The Madrid boys’ cross country team put together a successful 2026 campaign, using steady improvement throughout the season to qualify for the Class 1A State Cross Country Championships.
The team’s home invitational in early September was canceled because of excessive heat, but the Tigers saved some of their best running for the postseason.
Madrid placed third at the West Central Activities Conference meet in October before elevating its performance at the Class 1A state qualifying meet the next week, where the Tigers finished second to secure a trip to state.
Most of Madrid’s runners recorded season-best times at the conference meet hosted by Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center, demonstrating the team’s ability to improve late in the season.
Senior Caleb Berberich led the way with a season-best time of 17 minutes, 2.40 seconds at the conference meet.
Freshman Jacob Brandhorst turned in a personal-best 17:18.50, while sophomore Hudson White followed with a seasln-best 17:35.60.
Junior Kris Petersen also broke the 18-minute mark with a season-best 17:52.80 at the conference meet.
Freshman Issac Boes posted his top time of 19:49.60, and sophomore Sean Udelhoven recorded a season-best 20:16.60, both at the conference championships.
Junior Aiden Titus achieved his fastest time of the year on the sport’s biggest stage, clocking a season-best 20:02.7 at the state meet.
Berberich provided veteran leadership as the lone senior among the team’s top runners, while freshmen Brandhorst and Boes gained postseason experience that should benefit the program in the years ahead.
By season’s end, Madrid had qualified for the state meet.
With a runner-up finish at the state qualifying meet and a third-place conference finish, the Tigers demonstrated growth throughout the season and laid a foundation for future success.
Jill Lutz reporting
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