The Chanute boys cross country team has established a standard of excellence. Now, the Blue Comets will have to find a way to maintain it with a new group.

Chanute enters the 2026 season coming off a fourth-place finish at the Class 4A state meet, a regional championship and its fourth consecutive Southeast Kansas League title.

The Blue Comets return one of the state’s top runners in senior Tucker Applegate, but they also graduated three of their top four runners from last year’s squad.

That makes 2026 something of a rebuilding season for Chanute.

“We graduated three of our top four runners,” coach Brett Rinehart said. “Even though it is a bit of a rebuilding year, we have some talented runners joining the team and look to compete for another league championship and return to the state meet.”

Applegate will be at the forefront of that effort.

The senior enters his final high school season as a two-time SEK League individual champion, a three-time state qualifier and the reigning regional champion. He also earned an eighth-place medal at the 2025 state meet.

Rinehart said Applegate’s work ethic and determination have made him an important leader for the Blue Comets.

“Tucker is an extremely hard worker and always leaves everything on the course,” Rinehart said. “He is highly motivated and is looking to have his best season yet during his senior year.”

While Applegate provides experience at the front of the lineup, Chanute will need younger runners to step forward if the Blue Comets hope to continue their league championship streak.

One freshman who could make an immediate impact is Drake Wire.

Wire joins the high school program after an impressive middle school career in cross country and track. According to Rinehart, Wire consistently competed near the front of the pack and established multiple school records in track last spring.

He has also continued to make progress during the summer.

“Drake is an incoming freshman who had an outstanding middle school career in cross country and track,” Rinehart said. “He has been running well this summer and looks to make an immediate impact on our varsity squad.”

Developing that young talent alongside Applegate will be one of the biggest storylines for Chanute this fall.

The Blue Comets know they have a difficult task ahead. Replacing three of the team’s top four runners from a state-qualifying squad is no small challenge.

But the program has also developed a championship culture, winning the SEK title four straight times.

Now Chanute will try to extend that streak while building a new group capable of returning to the state meet.

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