CCS cross country runners capture individual firsts in all divisions at DCS

    Chase County proved it has a good crop of runners across the board after its performance in the season opening cross country meet.
    Not only did they take individual firsts in all divisions, but the varsity boys’ and girls’ teams finished first and second in team standings at last Thursday’s Dundy Co. Stratton Invitational.
    In addition, Chase County had the top runner in the junior high division, too.
    Due to the heat and early meet schedule, the varsity and JV runners ran a two-mile course versus a 5K at the golf course, while  the junior high athletes ran a mile.
    Last year’s race, also a two-miler, was held on a course between the school and hospital due to golf course flooding.
    After a fourth place finish in 2020, the Longhorn boys took the team title easily last Thursday, leaning on the strength of two freshman runners—Trevin Moreno and Navy Smith— who finished first and second.
    It’s what Coach Carl Zuege predicted.     “They have led the way for us at practice. They made our summer workouts every day,” he said.
    “We’re excited for the future for this team. These guys are very motivated,” Zuege added.
    He said it was nice to see Colin O’Neil finish seventh and medal in his first year in the sport, after a successful track season running the 800 and mile.
    Mason Tyerman rounded out the boys’ team scoring with an 11th place finish. Nick Rau was out of the varsity scoring but finished 12th to also medal.
    While Mason Wallin was designated a JV runner, his time placed him in the top 15 to go home with a medal, too.
    Rounding out the varsity team runners was Emmitt Zuege in 21st. The rest of the boys’ team ran in the JV division.
    Longhorn Keenan Cole did not compete due to a knee injury. Peyton Dubas was also off the entry list due to illness.
    Jordan Jablonski repeated her first place individual finish in the girls’ division, but improved her time considerably by more than a minute and a half in her second year of cross country.
    “She took control early in the race and led wire to wire,” Zuege said.
    The coach said Morgan Peterson also ran a strong race, finishing as CCS’s second scorer in seventh place.
    Also medaling were Caelyn Long in 11th and junior McKenzie Vogt at 13th in her first year on the team.
    Those finishes were good enough for the second place team plaque, and just three points behind Cambridge.
    Rounding out the varsity runners were Madelynn Hanes in 18th and Matalie Wallin, 26th.
    Zuege said they’ll work hard to make up those points as they face the Lady Trojans again on Friday at the Cambridge meet.
    “We’ll be more ready. We are an experienced girls’ team,” he said.
    Except for Vogt, the five others are returners this season.
    “All in all, our girls ran a very nice race,” Zuege said.
    Times were not kept in the junior high mile course, which CCS eighth grader Haven Hauxwell won handily. Hauxwell also won the race in 2020.
    Also running on the junior high team were Paige Nickless, Alex Nelson and Odessa Zadina.
    Though the varsity girls’ meet at Benkelman started with threatening skies, the three races ran in nice weather. A breeze pushed through to help offset the warm readings.
    Zuege said he liked the DCS setup with shorter distances since it was early on the schedule, and with the expected high temperatures.
Cambridge meet next
    Eight to 10 teams will be at Friday morning’s Cambridge Invite, which has a 9 a.m. MT start at the Cross Creek Golf Course.
    Zuege likes Friday’s morning meet schedule, a contrast to last week’s afternoon setup. The Cambridge meet will also draw more runners, likely 45-50 for each varsity race.
    The Lady Longhorns will be vying for their fifth straight title at Cambridge. The meet provides a traveling trophy to the team winners.
    Zuege said his girls’ team will need to run well after being edged by Cambridge last week.
    He’s looking for a good showing from the boys, as well.
    Chase County will host its home meet next week on Thursday, Sept. 9.

DCS Invitational
Girls Team Results—1, Cambridge 26; 2, Chase County 29.
CCS girls individual results (2 miles)—1, Jordan Jablonski, 14:10; 7, Morgan Peterson, 15:20; 11, Caelyn Long, 15:43;  13, McKenzie Vogt, 15:52; 18, Madelynn Hanes, 17:04; 26, Matalie Wallin, 19:43. Thirty-two total runners.
Boys team results—1. Chase County 23; 2, Cambridge 46; 3, Arapahoe 56.
CCS Boys individual results (2 miles)—1, Trevin Moreno, 11:59; 2, Navy Smith, 12:47; 7, Colin O’Neil, 12:56; 11, Mason Tyerman, 13:24; 13, Nick Rau, 13:37; 21, Emmitt Zuege, 14:30. Thirty total runners.
CCS JV Boys individual results (2 mile)—1, Mason Wallin, 13:35; 2, Andrew Wiest, 13:44; 3, Kobe Norman, 13:58; 4, Gavin Wisnieski, 14:54.
CCS junior high results (1 mile)— 1, Haven Hauxwell, no times kept. Also competing: Paige Nickless, Alex Nelson and Odessa Zadina.