Taking third at districts, the Perkins County boys cross country team includes (l-r): Matthew Aerni, Carter Krajewski, Colton Pouk, Tony Lyon, Caleb Lagler, Evan Sestak and student manager Mason McGreer.
Perkins County boys cross country team qualifies for state
Perkins County’s boys cross country team qualified for the Class D state meet, taking third in the district meet in Bridgeport on Oct. 17.
As a team, the Plainsmen placed third of 12 teams with a final score of 66.
Colton Pouk medaled individually, placing seventh out of 91 runners with a time of 18:48.
Evan Sestak who placed 21st (19:47), Tony Lyon 22nd (19:55), Caleb Lagler 47th (21:31), Carter Krajewski 54th (21:49), and Brient Wood 60th (22:29).
“It has been fun to watch the team set goals and meet them,” said coach Seth Burge. “We talked in practice last week about how districts is what we have been working towards all year.”
Burge was also proud of the leadership that Pouk and Sestak have shown younger runners this season, and particularly the last week.
Burge commented Pouk ran a “smart race” which paid off with his seventh place finish. He also noted the team has shown much improvement between the beginning of the season and now.
“They decided that districts wasn’t going to be their last race and worked hard to make sure it wasn’t,” said Burge.
The boys will head to the Kearney Country Club Friday, Oct. 25 for the state meet. The race time for Class D boys is 3 p.m. CT.
There will be a sendoff for the team at Perkins County High School Thursday at 3:05 p.m.
Freshman Meredith Gloy was unfortunately unable to participate in the district meet due to injury.