Wildcat runners compete at State

KEARNEY — Hartington-Newcastle cross country runners headed to Kearney for the Nebraska Cross Country Championships at Kearney Country Club on Friday.

Adam Elks was the lone Wildcat qualifying for the State meet while the Lady Wildcats qualified the entire team with a third-place showing in the C-3 District Meet back on Oct. 12 at Wayne Country Club.

The Lady Wildcats placed 13th in the team race with a total of 168 points at the State meet. It was a really warm day in Kearney with many runners going down in the afternoon heat.

Kearney Catholic won the title with 76 points; Auburn was the runner-up with 80.

Lindee Henning of Ogallala was the individual champion with a time of 19 minutes, 33.9 seconds, with Lilly Kenning of Milford placing second in 20:01.5.

The top Hartington-Newcastle runner was Ava Noecker, who finished 25th overall with a time of 22:23.1.

“She came into the meet with State experience and it showed,” Hartington-Newcastle head coach Mandy Hochstein said. “I thought all of our runners ran well.”

Claire Rolfes placed 30th with a time of 22:35.3, Isabel Rolfes was 83rd in 24:38.9, Ryell Haug placed 102nd in 26:02.7 and Abigail Anderson was 104th in 26:28.6.

Elks ran the 5,000-meter course in 20:30.1, which put him in 112th place.

The boys’ champion was Gus Lampe of Omaha Roncalli Catholic with a time of 16:33.8. Tyler Hetz of team champion Gothenburg was second in 16:35.9.

The Swedes outran Lincoln Christian by the score of 38-45 to take home the team trophy.

“I feel we had a good year running,” Hochstein said. “We have a lot of these runners coming back, so we should be set to go next year.”

2023 Class C State Cross Country Championships Girls Team Results: 1. Kearney Catholic 76; 2. Auburn 80; 3. Lincoln Christian 88; 4. Platteview 88; 5. Scotus Central Catholic 99; 6. Douglas County West 119; 7. Sidney 119; 8. Aurora 137; 9. McCook 152; 10. Milford 161; 11. Broken Bow 163; 12. Wahoo 166; 13. Hartington-Newcastle 168; 14. Fort Calhoun 175; 15. Columbus Lakeview 176. Girls Individual Results (Top 5 and HNS): 1. Lindee Henning (Ogallala) 19:33.9; 2. Lilly Kenning (Milford) 20:01.5; 3. Talissa Tanquary (Sidney) 20:25.1; 4. Lydia Stewart (Platteview) 20:32.6; 5. Liston Crotty (Auburn) 20:41.1; 25. Ava Noecker (H-N) 22:23.1; 30. Claire Rolfes (H-N) 22:35.3; 83. Isabel Rolfes (H-N) 24:38.9; 102. Ryell Haug (H-N) 26:02.7; 104. Abigail Anderson (H-N) 26:28.6. Boys Team Results (Top 5): 1. Gothenburg 38; 2. Lincoln Christian 45; 3. Mount Michael Benedictine 57; 4. Fort Calhoun 112; 5. Syracuse 114. Boys Individual Results (Top 5 and HNS): 1. Gus Lampe (Omaha Roncalli Catholic) 16:33.8; 2. Tyler Hetz (Gothenburg) 16:35.9; 3. Carter Hohlen (Lincoln Christian) 16:43.1; 4. Avery Carter (Milford) 16:53.5; 5. Michael Rodgers (Mount Michael Benedictine) 16:54.4; 112. Adam Elks (HN) 20:30.1.