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Young Goodland Cross Country Team Ready for 2026 Season

PHOTO CREDIT: Jackie Elliott



GOODLAND, Kan. — A young group of runners will look to make their mark as the Goodland Cowboys and Cowgirls begin the 2026 cross country season.


Head coach Jake Stout is encouraged by the numbers on the boys side, which includes seven freshmen and enough depth to create competition for varsity positions.


Junior Noah Wolak returns as one of Goodland’s most experienced runners, competing in the program since seventh grade. He enters his junior season hoping to take on a larger leadership role while continuing to improve.


“I feel like I want to be better,” Wolak said. “I want to be more competitive with everybody else. I want to do great things in this sport.”


Junior Clay McArthur is a newcomer to the program after playing football last fall. McArthur ran the mile in junior high track and decided to give cross country a try this season.


“It’s been pretty fun,” McArthur said. “I’ve got a lot of friends in cross country, and I thought it’d be fun.”

Stout expects Wolak and McArthur to be among his top runners along with freshman Cameron Collett. He hopes to eventually get the group below the 20-minute mark in the 5K, putting them in position to contend for medals throughout the season.


The Cowgirls have just two high school runners this fall, with Emily Grey Stargell serving as the lone returner after Goodland graduated several seniors from last year’s team.


Goodland’s early practices have focused on conditioning and gradually increasing mileage while dealing with the late summer heat. Stout has adjusted workouts based on conditions as the Cowboys and Cowgirls work themselves into race shape.


McArthur hopes his first cross country season can eventually lead to high finishes at meets, while Wolak plans to use the fall both to compete and prepare himself for wrestling season.


Stout said those different motivations are part of his approach to coaching the program.


“My goal is to match what the kids’ goals are as a coach,” Stout said. “What do you want to achieve? And I’m going to try to be the coach for you to achieve that.”


With a large freshman class joining the boys program and several runners looking to take another step forward, Goodland enters 2026 focused on steady improvement throughout the fall.


Goodland will be in action on September 3rd, hosting their own Goodland Invitational at Suger Hill Golf Club.



Senior Noah Wolak & sophomore Clay McArthur:



Head Coach Jake Stout:


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