District cross country meets were held for Classes B and D on Thursday as athletes attempted to qualify for the NSAA state cross country championships next week in Kearney. The top three teams and top 15 individuals from each district qualified for the state meet. Below is a recap of athletes from within the KCNI/KBBN coverage area who qualified for state.
The D-3 district meet took place at the Ainsworth Municipal golf course. Boyd County was the boys district team champion followed by Ord in second and Creighton was third. The boys individual champion was Will Nelson of Boyd County in a winning time of 17:22.9. Connor Sutton of Sandhills/Thedford qualified for state as an individual. Sutton was the boys district runner up with a time of 17:31.4. In other area notes JJ Maynard of Burwell finished 21st overall and Everett Funk of Twin Loup finished in the top 30 placing 28th. The girls district team champion was Ainsworth followed by North Central in second and Elkhorn Valley was third. The girls individual champion was Delani Runnels of Niobrara/Verdigre in a winning time of 19:46.5. Burwell qualified two for state as individuals. Jalise Busch finished 5th (21:05.1) and Lena Spencer was 9th (21:16).
The D-5 district meet was held at Cross Creek Golf Links in Cambridge. South Loup claimed the boys district team championship to qualify for state as a team. Axtell was second and Alma finished third. The Bobcats placed three runners in the top 10. Jaden Baker was 4th (18:27.87), Walter Bierman was 6th (18:42.01), and Josiah Coleman was 9th (18:47.43). The boys individual champion was Kael Garrett of Medicine Valley in winning time of 17:21.52. Dutch Miller of Arcadia/Loup City was the district runner up in a time of 17:33.95 and qualified for state. In other area notes, Kolten Clay of Ansley/Litchfield finished 21st overall in a time of 19:42.04. The girls district team champion was Elm Creek followed by Cambridge in second and Brady was third. The girls individual champion was Aysha Neal of Alma with a winning time of 22:02.1. Baylor Clay of Ansley/Litchfield finished just outside the top 15 placing 17th in a time of 24:28.07.
The D-6 district meet took place at Pheasant Run Golf Course in Grant. The boys district team champion was North Platte St. Pat’s followed by Perkins County in second and Hemingford was third. The boys individual champion was Elijah Goodell of Perkins County with a winning time of 16:23.94. Braylon Kuncl of Mullen finished in the top 15 to qualify for state as an individual. Kuncl was 13th in a time of 18:45.35. The girls district team champion was Gordon Rushville followed by Hemingford in second and Perkins County was third. The girls individual champion was Dakota Horstman of Hemingford in a winning time of 20:46.12. Riley Hegland of Mullen qualified for state finishing 9th in a time of 22:07.68. Ady Hampton of Mullen was just outside the top 15 finishing 18th overall.
The NSAA state cross country championships will take place October 24th at the Kearney Country Club and golf course.
