The boys cross country team traveled to Plum Creek Park to compete in the Seward invite on Sept. 5. There, they had another very strong showing, competing against other strong running schools across the state, such as Lincoln North Star, and Lincoln Christian. Even with the tough competition, the team still placed well.
The boys team finished with a score of 40, finishing second as a team, behind only Lincoln North Star, finishing with a score of 12. The top runner for the team was senior Ryan Kugler, who continued his strong season, as he finished third, with a time of 16:18.08. The second best runner for the team was fellow senior Conor Gross, who finished 6th, with a time of 16:47.73. Third, was also senior Collin Newman, who finished fifth at 17:43.18. The team continues to show major strengths with their senior class, who so far have had outstanding performances.
Not only did the seniors excel at the meet, but runners from other grades also delivered impressive performances, showcasing the depth and talent across the whole team. Sophomore Dylan Gross finished 17th, with a time of 18:02.41. Junior Calvin Tomcak finished 28th with a time of 18:29.59. And sophomore Devin Neumann finished 35th with a time of 18:38.40. This team is confident that they have the talent and depth to keep improving towards the top.
This meet showed already that the warriors are developing quickly and efficiently, as this placement is an improvement from last meet, as they finished fifth in the boys category. With Kugler and Gross continuing to show strengths, pace and leadership, and multiple underclassmen beginning to make great progress in their performances, this team hopes to continue to grow throughout the season.
Head coach Theresa Gosnell was pleased with the performance, and wants to continue to place near the top each meet. Gosnell also talked about how they can keep this momentum going into the upcoming competitions.
“They did great once again. They did what they needed to do. They went out, and competed well,” Gosnell said. “Every race, they need to look at it as an opportunity to do the best they can out there.”
Assistant coach Jonathan Preister is very impressed with the leadership, along with the skill that this team holds.
“I think that’s one of the strongest aspects of this team,” Preister said. “They’re doing a really good job showing the underclassmen how to run, and how they should be approaching their races, and even practices.”
He also touched on the course conditions and how it affected the performance of the runners.
“They moved the course, so this was the first time they ran on that course,” Preister said. “Anytime you’re running for the first time on a course, it can impact your times, because you don’t really know what the course is like.”
Preister also went into detail about how they can continue to maintain and accelerate the momentum that they have, after finishing second. “I think it shows them that what we’re doing is working, and that they belong in that conversation with the top team through the state.” Preister said. “I think we just have to continue to treat each week for what it’s worth, and try to get better week in and week out until you get to the end of the season.”
After securing a second place finish in just the second meet of the season, they’re eager to build on this early momentum. With many races still ahead, the team is confident that this result sets the stage for even greater success. Each meet offers a chance to improve their pace and strategy, and the runners are focused on refining their endurance and pushing each other to work harder. They know this is just the beginning, and with their determination and effort, they aim to stretch their abilities and eventually secure the top spot as the season progresses.
The Warriors have many upcoming meets, including the Platte River Rumble, the Creighton Prep invite, and the Kearny Invite. These meets give the warriors a chance to improve their performances, and continue to work towards their goal of being the best running team in the state.
