Free State High’s girls finished fifth in their Class 6A cross country regional last season and failed to qualify for the state meet for the first time since the school opened in 1997.

The Firebirds will be back at Rim Rock Farm today as regional champions.

“It’s really all the same girls,” said FSHS coach Steve Heffernan, whose team edged host Emporia by two points at Saturday’s 6A regional. “Right after last year’s regional, we talked about things we needed to do to get ready for this year. We needed more of a commitment to running and to each other. About four or five weeks ago, it started to click. We started to realize we’re able to compete with good teams. The biggest difference is that they did the work, and now they’re having fun competing.”

The Firebirds are led by junior Alysha Valencia, who finished fifth at state as a freshman and sixth last year. She was the regional runner-up at Emporia.

“The way our top-five girls are running, I think we’re as good as anybody in the state,” Heffernan said. “We have an established front-runner, which a lot of teams don’t have. If Alysha runs well, that could give us an edge.”

Jeannie Rheams (ninth), Robyn Lee (15th) and Allison Yoder (16th) also were in the top 20 for Free State at regional, and Ashley Robinson was 21st.

“I think they have the opportunity to be in the top three, and everybody wants to be in the top three because you get a trophy,” Heffernan said. “They’ve shown they’re capable of competing with anyone. There are about seven teams capable of winning it, and I think we’re one of the seven.”

Shawnee Mission Northwest has won nine of the last 13 state titles. The Cougars will have plenty of competition, including Lawrence High. The Lions finished fourth in the Sunflower League — one spot ahead of Free State — and third at regional.

Kelly Renfro (fourth), Megan Johnson (14th), Brianna DiLorio (17th), Adrienne Struble (18th) and Alison Greer (19th) each ran in the top 20 at Emporia for LHS.

Blue Valley North senior Jana Gwinn is the defending champion, and she won a regular-season meet this season at Rim Rock. She could be challenged by Blue Valley Northwest freshman Laura Roxberg.

In the boys race, Shawnee Mission Northwest has won 10 consecutive team titles. Free State — led by league and regional runner-up Danny Schneider — was the runner-up to SMNW at the Sunflower League meet, and the Firebirds were second to Emporia at last week’s regional.

“We have been so close,” Heffernan said. “We just can’t get over the hump. We’ve run well all year long. I think we have a chance at the title, and we should definitely be in the top three.”