Gatorade has officially announced its winners of their prestigious Runner ("Player") of the Year award for the 2024 Cross Country season. Each year, a national winner is announced on the boys' and girls' sides, as well as a winner for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
This year, Topeka Seaman's Ryin Miller (pictured above) and Olathe West's Braxton Theel were the recipients from the state of Kansas.
Miller's junior year was incredible, highlighted by her state record time 16:32.62 of at the Topeka Joe Shrag Invitational in September. She was undefeated in her first eight races until a loss to 2023 Gatorade Runner of the Year Salina Central's Katelyn Rupe at the 5A State Championships. After finishing third at the NXR Heartland Championships, Miller would go on to finish 40th at Nike Cross Nationals, posting her only time of the season over 18:00 in the driving rain and mud in Portland, Oregon. Her season average of 17:22 in eleven races was faster than the 2024 season best of all Kansans but two.
--
Photo: Teresa Brubaker
Theel's season may not have been as dominant as Miller's, but it was strong nonetheless. The Olathe West senior picked up key victories in 2024 at the Roy Griak Invitational Maroon division and the 6A State Championships. The latter victory was dominant, as Theel held off an incredible field by 16 seconds and posted the sixth fastest mark in Rim Rock Farm history according to our database. His 15:01.90 personal best at the Olathe Twilight was KS No. 5 this fall, just 6 seconds back of the leader.
You can check out the full press release for the Kansas Boys' Runner of the Year here.