By: Charles Steffen - CCS Journalism
Three team trophies came home with the Crofton cross country team as the girls got first as a Nebraska team and first among the Tri-States of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota; additionally the boys got runner-up as a team at the South Sioux City meet on Thursday, Oct. 2.
The boys were led by sophomore Kaden Arens who got second with a time of 18:02. Not far behind in terms of placement, was senior Charles Steffen with a course best of 19:16 placing 5th.
In 10th place senior Darin Babcock had a time of 20:41. With a course best of 22:32 cutting two whole minutes from his time was sophomore Corbin Bernt who placed 13th. “I pushed myself over the summer and gave it my all in order to achieve this two minute best.” Bernt was named the male Athlete of the Meet.
The lone JV runner, sophomore Fred Dennis, placed 91st with a time of 26:02.
First place in the girls varsity race was freshman Avery Arens with a time of 17:21.
Two places behind in third was sophomore Cecilia Wortmann with a course best of 20:36, and just behind her was senior Sophia Wortmann also with a course best of 20:48. Sophomore Hudsyn Stout finished 7th with a time of 23:51.
In 8th place freshman Claire Marsh had a time of 23:54. Sophomore Keisha Strunk got 9th place with a course best of 58 seconds and in 10th place was junior Brooklyn Guenther with a course best of 24:22.
Senior Pamela Dennis placed 10th in the JV race with a course best of 26:16 achieving Athlete of the Meet. “It feels great that my improvement and hard work is being seen by my coaches and teammates,” said Dennis.
In 26th place senior Emily Guenther had a time of 27:48, just behind her in 27th place was senior Ella Reifenrath with a time of 27:51. In 49th place with a time of 30:33 was sophomore Bethany Arens.
The next competition is the Mid-State Conference meet. It will be held in O’Neill on Oct. 9 at 4:30 p.m.