Waitley and Dietlein medal at state

Perkins County brought home two medals from the NSAA State Cross County Championships on Oct. 19 in Kearney. 

Senior Caden Waitley placed fifth in Class D with a time of 17:25.38 and senior Jaden Dietlein placed 10th with a time of 17:47.38. Coach Paula Wurst said both boys negotiated a very crowded race to put themselves in medaling contention very early in the race. 

This is Waitley’s second state medal, placing ninth last year. Dietlein has been to state all four years, but this is his first year medaling, “so it was especially gratifying for him,” noted Wurst.

The team placed eighth with 130 points. 

“A top-10 finish at state is always a great way to end the season. Everyone is fast at state, and to negotiate that tight pack and run well is not easy,” Wurst said.

Contributing to the score were senior Matthew Hahn, placing 91st at 19:37.01, and junior Evan Sestak, placing 99th with 19:41.56. 

Pushers were senior Jarin Tines with 20:29.87 at 116th and junior Caleb Lagler with 20:51.58 at 124th.

Waitley, Dietlein and Sestak ran their best course times. 

The teams who took the Class D gold, silver and bronze were Malcolm, Norfolk Catholic and West Holt respectively. Benjamin Arens of Ainsworth took the individual gold.

Wurst said Perkins County had an excellent, exciting finish to their 2018 season.