Fresh Faces Fuel Grain Valley Cross Country’s Strong Start

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News


Nick Small wasn't sure what to expect from his 2025 boys and girls cross country teams because much of the talent on the Eagles squads graduate last year.

A month into the season, Small is finding that the culture he has helped create over the past 16 years is back.

“A lot of new faces, and some key kids back from last year, and we're having a lot of fun – and success,” Small said. “And we keep getting better each week.”

For the third time in the past three years, the boys won their own Grain Valley Invitational, and followed up with a second-place showing at the Belton Invitational.

“Over an eight-day span,” Small said, “we won 31 medals and put nine runners on our Top 20 all-time list.”

One of the newcomers who is making an impact is freshman Evelyn Hay.

“She burst on the scene and has already on our Top 20 list at fourth place,” Small said. “She is going to be special.”

Hay, who was a middle school standout, is passionate about cross country.

“I love it,” Hay said. “I love everything about it. I take good care of myself, I eat right right, get plenty of sleep and love to compete.“And I love practice as I do meets. I'm always working on a way to make myself better.”

Junior Emily Hooper, a soccer player who ran sprints for the track team, is another newcomer, and she is one of Hay's biggest fans.

"I love to watch Evelyn compete,” Hooper said. “This is my first time running cross country, and I didn't know what to expect. But if you want to know how to have success in cross country, just do what Evelyn does. She inspires all of us."Senior Landon Blew will be an anchor for the boys team, and he heads into this season hoping to earn a medal at state.”

He was just five places away from stepping on the podium in 2024.

“We're missing a lot of great runners from last season, but we're still having success,” Blew said. “We're young, and we've already tasted success, so we're excited about the future.”

“Landon pays attention to detail, and has been a great leader this season,” the coach said.

​Other runners who are making an impact are freshman Andrew Mueller and sophomores Colby Sinn and Jackson Edwards.


“Our sophomores are killing it,” Blew said. “It's exciting to see them grow and improve each week. We all worked hard during the offseason and we're seeing the benefits of that hard work.”

Grain Valley boys and girls cross country coach Nick Small, visits with his team before a Wednesday afternoon practice at the high school. Photo credit: Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

​Grain Valley cross country coach Nick Small visits with some of his runners before Wednesday's practice. Photo credit: Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News