Even with a few fewer teams, the competition to reign in the largest division in the Kansas City area in cross country featured some of the usual contenders.
The girls' battle for the league title featured Class 5 champion Blue Springs South, along with an always solid Raymore-Peculiar and Blue Springs squad.
Those three teams combined to take all of the spots in the top 10 in a race held on Oct. 15 at Lee's Summit North.
Junior Ashlyn Smith won the league championship with a time of 18:35.19, winning by a comfortable margin too. The Ray-Pec standout was the runner-up last year, coming in behind current Iowa State runner Mya Trober, from Blue Springs South.
Blue Springs South had the champion in the race for seven of the past eight years.
Smith was one of five Panthers in the top 10 - which led to the individual title.
Senior Avery Raymond (third)...