‘It never gets old.’ CCS claims state track title

Watching his team huddle together to celebrate its state track title, Chase County girls’ Head Coach Troy Hauxwell said, “It never gets old.”
CCS has had its share of success in Omaha, winning titles in 2016 and 2017, then finishing as runner up in 2019 after a fourth–place finish in 2018.
Looking at performances throughout the season, it was  easy to expect this team to pick up where the other teams left off.
But there was still plenty of drama.
Lucy Spady collided with another athlete during warm ups for the meet’s first event, the 3,200 meter relay. Spady ran her leg, but was held out of the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs, events where she had a good chance of placing.
Bryn McNair set a personal record and school record in the 800 meter run, but was nipped at the finish line and finished second.
As CCS has seen, a few points here or there can make a big difference in the team race. The Longhorns trailed Hastings St. Cecilia in the team race 6-22 at the end of the first day.
Hauxwell said when the girls started to worry, the coaches told them it would be fine.
Though Hauxwell said the girls settled down and were prepared, to many it appeared the Longhorns were snake bit.
The 400 meter relay had the fastest time in Class C going into the meet, but placed second.
A competitor in the 100 meter hurdles fell, knocking Jerzee Milner out of stride and a higher finish.
Then the tide quickly turned for CCS.
Senior Kamrie Dillan set PRs and school records in the 100 and 200 meter dashes during the prelims Friday. She entered the finals of each event with the leading time, then finished second in the 100 and ran down the competition to take first in the 200.
McNair left no doubt in the 400 meter run with a dominant run, lowering her PR and school record.
While every team and title is unique, this year was especially so.
Chase County had won its other titles without individual champions, making this year special. Two individual champions? Even more so.
CCS took care of a little drama by wrapping up the team title before the 1,600 meter relay, but kept things interesting with a come-from-behind win to cap the weekend.
Jordan Jablonski and Ali McNair tangled with Tekamah-Herman runners during the hand off, sending Jablonski to the ground and leaving A. McNair stumbling.
While Class C team runner up St. Cecilia took advantage of the stumble to increase their lead, A. McNair recovered and kept CCS striking position.
The Longhorns trailed St. Cecilia by nearly 2.5 seconds at the last handoff. A blistering 400 by McNair gave CCS the win.
Hauxwell said this year’s team has been a close group and very supportive of each other.
The team huddle as the girls waited for the trophy presentation showed that.
Tears were shed as the athletes talked of being a family and what they had accomplished together.
“I think they get the bigger picture,” Hauxwell said, who emphasized that each athlete is valued beyond their performance on the track.
Chase County fans can only wonder what might have been if there had been a track season last year. Hauxwell said practices had been extremely competitive with seniors Hannah Meeske, Sophie Spady, Maddie Brown, Mallie McNair and Ashley Bubak setting the tone.
Taking their victory lap with the trophy, this year’s team stopped to include S. Spady and M. McNair, at the meet to watch their sisters, in their trip around Burke Stadium, further enforcing the team culture and giving fans more hope for success in the future.