WAMEGO – The bar had been set pretty high pretty high for Madison Howland throughout her first two cross country seasons at Smith Center.
 
Starting with a victory at her very first meet at the TMP-Marian Monarch Invitational in September 2023, the Redmen standout has been the standard in Class 2A. She finished that freshman season with wins in all but one of her races – that coming in a runner-up showing in her division at the prestigious Rim Rock Classic.
 
Howland capped that season with a dominant performance at the Class 2A state meet where she won her first state title by nearly 40 seconds over Ellis’ Avery Boydson, who became a two-time 1A state champion this year.
 
As a sophomore, Howland was undefeated, getting the title that had eluded her at Rim Rock and capturing her second straight 2A state title, this time by nearly 33 seconds over Wabaunsee’s Payton Wurtz. That title came after she had turned in a career-best time of 17:52.45 at regionals.
 
All that success made Howland’s junior season this fall a little bit out of the ordinary. Battling an iron deficiency, she wasn’t posting her customary times in the mid-to-low 18 minutes with her fastest outing an 18:38.04 at TMP to start the season. She also tasted defeat not just once but twice, taking fourth at Rim Rock and then third in the Mid-Continent League meet behind Boydston and her younger sister, Taryn.
 
“I didn’t have the best season,” Howland said.
 
But make no mistake. Howland is still the standard in Class 2A, even when she’s not at full strength, and she proved as much Saturday at Wamego Country Club.
 
With a handful of returning veterans and newcomers looking to perhaps end Howland’s reign in 2A, she never gave them a chance. Howland never pulled away like she had in previous state meet races at Wamego, but also never really put herself in a position to let the title get away from her.
 
Howland captured her third straight state title, winning in 19:16.77, nearly 13 seconds ahead of Bluestem’s Reagan Neal, who was runner-up in 19:29.63.
 
If there was any concern in her mind about not winning, Howland put it to rest.
 
“I knew I could still do my best for how I am for how I am right now, but not my best for overall high school,” she said. “I did believe I could win, but I knew it was going to be tough.”
 

 
While a handful of last year’s top 10 was back to take their crack at Howland’s throne – namely Eureka’s Rose Buck, who was third last year, and Remington’s Chelsea Willour, who was fourth – there was also plenty of new faces to contend with.
 
Neal had made huge strides since placing 12th at state last year, as had Ellinwood’s Eleanor Joiner, who was 15th at state a year ago. Having never run faster than 20:30 in 2024, Neal turned in a 19:25.28 at the Eureka Invitational. Joiner, meanwhile, also went under 20 minutes for the first time in her career at this year’s regional meet, giving her momentum going into state.
 

 
Meanwhile, Northern Heights’ Ellei McCrory, the 2023 Class 1A state champion, moved up to Class 2A this year. And freshman Mariella Gilmore of St. Mary’s Colgan also joined the mix, making a statement with a season-best time of 18:46.48 at the Chet Hunter Invitational in early October.
 
Making things perhaps a bit more interesting, Howland saw none of those challengers during the regular season. Her only opportunity would have come at Rim Rock, but Howland ran in the Gold Race against mostly 6A and 5A competition, finishing behind only 5A state champion Kaylie Shultz of Salina Central, 5A runner-up Ava Claasen of Kapaun Mt. Carmel and 6A champion Charlotte Hardy of Shawnee Mission East, while also beating 4A champion Irelyn Kennedy of Baldwin.
 
So there was a bit of an unknown.
 
“It’s kind of an advantage but kind of a disadvantage at the same time,” Howland said. “I really don’t know how they run their race or where they’re fastest during a race or anything about them. But at the same time, they don’t know how I run either.”
 
They all know now as Howland turned a so-so season by her lofty standards into her third state title.
 
With the title, Howland joined a list of eight Kansas girls that have won three championships in their careers with Salina Central’s Katelyn Rupe the last to join that group a year ago.
 
With one more year to go, Howland has a shot at joining an even more exclusive club, the four-time state champions. Only four girls in state history have accomplished that feat – Riley County’s Amy Mortimer (1995-98), Stanton County’s Dodie Martin (1995-98), Shawnee Heights’ Trisa Nickoley (2000-03) and Blue Valley Northwest’s Laura Roxberg (2004-07).
 
And as soon as she wrapped up her third title, that was already on Howland’s mind. For better or worse.
 
“It’s stressful for next year for sure,” she said. “But I would be really excited if I can do it.”

 
Eureka’s Buck finished third for the second straight year, crossing in 19:45.52 to hold off Ellinwood’s Joiner, who was fourth in 19:49.69. Northern Heights’ McCrory finished fifth in 20:01.03 while Colgan’s Gilmore was sixth (20:02.76) followed by Wichita County’s Joleigh Mazanec (seventh, 20:08.39), Plainville’s Brilynn Trumpp (eighth, 20:09.89) and Remington’s Willour (ninth, 20:11.93) and Alyssa Klingenberg (10th, 20:13.88) in the top 10.
 
CLASS 2A GIRLS
 
INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS
 
1. Madison Howland, 19:16.77; 2. Reagan Neal, Bluestem, 19:29.63; 3. Rose Buck, Eureka, 19:45.51; 4. Eleanor Joiner, Ellinwood, 19:49.69; 5. Ellei McCrory, Northern Heights, 20:01.03; 6. Mariella Gilmore, St. Mary’s Colgan, 20:02.76; 7. Joleigh Mazanec, Wichita County, 20:08.39; 8. Brilynn Trumpp, Plainville, 20:09.89 9. Chelsea Willour, Remington, 20:11.93; 10. Alyssa Klingenberg, Remington, 20:13.88; 11. Taegan Lindenman, Hoxie, 20:21.21; 12. Brylie Lindenman, Hoxie, 20:21.59; 13. Lauren McCosh, Douglass, 20:25.87; 14. Quinlyn Funk, Hillsboro, 20:26.88; 15. Lola Humphrey, KC Christian, 20:29.85; 16. Kallan Rothchild, WaKeeney, 20:33.23; 17. Cedar Bond, KC Christian, 20:35.74; 18. Addie Busenitz, Berean Academy, 20:36.44; 19. Baylee Schriner, Moundridge, 20:39.21; 20. Anna Dernlan, Wichita Classical, 20:48.21.