Cross Country Runners Race Their Way to State
By Elizabeth Furstenau
Once again, Pierce’s runners dominated the course, and on Wednesday, October 15, the district cross country meet was hosted by Pierce at the golf course and due to their dedication, the entire boys team will be competing at state.
“The teams progressed differently during the season. The girls team battled injuries all season long, so it was difficult for them to ever get a true sense of running as a team,” coach Gary Shada claimed. “The boys team, however, ran as a strong team all year and saw steady improvement during the course of the season. The boys started the season off a little rough, but things began to gel for them, and they found their niche and came together as a group of six.”
Brenden Bolling took the first place medal with a 17:03.56 time. Close behind was Kendall Shada in fifth with a 17:43.72 and Kyle Abler in sixth with a 17:53.35. In 25th place was Blaine Anson with a 19:28.87 time. Nearing Anson’s time was Carl Vogt with a 19:37.28, putting him in 28th place. Maxwell Weber ended the boys team in 51st place with a 21:11.35 time.
“The meet went very well for all of us. Individually, I definitely could’ve ran a faster time, but when it comes to the postseason in cross country, all that matters is your placing,” K. Shada said. “We came into the meet expecting first place as a team, and we got the job done. Now we focus our attention on state.”
Leading the way on the girls team in 24th was Essynce Owens-Webb with a time of 23:30.74. Following Owens-Webb in 42nd was Isabelle Kuehler with a 25:22.64 time. Lainey Jensen finished 51st with a time of 28:30.57. Close behind in 54th was Bailee Thelen, running a 29:08.43. This landed the girls team in ninth place for the day.
Make sure to catch the runners in Kearney on Friday, October 24, to watch them take home a win at state.
