Runners gain experience at first 5k meet; Brown takes top place

    After getting their feet wet in the opener’s shorter, two-mile race in Benkelman, Longhorn cross country runners got their first taste of the full 5K distance last Friday at the Cambridge Invitational.
    Chase County came home with a pair of firsts—in team points for the girls and, individually, the first place medalist in Madison Brown.
    The varsity boys finished runner-up in team standings, as Cambridge took the title. Mason Nordhausen finished a second week with the 4th place medal, Chase County’s highest.
    Chase County’s  first and second team finishes mirrored their performances at the Dundy Co. Stratton opener the week before.
    Referring to the girls’ team championship at Cambridge, Coach Carl Zuege noted it was the third year in a row for the title.
    “I was happiest with the girls on how they got out early. By the first mile marker they were in the top 15,” he said.
    The coach noted the work the girls put in this summer showed up in how they held their lead throughout the race.
    “Their fitness helped them maintain their spots,” he said.
    Dundy Co. Stratton did not run at Cambridge, so Brown didn’t face Sable Lambley, who won the opener just 13 seconds ahead of Brown on Aug. 29.
    However, Brown improved her time from last year on the Cambridge course by 20 seconds, Zuege noted.

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