Wichita Eagle honors best high school cross country runners on 2024 All-Metro team

The Wichita area featured some of the best high school cross country runners in Kansas this season, and that star power is highlighted on 2024 All-Metro cross country team team selected by The Eagle.

The All-Metro squad features the top seven runners and a Coach of the Year from teams in Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties. Selections are based on season-long performance with a heavy emphasis on postseason finishes.

Trinity Academy swept both of the Runner of the Year awards, as senior Caleb Tofteland (boys) and junior Emily Hein (girls) both became first-time winners of the top honor.

Below is the full listing of the All-Metro teams.

Wichita Eagle Boys XC All-Metro team

Daniel Enriquez, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

A two-time All-Metro selection, Enriquez was the top runner on a dominant Kapaun team. He won five of his seven races, including City League and regional championships, with a season-best time of 14:57 to go along with a 10th-place finish at the Class 5A state race.

Jack Harty, Wichita Heights senior

Notched top-10 finishes in all but one of his nine starts in his senior season. The first-time All-Metro selection turned in his best when it counted the most: After running a 15:59 time to take second at regionals, Harty followed that up with an eighth-place finish in the 6A state race in a time of 16:07.

Lucas Kreutzer, Derby senior

The AV-CTL Division I champion who notched five top-5 finishes in nine starts as a senior. Ran a season-best time of 15:47 and also finished 24th at the Class 6A state race to earn his first All-Metro nod.

Will Meyer, Collegiate senior

A three-time All-Metro selection, Meyer finished out his standout cross country career with a third-place finish at the Class 3A state meet. He was the AV-CTL Division IV and a 3A regional champion with a season-best time of 15:33.

Will Niederee, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior

Blossomed into a consistent second runner on a City League and regional championship team. He notched top-5 finishes in five of his seven races with a season-best time of 15:34, while finishing 12th at the 5A state race to earn his first All-Metro selection.

Cole Reintjes, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

Another key cog in the Crusaders’ trophy run, Reintjes placed top-6 in five of his seven races with a season-best time of 15:21. After third-place finishes in City League and regionals, he took 17th place at the 5A state race and is a first-time All-Metro pick.

Caleb Tofteland, Trinity Academy senior

After playing a role to help Trinity win team championships earlier in his career, Tofteland blossomed into a star in his own right as a senior. He was the Central League Plains champion and Class 3A state champion after running a time of 15:36 at Rim Rock. He is a first-time All-Metro pick and the Boys Runner of the Year.

Gage Garcia, Kapaun Mt. Carmel coach

The Crusaders were the premier team in Wichita this season, dominating their way to five team titles, including City League and regional championships. Kapaun finished off the season with a third-place team trophy at the Class 5A state meet. Kapaun’s team featured All-Metro selections in junior Daniel Enriquez, senior Will Niederee and junior Cole Reintjes, as well as senior Andrew Guyer, freshman Jack Sauer and junior Will Etheredge.

Wichita Eagle Girls XC All-Metro team

Taylor Barringer, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

A three-time All-Metro pick, Barringer logged six top-10 finishes in seven starts this season. She cracked 19 minutes in all three postseason races with a season-best time of 18:37 to take runner-up in City League, followed by a fifth-place finish at regionals and a seventh-place finish at Class 5A state.

Jordyn Cleary, Andover senior

Cleary formed one of the state’s duos with teammate Maddy Wallace this season, as both finished in the top 10 of all eight races this season. Cleary cracked 19 minutes four different times with a season-best time of 18:24 in a runner-up finish at regionals, which she followed up with an eighth-place finish at the Class 5A state race.

Emily Hein, Trinity Academy junior

No one in the Wichita area could catch Hein, who successfully defended her Class 3A state championship in dominant fashion this season. She finished with a season-best time of 17:51 in a regional victory, then won the 3A title by nearly a full minute at Rim Rock in a time of 18:26. Hein earned her second straight All-Metro nod and was the Girls Runner of the Year.

