(This article first appeared in the September print edition of the Hendersonian.)
A year after making strides in Katie Johnson’s first season at the helm, Henderson County cross country enters 2026 looking to take another step forward.
The Colonels return a strong core from last year’s boys team that reached the Class 3A state meet, while increased numbers on the girls’ side have Johnson optimistic about what both squads can accomplish this fall.
For the boys, nearly the entire group is back after losing just one senior, Ian Hancock, from last year’s team.
Henderson entered last year’s Region 1 meet projected to finish eighth, but Johnson believed the Colonels were capable of more.
“I read them the article where we weren’t even mentioned, and then I read them another article where we were predicted to go eighth,” Johnson said. “I said, ‘I want them to be wrong.’”
They were.
Henderson finished fifth at region to earn a trip to the Class 3A state meet, where six of the Colonels’ seven runners were underclassmen.
Seniors Ross Plummer and Christian Smith lead the returning group, while junior Cameron Anderson and sophomores Kaden Risley and Conner Runyon also bring state-meet experience. Senior Jordan Haynes is back after not competing in cross country last fall, and Brayden Stallings joined the cross country team after running track in the spring.
Plummer and Smith both put together strong seasons a year ago. Plummer broke the 18-minute mark with a personal-best 17:50.15 at the Daviess County Classic, while Smith ran a personal-best 18:38.00 at the regional meet.
Freshman Camden Bingham also made an immediate impact as Henderson’s third finisher in the season-opening Kentucky/Indiana Border Clash on Aug. 18. Plummer and Smith finished first and second for HCHS.
“Almost all of these athletes, with the exception of freshmen, have been coached by me before, whether they’re in cross country or track,” Johnson said. “Already having those relationships built, them knowing my plans, my training and what I expect, that’s definitely a strength.”
The girls enter the season in a much different position than they did a year ago.
Henderson struggled with numbers throughout 2025 and had only Hazel Erbst and Sophia Wright finish at the regional meet. Sophi Gonzalez had been a contributing runner before a stress fracture ended her season several weeks before region.
Gonzalez returned to lead Henderson in this year’s Border Clash, followed by freshman Grace Lawson and Erbst. Freshman Kendall Edds and sophomore Marianna Stallings have also joined the group, giving the Colonels a full team and more options than they had a season ago.
“We have a full, solid girls team this year,” Johnson said. “Based on what they’re running, what they’re looking like, I’m really hoping that we can pull together and their times can get us a girls team to go as well.”
The Colonels are training six days a week, mixing speed and endurance work with race simulations on grass and Saturday long runs. Johnson has also worked closely with Henderson County strength and conditioning coach Silaf Harris on the team’s training program.
The schedule will give the Colonels several chances to see high-level competition before the postseason.
Henderson heads to Elizabethtown for the Central Kentucky Run for the Gold on Sept. 5 before returning to Yellow Creek Park for the Owensboro Invite on Sept. 12. The Colonels will also compete at the Mustang Stampede, Marshall County Invite and Louisville XC Classic.
“I promised myself I would expose us to more competition, high-level competition,” Johnson said. “I want to be a really great team. I want to be competing at the state level competitively.”
Regionals are set for Oct. 24 at Trigg County, with the state championships following Oct. 31 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
For Johnson, though, continuing to build the program goes beyond postseason finishes.
“I just really want my kids to have fun and love it,” Johnson said. “I would love to just have great teams, big teams, full teams and be successful, but at the end of the day, I just want people to have fun and enjoy the sport that I love so much.”
