Caelyn Long is just steps ahead of teammate Madison Brown, and eventually finished ninth, while Brown was the runner-up medalist. (Johnson Publications photo)
Lady Longhorn runners also in the top 15 were, from left, Kambree Meeske, Brooklyn Christensen and Riley Owens. (Johnson Publications photo)
And they’re off. Varsity Longhorn runners, from left, Kade Anderson, Cedric Maxwell, Taylor Jablonski, Mason Nordhausen and Charles Barnes (hidden) get a good jump at the start. (Johnson Publications photo)
Runners face fast course at home meet
Cross country runners experienced a fast course at last Thursday’s Chase County Invitational, which drew 12 boys’ teams and six on the girls side.
The varsity divisions included 108 runners on the boys’ side and another 55 in the girls’ group.
After a recalculation that affected both varsity divisions, Chase County’s girls, first announced as the meet champions, finished second, while the boys, first listed in eighth place, moved up to sixth. It didn’t affect the top five boys’ team placings.
CCS Coach Carl Zuege said the original athletic.net calculations scored five varsity runners instead of four.
In the corrected team points, the Lady Longhorn runners were second behind North Platte St. Pat’s by a slim three points.
With five medaling in the top 15, Zuege said he really didn’t question the original team championship for the girls until results were posted the next day. Chase County will be giving the championship plaque they were awarded to St. Pat’s, he said.
“Our girls ran well. To be within three points of St. Pat’s and be the No. 2 team, I’m really happy with our group,” he said.
Individually, Madison Brown was second behind Kate Steinike of St. Pat’s.
While St. Pat’s medaled just three runners, they were all in the top five. After Brown,Chase County runners Caelyn Long, Riley Owens, Kambree Meeske and Brooklyn Christensen were ninth, 13th, 14th and 15th, all earning medals.
“Now, what we need to set our sights on is that our runners need to push each other to create some space between them and those front runners,” he said.
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