Stephanie Croston

    One point was all that stood between the Seward girls' cross country team and the Class B state runner-up trophy.
     One point.
     The Jays scored 63 points in the Class B competition, finishing behind Lincoln Pius X, which scored 33, and Gering, which finished with 62.
     "We put ourselves in position to get it done," Coach Kurt Holliday said.
     Freshman Kelsey Christensen ran her best time of the season, 15:53.2, and finished fourth to lead the Jays. It was also her first race time under 16 minutes.
     "Kelsey ran a terrific race," Holliday said. "She really stepped up and set the school record."
     Fourth is the highest a Bluejay has ever placed at state, as well, he said.
     Sophomore Natasha Mueller finished ninth with a time of 16:02.97. Liz Damman, another sophomore, was Seward's third runner, placing 27th in 16:43.41.
     "It was really excited to see her come on," Holliday said.
     The team's only senior, Anna Meyer, did not have her best race, finishing 31st with a time of 16:50.28.
     "Somehow she got to the finish," Holliday said. "It hurts to see her hurt. She's a good kid and so deserving. She's been a dream to coach."
     Juniors Lauren Kongsjord (57th, 17:17.7) and Jenna Hoins (88th, 18:41.86) rounded out the Bluejay squad.
     In the boys' competition, the Jays finished 11th in the team standings with 158 points. Tyler Hackbart, the only SHS senior competing, earned eighth place and a medal with his time of 16:58.84. His time was just one second away from the school record of 16:57, Holliday said.
     "It was good to see him go out with a medal," Holliday said. "He deserves it. He's had a good season and a good career."
     The rest of the Jays were further back in the field. Sophomore Grant Vlasin ran a decent race, Holliday said, finishing 58th in 18:24.3. Junior Blaze Novak was 66th in 18:33.61, while freshman John Cahoon was 68th in 18:34.99. Sophomore Mark Wilcox (73rd, 18:48.27) and junior Ryan Coufal (77th, 18:59.3) comprised the rest of the team.
     Holliday said the experience the underclassmen gained from running at state this year will help them next year.
     "We hope they will step up for a medal," he said.
     Overall, Holliday was pleased with the team's performance. Seward has never won three individual medals at the state meet before, so that was a positive, he said.
     "Everyone did what we expected. A lot had their best performances, which is what you want," he said. "They tried as hard as they could. That's all you can ask."
     The Jays will lose 11 seniors to graduation-Meyer, Hackbart, Aaron Powell, Robert Kuhlman, Nate Stepp, Ben Gremel, Josh Luff, Cody Winchester, Nathaniel Miller, Brogan Casey and Andrew Singleton.
     Holliday said Meyer and Hackbart have been good leaders for the Jays and will be missed.
     He also thanked the athletes' parents, who provided dinners and other activities for the team, and the school district's administration, who attended all the meets and supported the athletes.