McCook runners seek state trip

STEVE KODAD

Gazette Sports Editor

OGALLALA -- State meet berths are on the line Thursday afternoon at the Class B-4 District cross-country meet.

The McCook High School teams will join seven other schools in the district competition at the West Winds Country Club in Ogallala. The Bison squads will compete with boys and girls teams representing Alliance Gering, Holdrege, Lexington, Ogallala, Scottsbluff and Sidney.

The girls field was set to start the 4,000-meter (2.6-mile) chase at 4:30 CDT, with the boys race covering a 5,000-meter (3.1-mile) course starting at 5:30 p.m. CDT.

The top 15 individuals and top three teams in both divisions qualify for the Class B State Cross-Country Championships at the Kearney Country Club Friday, Oct. 23.

Each school is allowed to enter a maximum of six individual runners in each of the boys and girls divisions, with the four fastest finishes used to compile a team score. Team scores are figured by assigning points for each individual finish -- one point for first place, 10 points for tenth place, etc. -- with the low total winning the team title.

McCook head coach Tom Sughroue thinks his Bison girls have a good shot at finishing in the top three and qualifying for state. The girls B-4 district field will likely be chasing Scottsbluff, the defending Class B state champs.

McCook is led by Jessa Sughroue, who placed eighth at conference last week, and Emily Tolliver, who ran 12th at the GNAC meet.

The rest of the Bison girls lineup for districts includes Kelsea Genshwentner, Haley Harpham, Emilyne Nichols and Veronica.

The McCook boys will probably an uphill battle to qualify as a team at districts. The Bison finished seventh in the GNAC meet, but the conference meet had just three Class B teams involved in the B-4 District -- McCook, Lexington (third at the GNAC), and Scottsbluff (fifth at conference).

The top finisher for the Bison at conference was Jonathan Solorazono, who placed 33rd.

The rest of the McCook boys lineup at districts includes Nate Priebe, Tervor Pate, Jake Fahrenbruch, Cameran Park and Rusty Sullivant.

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