A Macksville High runner has never won a state cross country championship.
Macksville coach Mike Hullman believes last year’s state runner-up Henry Penner of Macksville has a chance to compete with defending state champion Caden Callaway of Scandia-Pike Valley at 11 a.m. Saturday. Callaway (16:54.34) outkicked Penner (17:17.69) in last year’s state meet at Wamego Country Club.
Callaway has battled a nagging leg issue in the past.
“Getting another shot at Callaway has been part of Henry’s motivation,” Hullman said. “But he also knows that Callaway is too good a runner to give up that No. 1 spot.  Henry has run really well all year and he likes the challenge of the state course. He enjoys enjoys running that course.”
Pike Valley is the defending team champion. Macksville, Pretty Prairie and Natoma were the other regional champions.
Macksville will also run Hector Negrete, Brigdon Russell, Brandon Ibarra, Kaden Herman, Jarrod Kuckelman and Wyatt Neeland.
“It’s wide open on the team side because there doesn’t appear to be a dominant team,” Hullman said. “If we run really well, we’ve got a good shot at a trophy. If we don’t run well, we could finish sixth.”
The Macksville girls compete at 12:30 p.m., the last race of the day. Regional champion Lisa Penner placed sixth last year (17:05.65). Defending champion Jenny O’Bryan of St. Paul returns with the top four finishers. Tribune Greeley County is the defending team champion. Hullman believes the Mustangs have the ability to contend for a top three state trophy.
“If we compete, our times will take care of themselves,” Hullman said. “We competed on a tough regional course, so the girls will be prepared.”
Macksville’s other runners are Emma Stimatze (19th last year), Eunice Esparza, Magi Penner, Gilda Lopez, Cassandra Wolff and Bethany Esparza. Stimatze finished third ar regionals.
Stafford’s Carter Cross qualified as an individual in the boys division.

• CLASS 2A
Ellinwood’s girls finished third last year and won the Meade regional behind Joanna Strecker, fifth last year; Abbie Reichuber, ninth last year; and Madelyn hayes, 29th last year. Ellinwood’s other runners are Cailey Carmen, Anna Fisher, Chelsea Kasper and McKenna Rugan.
“We’ve got two strong runners at the front and five good runners,” said Ellinwood coach Lyles Lashley. “The girls have been really well. We’ve got a good shot at a team trophy.”
The Class 2A girls race is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Shawnee Maranatha is defending champion.
Ellinwood’s Morgan Feemster placed 17th last year and returns with teammate Jacob Kasselman.

• CLASS 5A
Great Bend has qualified three runners for Class 5A at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.
Kerby Depenbusch finished fourth in regionals (17:18).
“He’s been steady all year long,” coach ToddKaiser said. “He didn’t quite have as good a time as he did at the beginning of the season on our course, but it got hot on us again. To qualify for the state meet as a freshman, that’s just a great opportunity for him.”
Great Bend’s Mary Williams finished ninth (16:55) and Karen Razo placed 18th (17:34).

• CLASS 4A
Delainee Gordon of Larned finished 29th last year (16;45.64) and qualified for the third time for Class 4A state cross country at Wamego with an eighth-place finish at the Hays High regional.