The 2024 WIAA Division I, Division II, and Division III State Cross Country Championships are set to take place on Saturday, November 2 at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
The competition will begin at noon with races in the following order:
Girls' Competition
12:00 p.m. - Division 3
12:40 p.m. - Division 2
1:20 p.m. - Division 1
Boys' Competition
2:00 p.m. - Division 3
2:35 p.m. - Division 2
3:10 p.m. - Division 1
The WIAA State Cross Country Championship brings together Wisconsin's fastest high school runners and dedicated teams for a highly anticipated showcase. Here are some standout teams and individuals from across the state to catch in action.
Boys Teams
This year's Division 1 competition is stacked, featuring all seven teams that placed in the top seven last year and 11 of the top 17 overall. Two-time defending champion Stevens Point returns to pursue a third title, backed by four returning runners who contributed 36 points to last year's victory. Teams to watch include Hudson (2nd), Oconomowoc (3rd), Marquette (4th), Madison West (5th), Green Bay Preble (6th), and De Pere (7th), all of which placed high last year. Both Green Bay Preble and Marquette bring back strong teams, with six and five returning State competitors, respectively. New to Division 1 this year is Shorewood, which boasts five runners from last year's third-place team in Division 2. In Division 2, West Salem (4th last year) and Dodgeville/Mineral Point (9th) each bring back six runners, positioning them as top contenders. Kohler, a two-time champion in Division 3, has also moved up to Division 2 with five runners from last year's squad. In Division 3, with Kohler moving up, competition for the title is fierce, with runner-up Solon Springs/Northwood and third-place Cedar Grove-Belgium among teams returning strong lineups.
Boys Individuals
The Division 1 field includes six of last year's top seven finishers, including Onalaska's Manny Putz, a two-time defending champion aiming for a third title. De Pere's junior Grady Lenn (3rd last year), Green Bay Preble's Jacob Nuthals (5th), and Stevens Point seniors Ethan Olds (6th) and Cooper Erickson (8th) are also top returners. Sectional champions like James Lennington (Oconomowoc) and Elijah Pabon (DeForest) add further depth to the field. In Division 2, several returning top-10 finishers include Kettle Moraine Lutheran's Kyle Kieper (3rd), Port Washington's Alex Anewenter (7th), and Dodgeville/Mineral Point's Layne Aurit (9th). Division 3 sees five top-10 finishers returning, including Crandon's Taylor Karcz (runner-up), who is expected to contend for the title. Other strong returners include Gavin Stewart (Ladysmith), Isaac Scheer (Columbus Catholic), Isaac Dickenson (Solon Springs/Northwood), and Matthew Wilterdink (Oostburg).
Girls Teams
Defending Division 1 champion Slinger brings back four runners from last year's title team. Neenah (2nd), Brookfield East (4th), Madison West (5th), and Menomonie (10th) also return, with Neenah and Brookfield East especially positioned to challenge for the title with most of their top runners back. In Division 2, five teams returned from the top 10 last year, with Bloomer (runner-up) leading with all seven of last year's team members back. Kiel and Mount Horeb also look competitive, with Kiel bringing five State-experienced runners. Last year's Division 3 champion, Lancaster, has moved up to Division 2, returning four athletes. Division 3 sees several strong teams back, including Darlington (3rd), Assumption (4th), and Bonduel (6th), with Assumption boasting six returning runners.
Girls Individuals
In Division 1, six top-10 finishers from last year return. Notably, Ella Anschutz of Muskego, last year's champion, will aim to defend her title. Other key competitors include Mackenzie Babcock (Monona Grove), who placed third last year, and Marah Benedict (New Richmond), who finished fifth. Division 2 features 2022 champion Faith Wehrman (New Berlin Eisenhower) and Clara Hartman (Bloomer), who was third last year. Moving into Division 2 from Division 3, Boscobel's Nora Jillson will contend for a top spot after finishing as runner-up in 2022. Division 3's race includes six top-10 finishers from last year, including Maggie Behler of Kohler, last year's runner-up, and Lucy Dolan (Assumption), who placed third.
More Information
The links below have everything you need to know about the meet day, including the course map, the schedule, meet information, awards information, and much more.
The MileSplit WI staff will be on-site at the WIAA State Championship for meet coverage. Follow our social media pages throughout the day for the latest updates.