Our 2026 Wild Card Athletes Are Kaser Johnson and Malia Woosley

KASER JOHNSON AND MALIA WOOSLEY ARE YOUR 2026 WILD CARDS

The toughest of the toughest.

This fall, we had the opportunity to award two outstanding athletes with a Wild Card entry into the Brooks Midwest XC Championships in Kenosha, WI. We began our search with two key qualifications in mind:

• The athletes must be talented. The Brooks XC Championships are not to be underestimated. The Midwest meet sees the best runners from the region enter its ranks, and we wanted to give Nebraska a good showing. Our athletes must be among the best in their class.
• The athletes must do good. Not do well, do good. We wanted to find students who were supportive teammates, respectful competitors, and good people. Fleet Feet's primary core value is 'Put People First.' Our athletes must embody that.

After ample research, we are ecstatic to announce our two selections: Kaser Johnson and Malia Woosley.

Kaser Johnson

Kaser Johnson is one of the fastest runners in Nebraska’s class of 2027. A multi-sport athlete, Johnson recently took home FIRST PLACE in the Platte River Rumble with a blazing time of 15:23. His best-ever 5K time is a 14:56, which he set at this year's Ft. Kearny Twilight Meet.

Malia Woosley

Malia Woosley is a senior from Lincoln. In her junior year, she posted a 5K PR of 19:09 at the state course in Kearney, and she is set to make her 2026 season debut at the Harold Scott Invitational on Sept 17. When she’s not out racing or training, Malia loves to bake and hang out with friends.

The top 10 boys and girls from the Midwest meet will earn the chance to compete on the national stage at the legendary Brooks XC Championship in San Diego, California. The regional meet is on Saturday, Nov 28, and the national championship is set to take place on Saturday, Dec 12.