2024 All-County Cross Country Teams

George -

By HUEY COUNTS

Katelyn Rupe raced to another state championship.

Southeast of Saline’s boys and girls teams again ran their respective ways onto the Class 3A podium.

Talented freshmen girls stepped into the spotlight.

And all five of Saline County’s high schools are represented on Salina 311’s 2024 All-County Cross Country teams.

Rupe, Salina Central’s outstanding senior runner, captured a third consecutive Class 5A state title, on her way to being named Girls Runner of the Year for a third time.

Claiming Boys Runner of the Year is Rupe’s teammate, junior Liam Deniau-Young.

Runners were chosen based on their 2024 in-season 5-kilometer performances, regardless of school classification, with an emphasis on head-to-head matchups and results during the post-season.

The 2024 Salina 311 All-Saline County girls' cross country, from left: Southeast of Saline's Ava McGraw, Cali Augustine, Piper Brown and Anna Jackson, Salina Central's Katelyn Rupe and Kaylie Shultz, and Salina South's Kyla Hamel.

GIRLS TEAM

Cali Augustine, Southeast, senior – As the lone senior on her team, she provided valuable leadership and turned in her best times late in the season, including a PR of 20:18 at regionals. She finished 28th at 3A state in 20:46. Three times she placed top 10.

Piper Brown, Southeast, sophomore * - She was the one constant for the Trojans much of the season with seven top 10 finishes. Brown placed second at league in 21:02 and at regionals claimed ninth with a PR of 19:56.

Kyla Hamel, Salina South, freshman – The Southeast transfer quickly established herself as the Cougars’ top runner, turning in a personal-best 20:01 to take fifth at the Salina Invitational. At 5A state, she placed 38th in 20:16.

Anna Jackson, Southeast, sophomore * - Her season was a bit of a rollercoaster because of sickness, but things came together late as she placed seventh at league and 16th at regionals with a PR of 21:33.

Ava McGraw, Southeast, freshman - McGraw saved her best race for 3A state where she finished 24th with her top time of 20:39. She finished in the top 10 four times, including sixth at league.

Katelyn Rupe, Salina Central, senior ** - Arguably the best distance runner in county history, Rupe’s winning clocking of 17:09 at 5A state secured her third consecutive state championship. The North Carolina signee placed first five times, including running a personal best of 16:52 to win the prestigious Olathe Twighlight.

Kaylie Shultz, Salina Central, sophomore * - The young Mustang put together an outstanding season, winning both league and regional titles, and her PR of 17:17 garnered her second place at the Rim Rock Classic. Running with a sore hip at state, she still captured the bronze medal.

The 2024 Salina 311 All-Saline County boys' cross country team, from left: Salina Central's Luke Affholder and Liam Deniau-Young, Sacred Heart's Brady Wells, Ell-Saline's Garrison Zerger, and Southeast of Saline's Jacob Tonne, Brayden Walker and Jacob Bircher.

BOYS TEAM

Luke Affholder, Salina Central, sophomore – After a slow start, Affholder found his footing down the stretch, breaking 17:15 in his final four races. He placed eighth at league in 17:08, followed by his PR of 16:59 at regionals and then Affholder went on to finish 45th at 5A state in 17:11.

Jacob Bircher, Southeast, junior * - He entrenched himself as the team’s number two and grabbed himself a league title along the way. His PR of 16:21 was good for bronze at regionals and he placed 15th at 3A state in 16:52.

Liam Deniau-Young, Salina Central, junior ** - He clocked the county’s top time of 15:50 in placing fifth at the Salina Invitational and closed his season by taking 18th at 5A state in 16:21. He had three wins on the season and ran 16:32 in taking eighth at the Rim Rock Classic.

Jacob Tonne, Southeast, senior – The Trojan newcomer provided needed depth as he moved right into the team’s third slot. He had six top-10 finishes and ran his personal-best time of 16:50 at the tough Wamego Invitational. He ran 17:05 to take 19th at 3A state.

Brayden Walker, Southeast, junior ** - He raced to victories in his first four races, twice running 16:08, before a serious hip issue forced him to the sideline for three races. Walker returned for the 3A state meet and ran 16:47 to place 12th and lead Southeast to second in the team standings.

Brady Wells, Sacred Heart, senior – Wells secured six top-10 placings and was 17th at the 2A state meet in 17:56. He ran a PR of 17:04 at the Salina Invitational and at regionals he raced to sixth place.

Garrison Zerger, Ell-Saline, senior *** - This four-time all-county selection closed out his prep career with a 14th-place medal at 2A state. He turned in his PR of 16:12 in the Beloit Invitational in claiming one of his four victories. He won his regional meet in 16:17 and was second at league.

* indicates the number of previous appearances on the All-Saline County Cross Country teams.

Huey Counts has selected an all-county team after every season since 2018.