Marina
The Emporia High cross country team delivered an impressive performance at the Emporia Invitational held at Jones Park, earning 10 top-15 placements across boys’ and girls’ divisions.
With the early season now underway, this strong showing gave Head Coach Michael Robinson plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the squad’s potential as the season progresses.
Standout Performances at the Emporia Invitational
| Event | Athlete | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Boys’ 4,000-meter finals | Alex Hoopes | 4th place |
| Ethan Morton | 14th place | |
| Even James | 15th place | |
| Girls’ 4,000-meter finals | Ariella Macias | Top 10 |
| Kiera Ogleby | Top 10 | |
| Katrina Rodriguez | Top 10 | |
| Olivia Sandoval | Top 10 | |
| Boys’ 5,000-meter finals | Xaden Delgado | 12th place |
| Girls’ 5,000-meter finals | Emma Beatty | 13th place |
| Madison Evans | 14th place |
This balanced performance across both genders and distances shows the program’s depth, with veterans and newer runners contributing valuable points to the team.
Coach Robinson’s Take on the Results
Head Coach Michael Robinson said he was proud of the team’s effort, especially given the home-meet pressure and strong competition:
“I don’t get to see a ton of the home meet because I’m working it, but from what I did see and what the results showed was that we had several runners compete hard and step up to the level of competition,” Robinson said.
He noted that junior varsity runners are still being evaluated as the team works to finalize the varsity roster for the rest of the season. This meet provided a glimpse of who might step up.
Reliable Veterans Lead the Way
Robinson highlighted three key runners — Xaden Delgado, Emma Beatty, and Madison Evans — as athletes who consistently set the tone for the team:
“Xaden, Emma, and Madison are three runners that we can always count on to get out quickly and put themselves in a good position, and they did that again this weekend,” Robinson said.
All three secured top-15 finishes in their respective events, reinforcing their reputation as dependable leaders for the program. Their performances are giving the younger team members valuable examples to follow early in the season.
Building a Young Roster
While the top performers provided plenty to celebrate, Robinson emphasized that much of the roster is still relatively new to competitive cross country. Getting the newcomers up to speed is a major priority:
“Outside of our veterans, the team is fairly new or inexperienced when it comes to cross country, so getting them conditioned is key,” he said.
Robinson explained that training has focused on hill running, pacing variety, and race-pace awareness:
“We have done a lot of work with hill running in practice, as well as just simply getting used to different paces — easy, tempo, race pace, etc., and what those feel like. We try to get a feel for multiple different paces every day, even on lighter days.”
This blend of technical development and physical conditioning is aimed at building a strong and sustainable foundation for long-term success.
Goals for the Season
Looking ahead, Robinson has two clear priorities:
- Qualify as many runners as possible for the state meet
- Develop well-rounded athletes who improve each week
“Besides sending as big of a group to the state meet as possible, we look to continue to develop athletes and good all-around people and have runners improve in some way each week,” Robinson said.
With a mix of seasoned athletes and fresh talent, the Emporia High squad is positioning itself to peak later in the season while building depth for the future.
What’s Next for the Spartans
With confidence boosted from their strong home meet showing, the Emporia High cross country team will travel to the Baldwin Golf Course on September 20 for their next competition.
That meet will provide another chance to test their progress, gain experience, and build consistency before the season enters its crucial mid-stage.
The Emporia High cross country team’s 10 top-15 finishes at the Emporia Invitational showcased both the team’s depth and future potential. With veterans leading by example and newcomers gaining experience, Coach Michael Robinson is optimistic about what lies ahead.
As they head to Baldwin, the Spartans will look to build on their momentum, sharpen their consistency, and continue developing runners capable of making a deep postseason run.