It may take a few years, but someday Alysha Valencia will understand the impressiveness of her race at Saturday’s Class 6A state cross country meet at Rim Rock Farm.

Because she doesn’t understand the fuss about finishing fifth overall.

“Everybody keeps telling me that’s pretty good,” she said.

Valencia was the top freshman among the 99 runners and the top Firebird, leading Free State High to a fifth-place overall finish. She was 26 seconds behind the winner, Shawnee Mission South’s Connie Abbott, but beat last year’s runner-up, Maize’s Liz Kramer.

The whole thing just amazes FSHS coach Steve Heffernan.

“She wanted to be in the top five, but I don’t think she realizes the people she beat were quality people,” he said. “She wanted to finish higher, but you’ve just got to take it with a grain of salt when three months ago she wasn’t even sure if she was going to do cross country.”

Firebird senior Mallory Richardson placed 22nd overall, just three seconds from earning a medal. But, for the second straight week, her place was crucial when it came to Free State’s team finish one place ahead of sixth-place Lawrence High.

Blue Valley North, in its first-ever appearance at state, won the girls’ title, beating defending champ Shawnee Mission Northwest by 15 points.

Free State High's Alysha Valencia (250) runs with the lead pack during Saturday's Kansas state cross country meet at Rim Rock Farm. Valencia finished fifth, and Shawnee Mission South's Connie Abbott (405) won the meet.

LHS was led by senior Lauren Davis (30), junior Meg Gentry (36) and sophomore Jenni Beasley (37), and freshman Megan Johnson was just behind (49). That bunch gave the Lions a shot at passing the Firebirds, which was LHS coach Dick Reamon’s goal.

“We hoped we could beat Free State,” he said. “In talking about the girls’ race, that’s the only thing that disappoints me. I’m not faulting their effort, because it was there.”

Davis looked strong at the finish, but that was after falling down with about 1,200 yards left. Heading up the final hill, she was focused on maintaining her stride when a runner tripped her up. Knees muddied, the fall motivated her even more.

“I think it probably gave me more incentive,” she said. “I knew I had to run hard because this is my last race as a senior.”

Amazingly, the meet came off without any major surprises, a rarity at a cross country meet. Free State had been hoping to sneak into the top three or four, but things went as expected. For a couple of programs that have been among the top teams all season, expect the Firebirds and Lions to surprise some teams in the future.

Especially now that Valencia has learned how to race.

“We’ve come out here and run all the time,” she said. “So I had the course down pretty well. Compared to my first time, it was great.”

That’s bad news for the rest of the state.