Wichita runner Clay Shively breaks another Kansas high school state cross country record

Clay Shively has added yet another record to his standout high school career of running.

The Trinity Academy senior is believed to have broken a Kansas high school state record on a 5-kilometer course with a personal-best time of 14 minutes, 42.60 seconds in his title-winning performance at the Olathe Twilight Invitational this past Saturday.

The Kansas High School State Activities Association does not keep official records of fastest times because cross country courses can vary greatly in difficulty. Shively’s time is the fastest logged time in the database of Kansas MileSplit, a popular running web site that has tracked most races since the turn of the decade.

Shively’s time of 14:42.60 also stands as the fastest 5-kilometer time in the country early in the cross country season. Shively’s teammate, fellow senior Sam Ferguson, placed third in the race with a personal-best time of 15:00.30 and is currently ranked No. 11 nationally.

Shively, committed to run for Northern Arizona in college, famously broke Jim Ryun’s 58-year-old state record in the high school indoor mile in January with a time of 4:04.95.

He also helped lead the Knights to their second straight Class 3A team championship with a record-setting time at the state cross country meet last October, then collected state titles in the 800-meter and 1600-meter races on the track this May.

Shively and Trinity will try to add to their trophy collection at the 3A state meet held at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence on Oct. 28.