In a district with a three-time defending state champion and several state-ranked runners, the Tri County girls’ team pulled off another WOW FACTOR performance.
Two girls, Bre Millard and Alejandra Hermosillo broke through the top 15 barrier to punch their tickets to the state meet in Kearney next Friday. Entering the meet, both were seeded outside the top 15. Millard’s time of 21:21 sets a new cooperative record in cross country.
Millard popped off a ninth-place finish in a time of 21:21, bettering her career best of 22:02. Hermosillo earned the 14th place medal, while also improving her career best time of 21:57 posting a time of 21:51.
Three other Wolfpack girls made things interesting, by nearly pushing the entire squad to a third-place finish, but their efforts were just short, but very admirable.
Senior Rhyanne Mackling, running in only her second race of the season, finished 25th with a time of 23:26. Mackling’s finish pushed the Lady Wolfpack team score to 47, only 6 points behind Wisner-Pilger’s total of 41 which claimed the third team qualifying spot. Mackling’s effort was remarkable, considering her recovery from ACL surgery, and a limited practice agenda day to day.
Jenni Olson and Shantel Miller ran career best efforts again. Olson posted a 25:10 and Miller a 25:47.
The two ended the season with remarkable improvements over the 2022 season.
The Wolfpack boys were led by Alex Snyders 47th place finish in 20:59. Devon Lewellen finished 60th with a 21:49, and Sean Lawrence finished 73rd with a 24:43 time.
Snyder and Lewellen just missed their season bests, while Lawrence cut 2 full minutes off his prior season best.
Millard and Hermosillo will run in the Class D state meet on Friday, October 20th at the Kearney Country Club. The race time is set for 2:30 p.m.
COACHES COMMENTS:
“It was electric to see the girls run! All 5 put it on the line. Coming into the district, we were a long shot at best to qualify one person, and we got two. The girls’ team coming in was probably not even in the conversation in the district, and the efforts made almost propelled them to Kearney. That was impressive to the coaching staff. The boys ran well, they remained consistent or improved. The season was one of constant surprises for the good, personal and team growth as well. We are only two years into this new venture with the sky as the limit. The coaches truly appreciate and respect all the athletes for the efforts they made during the season. GREAT JOB TEAMS!”