Brett Jacobson, Circle junior

A three-time All-Metro choice, Jacobson delivered another standout season with six top-10 finishes in eight starts. The AV-CTL Division III champion cracked 20 minutes in all but two of her races and finished off the season with a seventh-place finish at the Class 4A state race.

Brooke Martin, Bishop Carroll senior

The veteran was an All-Metro pick as a freshman and ends her career on the All-Metro list again. She was among the best in Wichita in the final month of the season, as she notched four straight top-6 finishes with a season-best time of 18:30 and a sixth-place overall finish at the Class 5A state meet.

Gwen Sattler, Bishop Carroll sophomore

A burgeoning star, Sattler won the City League championship and cracked 19 minutes in five of her eight races this season to go along with six top-3 finishes. The first-time All-Metro selection finished 19th at the Class 5A state meet.

Maddy Wallace, Andover junior

Another three-time All-Metro choice, Wallace was once again dominant all season in the Wichita area. A regional champion with a season-best time of 17:54, Wallace finished no worse than fourth place in any race this season, claimed five victories and notched a fourth-place finish at the 5A state race.

Nealee Johnston, Hesston coach

The Swathers won their first team state championship in program history this season and in thrilling fashion. The Central Kansas League champions actually finished third in their regional, behind both Southeast of Saline and Wichita Trinity Academy, but edged both of those teams out by one and four points, respectively, to win the 3A team title. Hesston was led by state medalists in junior Ashley Lehman, sophomore Reese Quinn and freshman Avery Larson with freshman Josie Heinrichs, sophomore Mary O’Halloran and sophomore Lausyn Novack rounding out the team.

Boys All-Metro second team

Evan Benoit, Wichita East senior

Aiden Braun, Andover junior

Owen Dent, Eisenhower junior

Landon Englert, Bishop Carroll junior

Will Etheredge, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

Luke Griffith, Goddard senior

Andrew Guyer, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior

Luke Meier, Bishop Carroll senior

Brayden Pauler, Wichita Southeast sophomore

Jack Sauer, Kapaun Mt. Carmel freshman

Steve Melgren, Trinity Academy coach

Girls All-Metro second team

Ava Claasen, Kapaun Mt. Carmel freshman

Amelia Herrman, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior

Brecken Howell, Trinity Academy junior

Ashley Lehman, Hesston junior

Krislynn Martinez, Maize South freshman

Abigail Meyer, Bishop Carroll junior

Courtney Nye, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

Nelly Puente, Wichita North junior

Reese Quinn, Hesston sophomore

Chelsea Willour, Remington junior

Jacob Gerber, Remington coach

Boys All-Metro third team

Ethan Armbrister, Bishop Carroll senior

Jeremiah Briscoe, Berean Academy senior

Grady Carlson, Maize junior

Elijah Edwards, Wichita Northwest senior

Whit Geoffray, Trinity Academy freshman

Josh Glover, Maize South junior

Simon Martinez, Bishop Carroll sophomore

James Morgan, Bishop Carroll junior

Brock Moses, Valley Center senior

Sam Muehling, Wichita East junior

Tijay Pauler, Wichita Southeast junior

Jayden Parrent, Maize junior

Dawson Schmidt, Augusta senior

Levi Sturm, Wichita Central Christian sophomore

Jase Thomas, Augusta junior

David Thomison, Andover Central junior

Cory Swords, Bishop Carroll coach

Girls All-Metro third team

Abigail Bird, Kapaun Mt. Carmel sophomore

Caitlyn Bruening, Kapaun Mt. Carmel sophomore

Madison Busch, Augusta senior

Sophie Ellis, Valley Center sophomore

Baylee Frost, Maize freshman

Arwayn Hennessy, Andale senior

Laney Hooper, Valley Center junior

Alyssa Klingenberg, Remington freshman

Avery Larson, Hesston freshman

Kimerblin Lovell, Rose Hill senior

Samantha Siegrist, Andover sophomore

Olivia Thome, Bishop Carroll junior

Sophia Thome, Bishop Carroll junior

Brooklyn Treaster, Newton sophomore

Avery Williams, Valley Center freshman

Denise Schmidt, Augusta coach