Salina Central's Katelyn Rupe and Southeast of Saline's Brayden Walker Capture Gold

By Huey Counts

Salina Central's Katelyn Rupe and Southeast of Saline's Brayden Walker captured gold in their respective races today at the Great Bend XC Invitational.

Rupe covered the 5K course at the Lake Barton Golf Course in 17 minutes, 14 seconds, lowering the course record she set last year.

Her teammate, Kaylie Shultz, claimed silver in 18:05, nearly 90 seconds ahead of the third-place runner.

Rupe and Shultz finished 1-2 at last season’s Class 5A state championship meet.

Walker's 16:08 gave him a three-second victory over runner-up Brody Deniston of Holcomb. Both Walker and Deniston are expected to contend for the Class 3A state title.

Southeast's boys, winners of the meet’s team title, received a sixth-place finish from Jacob Bircher (16:43) and a 25th from transfer Jacob Tonne (17:22).

Freshman Ava McGraw paced four-time defending state 3A girls champion Southeast, taking 14th in 20:42 in her varsity debut. She was backed by Piper Brown (23rd in 21:31), Regan Duran (25th in 21:42) and Cali Augustine (28th in 21:58).

Salina South's girls had two finishers in the top 25: Alina Arceo claimed 19th in 21:18.62 and Kyla Hamel, a freshman transfer from Southeast, was 21st in 21:24).

Liam Deniau-Young kicked off his season with a 16:44, good for eighth, to lead Central's boys. Salina South's top boys finisher was Korbin Dykes, 78th in 18:54.