Bison push for title until last stride

Ogallala's Jack Linden (left) and McCook's Taye Collicott sprint to the finish line during Thursday's meet at Heritage Hills Golf Course. Photo by R.B. Headley / McCook Gazette.

McCook, Neb. -- Some observers were saying the Heritage Hills Course is tougher than the state cross country challenge at Kearney Country Club next month.

State fans can only hope they see as good a finish as Thursday's McCook Invitational.

After clearing that final challenging hill, McCook High's Taye Collicott and Jack Lindgren from Ogallala delivered one thrilling sprint to the finish line.

Collicott briefly edged ahead, but Lindgren made his move literally just a few strides before the finish line.

Lindgren passed many yelling fans and crossed the finish line in 17:28 -- just one second faster than Collicott's 17:29.

Bison teammate Stephen Hinze matched Linden through much of this 5,000-meter race in warmer-than-expected conditions.

Hinze finished fourth overall (18:03) and one spot better than Holdrege's Trevor Matousek (18:06).

However, the Dusters would dominate just enough with five of the fastest 13 finishers. Holdrege tallied 29 points and became the one team to defeat McCook (41) at the 15-team meet.

McCook captured four top 20 places as Riley Mai (17th/18:46) and Seth Chancellor (18th/18:50) outran 60 other varsity runners who finished the race.

Isaac Hegwood (22nd) also finished the top quarter with Nolan Priebe placing 40th overall.

The Dundy County-Stratton Tigers raced to a fourth-place team finish ahead of several larger schools like North Platte and Ogallala.

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