Cross country athletes give outstanding performances at state meet

Last Friday was the State Cross Country Meet at Kearney and there were some outstanding runners as one would expect and some pretty impressive records set. The one that stood out the most was the effort by Hartington-Newcastle’s Carson Noecker. First of all, this was the fourth year in a row that Noecker had won a gold medal for his efforts. That had never been done in the boy’s division before and just to make it more of an outstanding day, he set a state record in running the course in 14 minutes and 58 seconds. Although that was not the course record, but the course record is also held by Noecker who covered the Kearney course at the UNK meet earlier in 14 minutes and 51 seconds. A pretty good way to close out your high school cross-country career.

Southwest Nebraska had successful efforts also as Trey Robertson from Wallace was the winner in Class D. To make Robertson’s win a little more outstanding is that this was his first year running cross country. He had been on the football team but a problem with a clot in his leg kept him from participating this year, he went out and ran cross country. In my opinion that was an outstanding success. I would say that Trey Robertson is a very talented athlete. North Platte St. Pat’s finished as runner-up in the Class D division and Perkins County Schools’ outstanding young runner Mason McGreer picked up a third-place medal with his effort. Mason has had a fine season and I would think that with his work ethic and dedication he is going to be able to pick up some more state medals in the next few years.

I have great respect for the students who participate in cross country. It is not an easy sport. When I was at Imperial we started a cross-country program and I was blessed with some very dedicated runners. We actually were state  runner up twice competing in Class B both times. Most of the members of those teams worked hard in practice and kept running in the summer on their own. I am sure that goes on at PCS also.

Congrats to Mason McGreer and to Meredith Gloy on qualifying for the state meet and for outstanding seasons at PCS.

The Plainsmen football came to an end, but it was a good season. Coaches and players are to be congratulated for their hard work and look forward to the 2023 season.