The De Soto High School cross country season ended with State this past weekend on Oct. 31, following Regionals which were held on Oct. 24 at Turner  High School’s course at Pearson Park.

“Pearson Park was an incredibly hilly course, I would say one of the hilliest courses I’ve seen as a cross country coach,” head  coach Jack Sachse said.

To conclude Regionals, the boys  finished in fourth, one place from qualifying the whole team for State, and the girls placed sixth. Senior Carson Sturdy and juniors Kyle Newberry and Brady Huggins qualified for state. In addition,  junior Sophie Landrum also qualified for the girls’ team.

“Overall we did well. On the boys side, it was a heartbreaking situation.  We lost to Mill Valley by one point to go to State, but that’s life and sports,” Sachse said.

Although the whole team wasn’t able to race in State, they still helped the team prepare mentally and physically the whole week before the race.

“The team had dinner together which was a good way to prepare.  We fueled up and went over plans for the race,” Landrum said.

The 5A state race was held at Wichita State’s home course.  Sturdy and Sophie Landrum both earned All-state honors by placing in the top 25.  Sturdy placed fifth and Landram placed 18th.   

“I could’ve made a stronger move at the 1k mark and taken the lead.  I sat back and tried to be patient, costing me a higher finish,” Sturdy said.

Sturdy ended his Wildcat cross country career with two individual UKC championships, multiple race titles and an individual Kansas 5A regional title.  

“It was a bummer not having our entire team there, as I believe we could have placed as a team, but we ran really well as individuals,” Sturdy said.