photo by: Chance Parker

Free State junior Ben Shryock has a lead during the 5,000-meter run held at the Baldwin City Golf Course. Shryock placed first at the Free State Invitational Saturday, Oct. 10.

photo by: Contributed Photo

Steve Heffernan

Coach of the year: Steve Heffernan, Free State

Heffernan’s Firebirds made history this season by winning their first state title in boys cross-country. Free State bought into a team-first mentality this year under Heffernan, who has been at the helm since 1998.

photo by: Chance Parker

Free State junior Ben Shryock has a lead during the 5,000-meter run held at the Baldwin City Golf Course. Shryock placed first at the Free State Invitational Saturday, Oct. 10.

Athlete of the year: Ben Shryock, Free State

Shryock was the top runner on the best team in the area in 2020. He posted his school’s best time in every meet except the state meet, where he was the second-highest finisher for the Firebirds and took seventh overall. Along with all the accolades his team won, Shryock was an individual champion at the Sunflower League meet and a runner-up at regionals. He is the new school record holder with a time of 15:30.20 at the league meet.

First-team selections

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: Zach Arnold, Eudora

Zach Arnold, Eudora — Arnold started the season off as Eudora’s No. 2 runner and became the top performer by the end of the year. The freshman runner placed fifth as an individual at the Frontier League meet. He also ran a personal-best time of 17:06 at regionals on his way to a fourth-place finish.

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: James Bartlett, Perry-Lecompton

James Bartlett, Perry-Lecompton — Bartlett was a big reason why Perry-Lecompton’s boys team was able to qualify for the state meet for just the third time in school history. The senior finished fourth at the regional meet with a season-best time of 17:55.7. He also took sixth at the Big Seven league meet and helped the Kaws finish ninth in their first trip to state since 1983.

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: Caleb Carr, Baldwin

Caleb Carr, Baldwin — This sophomore runner had a strong season for Baldwin. Carr’s best postseason finish was at the regional meet, when he took ninth. Carr placed 34th at the Class 4A state meet. His fastest time of the year was 17:41.

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: Eli Gilmore, Tonganoxie

Eli Gilmore, Tonganoxie — The sophomore standout led the way for the Chieftains in 2020 by claiming six top-three finishes in the regular season. Gilmore was just as effective in the postseason, finishing as runner-up at the regional meet with a time of 16:34. He ended the year with a fourth-place finish at the Class 4A state meet.

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: Jack Keathley-Helms, Free State

Jack Keathley-Helms, Free State — As a junior, Keathley-Helms was consistently among the top few performers for Free State. Like some of his teammates, Keathley-Helms had to overcome adversity at the state meet — he was stepped on and still finished 14th while dealing with a pulled muscle. Keathley-Helms clocked a season-best time of 16:09.30.

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: Cody Loganbill, Eudora

Cody Loganbill, Eudora — Serving as the leader of the EHS boys team, Loganbill finished in the top 10 as an individual in five of this season’s eight races, and he even won one event. Loganbill’s best time of the year was at the state meet, when he posted a mark of 17:33 to take 19th and earn all-state honors.

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: Jack Ryan, Lawrence High

Jack Ryan, Lawrence High — Ryan led the Lions for much of the year even though he fought through multiple injuries. He finished his season strong by running a time of 16:27.7 at the Sunflower League meet. It was good enough for 27th as an individual, which was just shy of all-league status.

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: Ethan Sharp, Free State

Ethan Sharp, Free State — Normally, Sharp was the No. 3 or No. 4 runner for Free State throughout his senior season. But he was the top runner for the Firebirds at the Class 6A state meet, placing fourth to help the team win a title. The senior also took seventh at the Sunflower League meet. He has the fourth-fastest time in program history with a 15:49.70.

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: Christopher Stone, Free State

Christopher Stone, Free State — In his first year competing in cross-country, Stone helped put the Firebirds over the top with his consistency. After playing soccer for three years, he joined the cross-country squad and was the second-best runner all year during his senior season. He notched 10th at the state meet despite losing a shoe, and he was runner-up at the Sunflower League meet with the second-fastest time (15:32.20) in school history.

photo by: Courtesy photo

2020 fall sports all-area photo: Luke Velte, Bishop Seabury

Luke Velte, Bishop Seabury — In his freshman season, Velte was the top runner for Bishop Seabury on a consistent basis. His season-best time was 20:43.7, which was a personal record as well. Velte’s highest finish as an individual was a 12th-place finish during a meet at Basehor-Linwood.

Honorable mention

Hudson Allen, Baldwin; Brock Cordova, Free State; Caden Dean, Perry-Lecompton; Sam Jackson, Bishop Seabury; Grady McCune, Baldwin; Hayden Slough, Bishop Seabury; Boyd Sollars, Perry-Lecompton; Reece Sollars, Perry-Lecompton; Dylan Tucker, Perry-Lecompton.