe East, 106; Mill Valley, 108; Olathe North, 123; Olathe South, 150, Lawrence High, 167; Shawnee Mission Northwest, 245

Girls: Olathe West, 54; Mill Valley, 61; Olathe East, 86; Olathe North, 106; Gardner-Edgerton, 125; Olathe Northwest, 129; Olathe South, 145; Lawrence High, 201; Shawnee Mission Northwest, 267

Matt Schwartz

Lawrence High’s Oliver Schwartz qualified for state with his performance at regionals, earning a sixth-place finish.