Vote! Who will be Salem-Keizer area's top boys cross-country runner?

Who will be the Salem-Keizer area's top boys cross-country runner in 2026?

It's your turn to vote.

The Statesman Journal has worked across fall high school sports to identify some of the top Salem-Keizer area athletes heading into the 2026 OSAA season. After football, girls soccer, boys soccer and girls volleyball, it's time for boys cross country.

So who will be the Salem-Keizer area's top boys cross-country runner in 2026? Here are the nominees, brought to you by Maps Credit Union.

• Kayden Bejar, South Salem
• Thomas Butler, Central
• David Goodwin, West Salem
• Jaxsen Herring, McNary
• Ethan Lutz, Blanchet Catholic
• Stuart McLaughlin, Regis
• Xzavier Parker, Sprague
• Harper Stoops, Regis
• Brandon Wagar, Stayton
• Anderson Webb, Sprague

Information about each nominee is below. Vote for who you think should win at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Sunday, Sept. 6.

Kayden Bejar, South Salem

Bejar finished sixth in the Central Valley Conference championship 5,000-meter race in 16 minutes, 43.91 seconds as a junior last fall. He ran a personal-best 16:14.3 at The Mook Invite and ran a 17:06 at the OSAA 6A state championships. He's back as a senior for the Saxons.

Thomas Butler, Central

Butler finished 14th at the Mid-Willamette Conference championships in 17:24.3 a year ago. The senior ran a season-best 17:06.7 at The Mook Invite and is the top returning conference finisher from a Panthers team that graduated two of the top runners in the state.

David Goodwin, West Salem

Goodwin finished seventh at the Central Valley Conference championships in 16:44.88 last fall as a junior. He ran a personal-best 16:24.9 at the Northwest regional championships after competing at the OSAA 6A state championship. He’s the Titans’ highest-placing returning runner from last fall’s CVC-winning squad.

Jaxsen Herring, McNary

Herring claimed fourth at the Central Valley Conference championships in 16:37.41 as a junior a year ago. He delivered a season-best 16:26.4 at the Rose City Championship Invite and competed at the OSAA 6A state championships and Northwest regional championships. He’s the highest-placing returning runner from the CVC at the state meet last fall.

Ethan Lutz, Blanchet Catholic

Lutz finished sixth in the Class 3A Special District 2 championship race in a personal-best 17:33.8 last season. The now-senior claimed a spot in the top 35 at the OSAA 3A state championship race in 17:47.6 and returns as the Cavaliers' top runner.

Stuart McLaughlin, Regis

McLaughlin placed second in the Class 2A/1A Special District 2 championships in 17:11.52 as a junior last fall. He ran a 16:56 race for 10th at the OSAA 2A/1A state championships and holds a personal best of 16:29.6 from the Champoeg Invitational. He returns as part of a strong one-two punch of state-competing runners at Regis.

Xzavier Parker, Sprague

Parker earned third place at the Central Valley Conference championship in 16:30.62 his junior season a year ago. He holds a personal-best of 16:19.1 from the Champoeg Invitational last October and is the highest-placing returner from the conference championship race.

Harper Stoops, Regis

Stoops finished fourth in the 2A/1A Special District 2 championship race in 17:21.92 last season. He earned 14th at the OSAA 2A/1A state championships in 17:16.6 and competed at Northwest regional championships. Stoops returns for his senior season with a strong Regis squad.

Brandon Wagar, Stayton

Wagar placed fifth at the Oregon West Conference championship in 16:50.27 last fall as a sophomore. He finished in the top 25 at the OSAA 4A state championship in 17:18.9 and holds a personal-best 16:30.8 from The Ultimook Race last September. He's one of the top returning runners from the OWC and is joined by a veteran Stayton roster.

Anderson Webb, Sprague

Webb finished ninth at the Central Valley Conference championship race in 17:02.07 as a junior last fall. He delivered a personal-best 16:41.3 at the Grant Robison Invitational in October and competed at the 6A state championships. He returns to an experienced Sprague team eager to take the leap to the top of the CVC.

Landon Bartlett covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at LBartlett@statesmanjournal.com or on X, TikTok or Instagram @bartlelo.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Vote! Who will be Salem-Keizer area's top boys cross-country runner?