Runner of the Year: Ambrynn Stewart, Baldwin

The freshman placed fourth at the Class 4A state meet in a season-best time of 19:45, leading the Bulldogs to a state championship. Stewart finished runner-up at five meets this season, including the Frontier League meet and regionals where Baldwin won additional team titles.

Coach of the Year: Kara Schrader, Bishop Seabury

The Seahawks qualified for the Class 2A state meet for the first time since 2013, taking third place at their regional. At state, Seabury placed 10th in the team standings.

First team

Blaise Ball, Perry-Lecompton — Steadily dropping time throughout the year, Ball performed her best at big meets. The sophomore was a team-best 113th at the Rim Rock Classic and crossed the finish line in 17th at the Big 7 League meet with a season-best time of 22:44.

Natalie Beiter, Baldwin — In the final four meets of the season, Beiter placed inside of the top 10 in each race. The junior placed eighth at the Class 4A state meet in a time of 20:01 to lead the Bulldogs to their second state title in the last three seasons. She was fourth at the Frontier League meet.

Kristi Chambers, Tonganoxie — Only a freshman, Chambers saved her best races for the end of the season. She qualified for the Class 4A state meet, where she placed 48th in 21:34, and she finished 12th at regionals. Chambers was 13th at the Kaw Valley League meet.

Sami Dennon, Bishop Seabury — Dennon consistently lowered her 5k school record times, finishing in a personal-best 20:41 while winning the Barstow Invitational. The Seahawks’ top runner was 12th at the Class 2A state meet, medaling in each race throughout the year.

Erin Fagan, Free State — The sophomore dropped her season-best time by more than 20 seconds to take 32nd at the Class 6A state meet in 20:14. Fagan medaled in the last four meets of the season, including a 14th-place finish at the Sunflower League meet.

Reagan Hiebert, Eudora — Hiebert, a talented sophomore, placed fifth at the Frontier League meet in 21:10 to lead the Cardinals to third place in the team standings. Hiebert medaled in several meets this season, taking third at the Council Grove Invitational.

Julia Larkin, Free State — Consistently the No. 1 runner for the Firebirds, Larkin medaled at the Class 6A state meet for the third consecutive season. The junior was 14th at state in a season-best 19:14. Larkin was champion in the Haskell Invitational and fifth at her regional.

Lauren Russell, Baldwin — With a 14th-place finish at the Frontier League meet, Russell helped the Bulldogs to their third straight league crown. The freshman, who ran a season-best time of 20:29, was 16th at the Class 4A state meet and ninth in her regional.

Evann Seratte, Lawrence — In her first season running cross country, the junior standout track runner placed 76th at the Class 6A state meet. Building up her endurance each race, Seratte was 48th in her division at the Rim Rock Classic and 14th at regionals in a time of 20:42.

Emily Stone, Free State — Stone helped the Firebirds take seventh place at the Class 6A state meet, reaching the finish line in 20:54 for 59th overall. The sophomore finished in the top 20 in four races, taking ninth at regionals and 14th at the Baldwin Invitational.

Honorable mention

Josie Boyle, Baldwin; Madeline Day, Free State; Sophie DeWitt, Lawrence; Kate Erpelding, Eudora; Jolie Hirsch, Perry-Lecompton; Sierra Staatz, Tonganoxie; Lindsey Toot, Baldwin.