For the first time since 2005, the Centennial girls will send a cross country team to the state meet.
The Broncos finished third in the District D1 meet, earning a place at state for the third time in school history.
Grace Schernikau led the team with an all-time best time of 20:13.8 to finish as the race runner-up. Marley Olson also earned an individual qualifier position in 12th with a time of 21:58.0.
Josie Turnbull was 20th in a season-best time, and Josie Butzke was 24th.
“I was really pleased how well they all ran and their times. We focused on beating the people we needed to,” Coach Rob Johansen said.
He said some of the girls are still dealing with injuries.
“I’m super proud of them for getting through the race,” he said.
The Broncos have qualified for the girls’ state meet twice before – in 1988, the first year of the sport at CHS, and in 2005.
Camden Winkelman was the lone qualifier from the boys’ team. He cut one minute off his time and finished 15th in 18:20.7.
“All four of the boys ran season-best times and moved up to finish in fifth place from being projected in seventh as a team,” Johansen said.
CHS will run Friday, Oct. 20, at the Kearney Country Club starting at 2:30 p.m.
