As the clouds parted ways, 125 high school runners took over the Pierce Community Golf Course for the C-3 District Cross Country Championships which included Wayne High.
On Oct. 15, each placing made the difference of qualifying the team or just individuals to state with a few times deciding a medal being separated by less than a second.
The Wayne High girls posted a third place team finish with 59 points to claim the final state qualifying spot by one point while the Blue Devil boys were just on the outside in the team race placing fourth with 58 points (seven points from third).
In the girls division, Wayne freshman Tayla Hurner crossed the line first in a time of 19:38.51 on the 5k course among the 57 runners.
Also earning a district medal was freshman Elizabeth Hix in 15th (22:21.83) closely followed in 0.11 seconds by senior Lilyan Hurner in 16th (22:21.94).
Other district runners who will be represented at state were sophomore Mariana Nexticapan Hernandez (30th - 24:02.34), senior Kennasyn Blecke (36th - 24:55.09) and senior Josie Ley (38th - 24:57.99).
Scotus Central Catholic (Columbus) won the team race with 29 points ahead of C-3 District runner-up Boone Central scoring 42 points in the nine team race.
During the boys division, Wayne High state qualifiers will be junior Emmanuel Gonzalez who captured 10th during a time of 18:02.26, followed by junior Camden Hall (14th - 18:25.76) and junior Landen Claussen (15th - 18:35.95). Claussen took the final district medal by 0.03 seconds.
Other district members outside the top 15 spots were junior Alvaro Archundia (19th - 18:50.22), freshman Colston Starzl (32nd - 19:47.36) and senior Boden Dobbins (34th - 19:55.09).
Senior Brenden Bolling from Pierce won the 5k boys race in 17:03.56 among the 68 runners.
Pierce was crowned C-3 District champion with 37 points, Bloomfield-Wausa followed in runner-up with 49 points as O'Neill took the final state qualifying spot in third with 51 points in the 11 team race.
The 2025 NSAA Cross Country State Championships will take place on Friday, Oct. 24 at the Kearney Country Club. Class C girls action will start at 12:30 p.m. with Class C boys to run at 1:30 p.m.
