The race was close, but the Centennial girls were the Southern Nebraska Conference champion Oct. 8. The Broncos edged runner-up Milford by two points.
“The girls did a good job in knowing who they had to beat in order to win,” CHS Coach Rob Johansen said. “We knew it would be very close or even a tie and go to the fourth runner as a tiebreaker. It was a great team effort in a sport that is usually mostly driven by individual runners and places.”
The championship was the first for Centennial’s girls since 2004, the first year of the SNC meet, Johansen said.
Milford Coach Jake Kment said the Eagles didn’t have a bad race, but many were disappointed after the race.
“Both teams had goals for where they wanted to finish as a team, and neither team reached those goals,” he said. “Though they were disappointed, that’s just sports; that’s why we compete. Their disappointment shows me that they care, and I feel that they are going to come away from this experience hungry for more at districts next week.”
Milford sophomore Macie Carter was the meet champion, finishing in 20:18.65. Stella Steele of Centennial was second in 20:51.21 and teammate Nya Fischer was third in 21:27.45.
Abby Crabtree of Milford was fourth, Josie Butzke of Centennial fifth, Elsa Schweitzer of Milford eighth, Marley Olson of Centennial ninth and Olivia Augustyn of Milford 10th.
Johansen said Butzke and Olson ran “one of their best races of the year at the perfect time.”
“We had an incredible five medalists in the girls’ race,” Kment said, and had two more in the top 20.
“Though the girls went into the race with the goal of winning the team title, they fell just short of that goal. It had very little to do with us running poorly, and much more to do with Centennial running great. They have come on strong as the season has progressed and our girls are excited to root for them as they finish their season.”
Centennial junior Carter Fritz won his third SNC meet medal with a time of 18:45.98 but didn’t have as good a race, Johansen said. He got off to a slower start than usual and fell about the first mile.
“That threw him mentally off the rest of the race,” the coach said. “He gutted it out, like he always does when you don’t have your best day, to finish 11th and lead the boys.”
The Milford boys’ team was third behind Tri County and Freeman. Kment said they knew cracking into the top two would be a challenge. MHS was six points behind runner-up Freeman.
Easton Sample led the team with a sixth-place finish in 18:19.41, and Sylus Rakow (12th) and Yoan Montero (13th) also earned medals.
“Sylus ran his best race of the season and it is starting to come together for him so he is hopeful he is able to put another good race together at districts next week,” Kment said.
Both teams will compete in districts this week with trips to state on the line. The top three teams and top 15 individuals at each district qualify for the state meet Friday, Oct. 23.
Milford will run in the C4 meet at Aurora Wednesday, Oct. 14. Races start at 4 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. at Streeter’s Park.
Centennial will run in the D3 meet at Camp Kateri near McCool Junction Thursday, Oct. 15. Races start at 4 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.
