HNS Wildcats take cross country crown at Laurel meet

LAUREL - The Hartington-Newcastle Wildcat cross country squad out lasted Homer by a single spot to take the title in the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Invitational here Sept. 7 at Cedarview Country Club.

The Lady Wildcats placed second behind Pender, which scored a perfect six points with the top three finishers and the Lady Pendragons also took home the fourthplace medal, with 22 points.

Brody Taylor of Ponca won the boys’ race with Hugo Parker of Walthill coming in second, HNS’s Adam Elks was sixth while Alex Elks placed eighth.

Isaac Hernandez-Santiago came in 14th to bring home a medal for his efforts on the afternoon.

Aiden Anderson placed 24th, Aaron Wortmann was 27th, Braeden Kleinschmit was 38th, Harrison Kuehn was 42nd, Gavin Joachimsen was 45th and Sam Kuehn was 46th.

Hartington-Newcastle’s Cole Rosener, who has been the Wildcats top runner thus far this fall, was unable to run in the meet.

The Lady Wildcats had four runners in the medals led by Ava Noecker, who finished sixth.

“My ultimate goal this year is to get under 22 minutes,” Noecker said. “I love to just get out there and run, but I want to get my personal record under 22 minutes.”

Noecker crossed the finish line in 23 minutes and 2.3 seconds.

Joining her in the medals were teammates Claire Rolfes in eighth, Carmen Buschkamp in 10th and Ryell Haug in 14th.

Haug improved her personal record by over three minutes.

“She ran an impressive race,” HNS cross country coach, Mandy Hochstein said. “She looks to be in the competition for the fourth spot on the varsity.”

Pender’s Kyla and Jala Krusemark were first and second in the individual competition followed by teammates Hadley Walsh and Megan Breitbarth.

Isabel Rolfes placed 20th for the Lady Wildcats, Abby Anderson was 26th.

Both Hartington-Newcastle teams were set to compete in the Wayne Invitational at Wayne Country Club on Sept. 11 before heading to Tyndall, S.D. Sept. 18.

LCC INVITATIONAL Boys Division

Team Results: 1. Hartington-Newcastle 27; 2. Homer 28; 3. Ponca 34; 4. Walthill 35; 5. Pender 43; 6. LCC 51; 7. Randolph 58; 8. Tri County NE 79.

Individual Results: 1. Brody Taylor (PON) 17:39.40; 2. Hugo Parker (WAL) 18:23.80; 3. Gannon Walsh (PEN) 18:24.30; 4. Tyler Olson (LCC) 18:46.80; 5. Keesan Kaaihue (WAL) 18:53.20; 6. Adam Elks (H-N) 19:05.70; 7. Aayden Harris (HOM) 19:07.10; 8. Alex Elks (H-N) 19:14.50; 9. Lakeyven Smith (WIN) 19:17.20; 10. Broderick Hogan (PON) 9:18.10; 11. Jessup Snowball (HOM) 19:23.50; 12. Junius Snowball (HOM) 19:42.10; 13. Caden Barclay (HOM) 19:48.80; 14. Isaac Hernandez-Santiago (H-N) 20:15.40; 15. Justin Guenther (RAN) 20:28.40; 24. Aidan Anderson (H-N) 21:22.90; 27. Aaron Wortmann (H-N) 21:33.50; 38. Braeden Kleinschmit (H-N) 23:16.10; 42. Harrison Kuehn (H-N) 23:42.80; 45. Gavin Joachimsen (H-N) 24:30.50; 46. Sam Kuehn 24:36.70.

Girls Division

1. Pender 6; 2. Hartington-Newcastle 22; 3. Homer 30; 4. Tri County NE 41; 5. LCC 45; 6. St. Edward 75.

Individual Results: 1. Kyla Krusemark (PEN) 21:35.00; 2. Jala Krusemark (PEN) 21:40.00; 3. Hadley Walsh (PEN) 21:50.70; 4. Megan Breitbarth (PEN) 21:55.80; 5. Lilly Harris (HOM) 22:23.30; 6. Ava Noecker (H-N) 23:02.30; 7. Tressa Bigbear (WIN) 23:10.60; 8. Claire Rolfes (H-N) 23:32.40; 9. Alejandra Hermosillo (TCNE) 23:51.30; 10. Carmen Buschkamp (H-N) 23:58.30; 11. Faith Galvin (LCC) 24:06.10; 12. Jaedyn Bousquet (HOM) 24:14.40; 13. Bre Millard (TCNE) 24:24.30; 14. Ryell Haug (H-N) 24:25.90; 15. Lilyanna Dziurawiec (HOM) 24:26.30; 20. Isabel Rolfes (H-N) 25:12.30; 26. Abby Anderson (H-N) 26:48.40.