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BEEMER — The Wisner-Pilger Invitational was held Sept. 5 at Indian Trails Country Club just outside of Beemer.
The course at Indian Trails is notorious for the “hill” which is a huge incline that runs from the bottom of the Elkhorn River valley to the top of the hill surrounding the valley, approximately 200 yards long, seemingly straight up.
To make matters worse, the competitors still have ground to cover after scaling the hill.
Homer won both divisions of the varsity races held at the meet with the Knights bettering Elkhorn Valley 3854 and the Lady Knights outrunning Laurel-Concord-Coleridge by seven spots, 39-46.
The Wildcats placed 10th with a team score of 144.
Jaiden Anderson of Archangels Catholic was the champion in the boys division, covering the 5,000 meter course including the “hill” in 18-minutes, 56.10-seconds with Ponca’s Gannon Pfister grabbing the silver medal in 19:13.60.
Isaac Santiago was the first Hartington-Newcastle runner to cross the finish line finishing in 20th with a time of 20:55.90.
Jeffrey Heine was 45th in 22:25.70, Aidan Anderson was 50th in 22:49.00, Donnie Schulte was 54th in 23:10.50 and Kayden Gustman was 86th with a time of 28:20.80.
Ava Brennan of Ponca was the champion in the girls division, covering the course in 21:50.00. Lilly Harris of Homer was second in 22:31.10.
The Lady Wildcats had just two runners competing in the varsity meet, Isabel Rolfes and Breah Steffen. Rolfes was 33rd in 26:08.30 and Steffen was 52nd with a clocking of 28:36.50.
“Beemer is always a tough course but our girls were mentally ready for it,” said Lady Wildcat coach Lisa Rolfes. “While neither ran personal bests, they stayed focused and determined all the way to the finish line.
I was very proud of their effort and heart.”
The coach also gave a report on the junior high Lady ‘Cats.
“Our junior high girls came home with another first place with four girls finishing in the top 15,” she said.
“They have something really special going on and it’s fun to watch.”
The local runners head to Laurel on Sept. 11.
WISNER-PILGER INVITATIONAL Boys Team Results: 1. Homer 38; 2. Elkhorn Valley 54; 3. East Butler 67; 4. West Pt.-Beemer 89; 5. Oakland-Crg 96; 6. Tekamah-Herman 114; 7. Winnebago 125; 8. LCC 138; 9. Wisner-Pilger 140; 10. Hartington-Newcastle 144; 11. Tri County NE 150; 12. Madison 213; 13. Cedar Bluffs 214; 14. Pender 217. Individual Results (Top 15 and HNS): 1. Jaiden Anderson (ARCHANGELS CATHOLIC) 18:56.10; 2. Gannon Pfister (PONCA) 19:13.60; 3. Rachman Free-Bass (WINN) 19:45.30; 4. Aayden Harris (HOM) 19:56.50; 5. Ryan Roche (T-H) 20:02.20; 6. Caden Barclay (HOM) 20:03.80; 7. Shane Langford (LCC) 20:12.20; 8. Isaiah Hilton (EB) 20:18.40; 9. Patrick Rayburn (O-C) 20:21.60; 10. Abe Johnson (EV) 20:22.80; 11. Klayton Brandl (HUMPHREY/LINDSAY) 20:25.50; 12. Sylas Delmont (W-P) 20:26.60; 13. Zaq Leslie (WP-B) 20:30.80; 14. Jude Ridenour (TCNE) 20:31.10; 15. Jett Fogarty (HOM) 20:40.10; 20. Isaac Santiago (HNS) 20:55.90; 45. Jeffrey Heine (HNS) 22:25.70; 50. Aidan Anderson (HNS) 22:49.00; 54. Donnie Schulte (HNS) 23:10.50; 86. Kayden Gustman (HNS) 28:20.80.
Girls Team Results: 1. Homer 39; 2. LCC 46; 3. Elkhorn Valley 58; 4. Ponca 67; 5. Wisner-Pilger 82; 6. West Point-Beemer 83; 7. Pender 94; 8. Tri County NE 101; 9. East Butler 152; 10. Wakefield 162; 11. Winnebago 169.
Individual Results (Top 15 and HNS: 1. Ava Brennan (PON) 21:50.00; 2. Lilly Harris (HOM) 22:31.10; 3. Megan Bretbarth (PEN) 22:58.50; 4. Kate Tasler (LCC) 23:03.50; 5. Emerson Meiergerd (WP-B) 23:19.60; 6. Avery Brummels (WINSIDE) 23:25.80; 7. Mazzy Kuchar (EV) 23:30.20; 8. Brenna Lawson (EV) 23:39.00; 9. Alejandra Hermosillo (TCNE) 23:46.40; 10. Brenna Siebrandt (W-P) 23:49.70; 33. Isabel Rolfes (HNS) 26:08.30; 52. Breah Steffen (HNS) 28:36.50.
