Seward wins Class B championship

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Coach Kurt Holliday knew they were close. It was going to come down to Seward and Elkhorn for the Class B girls’ state cross country title.

He checked for results one last time before heading off to coach the boys. They were up. Seward won.

“I ran back to the tent to celebrate,” he said. “They were pretty excited.”

Seward won the title by two points over Elkhorn.

Frontrunners Tandee Masco and Keegan Beisel finished in seventh and ninth, respectively.

The big question, Holliday said, was Samantha Hughes and Karnie Gottschalk.

Hughes ran a fantastic race, he said, finishing 17th in a career-best time.

“She had to do it the hard way,” Holliday said.

The senior has battled injuries the last couple seasons and wasn’t able to run with the team in practice, instead putting in miles on a stationary bike.

“She came through when we needed her,” Holliday said.

Gottschalk also ran a season personal best and placed 32nd.

“That was all we could ask for,” Holliday said.

Liz Gokie finished 74th and Natalie Axt 88th.

Everyone ran times close to their personal bests, Holliday said.

“I can’t be disappointed with that. At the most important meet of the year, to get PRs and close is impressive.”

The boys’ team had a tougher day, finishing with no hardware. Nathan Nottingham was the top finisher for SHS in 36th place.

Holliday said youth and inexperience showed in the boys’ team. Seward had graduated five of its top eight runners in May, which is a lot to replace.

“There are better years ahead,” Holliday said.

The experience gained this season will pay off next year, he said.

Seward will graduate a handful of runners from this year’s qualifying teams – Cole Gray, Hughes, Gokie, Straub, Emily Gokie and Michaela Broadwell.