* Katelyn Rupe is the top athlete heading into the Class 5A Championships on Saturday in Kansas
Photo Credit: Kansas MileSplit
By Maxx Bradley - Milesplit
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On Saturday, athletes and fans will make their way to one of two iconic Kansas cross country venues.
At Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, the Kansas State 3A, 5A and 6A Cross Country Championships will be run, while the Class 1A, 2A and 4A classifications will take place at the Wamego Country Club in Wamego -- roughly 15 miles east of Manhattan.
Both courses are two of the toughest in the state and a week full of rain and an impending cold front could make for some less-than-ideal conditions.
Regardless of the race day conditions, there are plenty of exciting story lines to keep an eye on. Here are the four biggest:
No Tennis, No Problem For Katelyn Rupe
*Katelyn Rupe runs away with the 2022 5A state title
Photo Credit: J Hobson/MileSplit
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As a freshman, Salina Central standout Katelyn Rupe opted for tennis instead of cross country.
But that spring, she joined the fun on the track and went on to win a pair of state titles in the 1,600m and 3,200m. As a sophomore, she made her cross country debut while dual-sporting with tennis, going 6-0 during the KSHSAA season and ending with a 13th-place finish at NXR Heartland.
This year, Rupe is focused solely on running and it's pretty easy to see. So far, she's a perfect 8-0 on the season and hasn't had anybody within striking distance all season. She's broken 18 minutes for 5K with every race she's run, and her top performance is highlighted by her 17:05.9 at the Bob Schmoekel Invitational, which was the fourth-fastest time in state history.
On Saturday, Rupe will look to end her second consecutive cross country season undefeated and add a fourth state title to her resume.
Even with the expected sloppy course conditions, the chance for the junior to break her own course record of 17:13 is always a possibility.
Four-In-A-Row For Olathe West?
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Since 2020, Olathe West has elevated itself into one of the best teams in Kansas and also a contender on the national stage, solidified by the team's NXN berth a year ago.
After losing key seniors to graduation, the squad may not have the low-stick scorer they've grown used to, but we'd argue their returners will suffice.
Led by seniors Bree Newport (17:59), Kate Miller (18:35) and Kalyn Willingham (18:20), the Owls are looking to leave their mark on yet another weekend at Rim Rock Farm.
Based off of the program's performances leading up to tomorrow, it's tough to argue against Olathe West making it four Class 6A titles in a row.
On one hand, the team has a spread that routinely goes under a minute. On the other hand, if their top five don't beat you, then their astonishing depth will do the job.
Clay Shively's Send-Off
* Clay Shively sets a new Roy Griak course record
Photo Credit: J Hobson/MileSplit
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Ever since Clay Shively took the nation by storm last winter, the Trinity Academy senior and Northern Arizona commit has been on an absolute tear.
He's won a couple of state titles and has broken a few historic records along the way.
Now it's time for his last ever cross country race on Kansas soil.
Shively has had a pretty exhilarating season in his four races, setting a new state and soil record of 14:46.6 last month at Olathe Twilight, followed by a Roy Griak win and a course record of 15:23 just a few weeks after.
Right now, it looks near-impossible for anyone to keep pace with Shively, but as far as his team is concerned, he'd love to lead the Knights to their third straight 3A title.
Hocker Singh Eyes 4-Peat Of Her Own
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While the forecast calls for rain, there's also a slight chance of history on the line in the state's largest classification (Class 6A).
Since she was just a freshman, Olathe North senior (and superstar) Anjali Hocker Singh has been nothing short of dominant on the grass.
As a freshman, she clocked 18:39.2 to formally introduce herself to the rest of the state. The next fall, she had another breakthrough, running sub-18 an unprecedented seven times, while winning her second state crown in 17:45.6.
As a junior, she cruised to a 18:17, her third straight title.
This year, the odds look to be in her favor again, as she's won four of her five races -- her lone loss was a fifth-place finish at Roy Griak.
It's also worth noting that in her high school career, she's a crisp 5-0 on this course. Paired with her 17:41 season best, she looks to be in tip-top-shape to make history.
If things do go her way tomorrow, she'll be just the sixth Kansas girl to ever do so and the second to do it at the Class 6A level.