Derby is sending nine cross country runners to the Class 6A state meet after the Panthers punched their tickets at the regional meet Saturday, Oct. 24.
The girls team qualified as a full squad for the first time since 2021, finishing third with 83 team points, according to the Derby Informer. Washburn Rural won the regional with 30 points, followed by Lawrence Free State at 37. Derby claimed the third and final team qualifying spot by a 20-point margin over fourth-place Maize, which scored 103.
Junior Ellie Rinn led the way, placing seventh in 20:26.00. It is her second career state meet appearance after qualifying individually as a sophomore last season. Kenadee Ellis finished 16th in 21:21.09, Ashlyn Bohaty took 18th in 21:52.69 and Abby Brown placed 19th in 21:57.34. Serenity Lashinski rounded out the scoring in 23rd at 22:31.94. Brittyn Williams (36th, 24:44.26) and Jasmine Baker (42nd, 26:11.94) completed the roster.
The Panthers exceeded expectations, head coach Corey Koch told the Derby Informer, securing the final qualifying spot comfortably. Koch said the team knew it was competing with two other squads for that third berth.
"They just kind of all killed it," Koch said.
On the boys side, senior Ben Perry and junior Ethan Smith each cracked the top 10 to earn individual state berths. Perry placed ninth in 16:50.66, and Smith finished 10th in 16:57.16. Perry is heading to his second straight state meet after qualifying as a junior last season. Smith secured the first state qualification of his career, the Derby Informer reported.
The boys team placed fifth overall with 116 points in Race B. Manhattan won the regional at 40, followed by Maize (66), Garden City (85) and Junction City (101). James Lyman led the remaining Derby boys in 24th at 17:48.18.
Koch said the boys had hoped to qualify as a team but called Perry and Smith's individual berths a positive. Seven of the nine state-qualifying runners are expected to return next season, giving the program experience to build on heading into 2027.
All nine Panthers will race at the state cross country meet at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence on Saturday, Oct. 31.
