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BEEMER - The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Bear and Lady Bear Cross Country teams battled the field and the “hill” in the Wisner-Pilger Cross Country Invitational held at Indian Trails Country Club near Beemer on Sept. 5.
The “hill” is a monster incline coming up from the Elkhorn River valley on the golf course and it is a real challenge.
“Going in you don’t think it’s going to be that bad, but then you start going up it,” said Lady Bear Kate Tasler. “It seems like it’s just step after step after step, it really burns. I came out of the hill last year and had nothing left, this year I saved a little for the finish.”
Tasler ended up fourth in the girls’ race. “It’s very very cool to get fourth,” she said. “Last year I didn’t place so this feels very good.” Homer won the girls varsity division of the day with a score of 39, the Lady Bears were second place at 46. Elkhorn Valley was third with 58 and Ponca was fourth at 67.
Ava Brennan of Ponca was the individual medalist for the girls, covering the 5,000 meters and the “hill” in 21-minutes, 50-seconds, Homer’s Lilly Harris was second in 22:31.10.
Tasler covered the course in 23:03.50 and teammate Leah Gould finished in the medals using a time of 23:52.60 to place 11th.
“We want to just keep improving and getting better,” said Tasler. “Our goal is to get the whole team to state this year.”
Tasler qualified individually for last season’s state meet, but is looking for company in 2025.
Jaiden Anderson of Archangels Catholic was the champion covering the course in 18:56.10. Gannon Pfister of Ponca was second in 19:13.60.
Shane Langford brought home the lone medal for the Bears, placing seventh with a time of 20:12.20. LCC freshman Owen Johnson was next for the Bears, placing 40th with a time of 22:00.70, Sebastian Van Drongelen was 48th in 22:40.20 and Hunter McGhee was 68th with a 24:19.30.
LCC will continue its season Sept. 11 when they host their own invitational.
WISNER-PILGER CROSS COUNTRY 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 LCC Finishes): 1. Jaiden Anderson (ARCHANGELS CATHOLIC) 18:56.10; 2. Gannon Pfister (PONCA) 19:13.60; 3. RachmanFree-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;40. Owen Johnson (LCC) 22:00.70; 48. Sebastian Van Drongelen (LCC) 22:40.20; 68. Hunter McGhee (LCC) 24:19.30.
Girls Team Results: 1. Homer 39; 2. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 46; 3. Elkhorn Valley 58; 4. Ponca 67; 5. Wisner-Pilger 82; 6. West Point-Beemer 83; 7. Pender 94; 8. Tri County Northeast 101; 9. East Butler 152; 10. Wakefield 162; 11. Winnebago 169.
Individual Results (Top 15 and LCC Finishes: 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; 11. Leah Gould (LCC) 23:52.60; Jaedyn Bousquet (HOM) 24:04.90; Ellinor Johnson (O-C) 24:12.40; 14. Tawny Bolles (HOM) 24:14.40; 15. Claire Wegener (ARCHBISHOP BERGAN) 24:26.30; 19. Faith Galvin (LCC) 24:48.30; 21. Addy Hoeppner (LCC) 25:00.20.
