The sport of cross country is all about endurance and adapting to the situation.
With bad weather predicted for Thursday, the Wayne High cross country teams had to run a day earlier than anticipated, and both teams were able to adapt to the change and get individual and team tickets punched for this week’s State Cross Country Championships in Kearney.
The Wayne boys won a tight three-team race to take the district team championship at the Wayne Country Club. All four scoring runners finished in the top 15 to help the Blue Devils score 48 points finish 11 points ahead of a second-place tie between Boone Central and Bloomfield/Wausa (59).
Junior Drew Miller led the charge for Wayne, as the three-time state qualifier placed seventh in a time of 17:59.63. He was followed by senior Alex Frank, who came home in 12th place at 18:17.28.
Not far behind were two freshmen, Emmanuel Gonzalez and Alejandro Archundia, who grabbed the last two medal spots and placed 14th and 15th, respectively. Boden Dobbins (38th) and Camden Hall (39th) rounded out the winning Wayne effort.
The Wayne High girls were hoping to have a chance to defend last year’s Class C state championship, but fell short in the team standings with a fourth-place score of 71 points, placing behind qualifiers Columbus Scotus (21), Columbus Lakeview (55) and Hartington-Newcastle (59).
The Blue Devils will have one representative competing in Kearney on Friday, as junior Ava Elliott placed 11th in the girls 5,000-meter run with a time of 22:37.13.
Freshman Essynce Owens-Webb just missed the cutoff for the top 15 who qualified for individual entries, as she placed 17th in a time of 23:08.39.
Rounding out the Wayne scoring were Lilyan Hurner in 23rd and Josie Ley in 24th, followed by Kennasyn Blecke (31st) and Norah Armstrong (35th).
The State Cross Country Championships begin at 12 p.m. Friday at Kearney Country Club.
C-3 District at Wayne CC
Girls Team Standings (Top 3 to state)
Columbus Scotus 21, Columbus Lakeview 55, Hartington-Newcastle 59, Wayne 71, Battle Creek 102, Boone Central 105, O’Neill 111, Pierce 127, North Bend 145, Madison 153.
Area Results
WAYNE — 11. Ava Elliott, 22:37.13; 17. Essynce Owens-Webb, 23:08.39; 23. Lilyan Hurner, 23:28.34; 24. Josie Ley, 23:36.61; 31. Kennasyn Blecke, 24:11.26; 35. Norah Armstrong, 24:41.20.
Boys Team Standings (Top 3 to state)
Wayne 48, Boone Central 59, Bloomfield/Wausa 59, Pierce 75, Columbus Scotus 91, Battle Creek 104, Ord 111, Columbus Lakeview 115, Hartington-Newcastle 116, O’Neill 135, North Bend 186, Madison 239.
Area Results
WAYNE — 7. Drew Miller, 17:59.63; 12. Alex Frank, 18:17.28; 14. Emmanuel Gonzalez, 18:21.61; 15. Alejandro Archundia, 18:24.52; 38. Boden Dobbins, 19:44.23; 39. Camden Hall, 19:45.39.
