Northwest Kansas Pioneers Hit Their Stride at Louisburg as Season Reaches Midpoint

The Northwest Kansas Pioneers are hitting their stride. At their most recent race in Louisburg, KS, the team turned in one of its most complete performances of the season, with athletes across every age group delivering strong results under ideal conditions.

Perfect Conditions Set the Stage

Race day in Louisburg brought what mountain bikers call "hero dirt" — that Goldilocks zone of tacky yet firm trail conditions that offers maximum traction without the mess of mud or the unpredictability of dust. The weather cooperated fully, and the course rewarded riders who were ready to race.

Race Results

Hunter Hayes of Colby wasted no time making his presence known in the 5th Grade category. Launching from the third row at the start, Hayes charged to the front of the pack and maintained his pace through a 3.3-mile lap, finishing in 4th place with a time of 21:32.12.

Jaxon Ohlrogge of Colby entered the Middle School race with several consistent performances behind him and podium hopes in front of him. When a fellow rider miscued in a switchback, Ohlrogge capitalized — slipping past two competitors to move into 4th place. He defended that position to the finish line, earning his first podium of the season with a time of 38:46.63.

Parker Williams of Colby came into the JV2 race ranked 1st in his division, making every position on the course count. A sprint for the early lead turned against him when he lost traction and nearly slid off course, dropping back to 7th. What followed was a determined charge back through the field — Williams briefly reclaimed 1st place before settling into a back-and-forth battle that ended with a 2nd-place finish and a time of 49:27.46 over three laps.

Teen Trail Corps

The Pioneers continue to lead all Kansas NICA teams in the Teen Trail Corps standings. Individually, Jaxon Ohlrogge holds 3rd place statewide in trail building hours — a consistent bright spot that reflects the team's commitment beyond race day.

Support the Pioneers

The Pioneers are grateful for the support of the Northwest Kansas community and invite fans to contribute to the team's continued growth. Donations can be made at giving.kansasmtb.org/page/trekfundraiser2026 — simply select Northwest Kansas Composite as your team designation.

Looking Ahead

The Pioneers head to Snake Farm in Lawrence, KS, on May 9th for their next race, carrying momentum and confidence into the second half of the season.

For more information about the Northwest Kansas Pioneers, contact David Williams at (281) 726-4549.