photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence's Lawson Donly, left, and Murphy Berquist-Haxton turn a corner in the 6A state cross-country meet on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.

The Free State and Lawrence cross-country teams were at a familiar course on Saturday, racing at Rim Rock Farm on Saturday for the 6A state meet, where Free State’s girls team took eighth and the Lawrence boys finished 10th.

The Lions and Firebirds had representatives from both their boys and girls teams, though the Lawrence boys and Free State girls teams competed as teams. Free State girls finished with a 181 team score, and Lawrence boys earned a 233 score.

Allie Gates led the Firebirds with a 19-minute, 9.39-second run, which was 15th-best in the meet. Taylor Hulcher finished 19th in the meet with a run of 19:13.22.

Peyton Moore led a trio of Firebirds who finished within seven seconds of each other. Moore placed 53rd with a 20:42.90 time, and Nadia Karapuda placed 55th at 20:43.64. Beau Hulcher took 57th at 20:47.35, and she rounded out the Firebirds’ five scoring runners.

Ellie Dunn ran for 62nd with a 20:56.76 time, and Grace Christline placed 77th at 21:40.86 as the sixth and seventh runners for Free State.

The Lions had two runners compete individually in the girls race. Chloe Griffith took 59th with a 20:49.69 run, and Hayley Swart placed 75th at 21:34.05.

The Lawrence boys were led by Oliver Schwartz, who finished 33rd with a 16:46.66 time. Riley Swart placed 56th at 17:11.19, and Garrett Rhea finished 64th at 17:18.56.

Rohan Mulhern took 75th at 17:39.34, and Logan Druen rounded out Lawrence’s five scoring runners by finishing 83rd in 18:01.58. Murphy Berquist-Haxton placed 87th at 18:10.56, and Lawson Donly ran for 90th at 18:15.51.

Free State’s Anderson Bateman qualified and ran individually, and he finished 44th with a 16:59.86 time.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Oliver Schwartz turns a corner in the 6A state cross-country meet on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Anderson Bateman, right, runs the final stretch of the 6A state cross-country meet on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Rohan Mulhern runs the final stretch of the 6A state cross-country meet on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Logan Druen runs the final stretch of the 6A state cross-country meet on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Murphy Berquist-Haxton runs to the finish line in the 6A state cross-country meet on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Lawson Donly runs to the finish line in the 6A state cross-country meet on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.