Photo: Elizabeth Schreiber/MileSplit Wisconsin
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The 2026 Wisconsin high school cross country season is finally underway, and the opening weekend did not disappoint.
From the Milwaukee River CC Invite to the PrimeTime Timing Night Race, the first results of the fall are in, and these early storylines are exactly what we've been waiting for.
Karstin McCabe Opens Up Year With One Of Fastest August Performances In State History
Karstin McCabe's freshman campaign was one to remember, highlighted by a trip to Nike Cross Nationals, a WIAA state title, and historically fast times that placed her among Wisconsin's best. The Whitefish Bay star opened her high school career with three wins, a third-place finish at the WIAA State Championships, and a 17:32 PR, the No. 2 freshman performance in state history. Her momentum carried into the spring, where she posted 4:44.98 in the 1600m and a state-record 10:03.20 in the 3200m.
She picked up right where she left off on Saturday at Milwaukee's Lincoln Park, where McCabe claimed the first cross country win of her sophomore season at the Milwaukee River Invite, running 17:44.3 and gapping the field by 48 seconds. She also paced the Blue Dukes to a 110-129 team victory over Wisconsin Lutheran, with all five Arrowhead scorers finishing inside the top 40 of a 350-plus runner field.
Wisconsin Lutheran Boys Cruise To Milwaukee River Invite Title
The 23-team field wasn't enough to scare the Vikings, as they handled things as usual at the Milwaukee River Invite, winning 77-108-129 over DeForest and Shorewood, the former finishing fifth in last year's WIAA Division I State Championships.
Led by junior Gabe Hernandez and senior Nico Carter, who finished fourth and eighth in 16:08 and 16:26, respectively, Wisconsin Lutheran was the lone team with all five scoring runners finishing in the top 30. Sophomore Calahan Moldenhauer and juniors Ryan Williams and Liam Darling crossed in 16:53, 16:58, and 17:28, and look to be in great shape before September even hits the calendar.
Shorewood was actually leading Wisconsin Lutheran 43-50 through four runners but fell victim to the depth of the Vikings. After finishing third in their debut meet a year ago in a 17-team field at the Arrowhead PT Timing Night Race, spirits are high at the corner of Glenview and Blue Mound.
Mount Horeb Girls Go 1-2-3 At PrimeTime Timing Night Race
Last fall at Ridges Golf Course, Mount Horeb erased any doubt that they were the top team in Division 2, and they opened their title defense the same way. Closing in on a year since winning their sixth title in school history, Mount Horeb opened the 2026 slate with a 1-2-3 finish at the PrimeTime Timing Night Race, winning 44-82 over Wauwatosa East.
Led by Isla Odgers, a sophomore who won by over half a minute, followed by Mia Caygill and Willa Vigliotta, who rounded out the top three and combined for just six points for the Vikings. Julia Straka (19:50) and Maeve True (20:08) finished fourth and fifth, making Mount Horeb the lone team with all five scorers inside the top 25.
It's early, but the Vikes look like the clear favorite in the division.