Field Set: 14 Women Enter 2026 Pancake Day Race in Liberal

Organizers set a 14-woman field for the Liberal leg of the 2026 International Pancake Day Race, a roster that follows a recent amendment expanding eligibility to women who live or work in Liberal. The change aims to bolster participation and tighten pre-race planning for a community event that drives local foot traffic and weekend activity.

The PancakeDay site posted the amendment in clear terms: “Amendment – The race is now open to ladies who live OR WORK in Liberal. (Three months minimum).” Liberal organizers say the adjustment responds to years when the International race struggled to fill a full slate of competitors. “In years past, it's been a bit disappointing to not have a full slate of racers in the International Race, so we're hoping this change will help motivate not only Liberal ladies to run in the race and sign up earlier, but also women from other communities in the area,” Brack said, explaining the rationale and noting that Liberal sets a deadline roughly 30 days before the race to ensure entrants are registered. Brack also drew a comparison to Olney, which has typically had more than 15 racers and allowed day-of signups for women employed there.

KSCB has profiled three of the 14 confirmed competitors, offering a snapshot of the field and the mix of returning racers and newcomers. Alondra Brito, 25, is a mother to 6-month-old Emiliano and a student in the Respiratory Therapy program at Seward County Community College; this is her second International Pancake Race, and she placed 3rd overall in 2023. “Just have fun, it’s a great experience,” Brito advised first-timers. Kristen Woods, an ultrasound technologist who has lived in Liberal for the past five months, will run her first Pancake Day after encouragement from friends and coworkers and plans to practice the pancake flip. Madison Winters, 30, is a manager and barista at the Cozy Corner and heads into her third International Pancake Race after competing in 2024 and 2025; her training includes daily walks and runs with her dogs and ranch work, and she is “hoping for better weather and a finish higher than ninth for the third year in a row!” Her guidance to newcomers: “relax and have fun.”

Community organizers say Pancake Day will keep staples such as the Pancake Chase, Flipping and Eating contests, and the Mascot Race. Promotion has already begun on local social channels, and organizers credited Isabelle Sullenger and Mandy Read for the early announcement, saying, “Isabelle Sullenger and Mandy Read are social media experts and have been doing a wonderful job with all of that, and I know that's already seen a lot of views and reactions.”

For Texas County businesses and service providers, a larger, more reliable field and earlier signups can mean steadier spectator turnout and predictable weekend demand. PancakeDay posts also note that signups opened January 2, 2026, and the site carries a © 2024 International Pancake Day of Liberal, KS copyright. Sources list three named profiles in the published excerpts; the full roster of all 14 participants and exact race logistics remain to be published by organizers. The eligibility amendment and social push signal organizers’ intent to make Pancake Day “big and bold” and to lock in a fuller field for future races.