Bison's leading duo making return to Class B state

McCook sophomore Sienna Dutton (above) and junior Samantha Rodewald (below)

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

OGALLALA, Neb. — Super McCook Bison leadership carried on through the intense B-4 cross country meet on Thursday.

Junior Samantha Rodewald delivered again, leading through much of the girls’ race before finishing a close second to familiar foe Madison Seiler from Gering.

Sophomore teammate Sienna Dutton did her usual stronger No. 2 runner duties for McCook.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

Sure enough, she reached sixth place overall in this tough B-5 field.

Together, they’ll represent the McCook Bison at next week’s Class B state meet in Kearney.

That ultimate race should begin around 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22 across that infamous Kearney Country Club course.

Otherwise, the Bison ran strong but fell just short against a tough B-5 district field.

Freshman Josiah Wilkinson ran one more great race to cap his “rookie” Bison season, but placed 16th just one from qualifying.

Wilkinson finished in 17:30.6 while senior teammate Josh Hegwood was 18th (17:42.69).

Hegwood reached state last fall yet dealt with injuries in his final cross country season.

Bison sophomore Grant Cappel was 24th (18:00.76) and will help lead a seasoned boys group into next season.

The McCook girls were coming off a historic district championship last fall.

They were fifth on Thursday as junior Shawna Wilkinson took 23rd (21:26.98).

Senior Joslyn Hammond placed 37th (23:54.52) and new varsity runner Ella Malcom was 38th (24:47.59).

GIRLS

Teams with top three making state: 1. Gering 37, 2. Lexington 44, 3. Grand Island Northwest 50, 4. Scottsbluff 54, 5. McCook 63, 6. Hastings 67.

Top 15 individual state qualifiers: 1. M. Seiler, GER, 18:57.6; 2. Samantha Rodewald, MC, 19:04.18; 3. S. Patton, GER, 20:01.81; 4. K. Charbonneau, SCOT, 20:06.14; 5. K. Barrios, Lex, 20:06.51; 6. Sienna Dutton, MC, 20:08.48; 7. E. Keller, GINW, 20:13.18; 8. K. Ureste, Lex, 21:05.15; 9. L. Lilienthal, GINW, 20:21.95; 10. N. Dorsey, GINW, 20:25.61; 11. M. Armstrong, Lex, 20:28.17; 12. M. Seebohm, Alliance, 20:44.82; 13. K. Perlich, HAST, 20:46.88; 14. R. Shoemaker, HAST, 20:48.21; 15. H. Rugroden, SCOT, 20:48.46.

BOYS

Teams: 1. Lexington 11, 2. Gering 54, 3. Grand Island Northwest 54, 4. Scottsbluff 56, 5. Hastings 77, 6. McCook 94, 7. Alliance 133.

Top 15 state qualifiers: 1. O. Aguado-Mendez, Lex, 16:34.07; 2. J. Ureste, Lex, 16:36.16; 3. M. Cruz-Mendoza, Lex, 16:37.7; 4. C. Keller, GINW, 16:41.39; 5. I. Salazar-Molina, Lex, 16:45.14; 6. E. Marez, GER, 16:48.61; 7. H. Bastron, SCOT, 16:52.46; 8. L. Adame-Lopez, LEx, 16:57.86; 9. G. Converse, Lex, 17:04.93; 10. J. Adams, SCOT, 17:07.77; 11. N. Seiler, GER, 17:08.04; 12. B. Sutherland, GINW, 17:08.89; 13. A. Carrera, HAST, 17:08.89; 14. E. Struss, HAST, 17:14.59; 15. B. Carrillo, GER, 17:15.5.8.