NEBRASKA STATE MEET 

Gabe Hinrichs Runs Fastest Time (15:18.2), Elli Dahl Runs Course Record To Reclaim Title

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

In a stunning development on Friday at the Nebraska state cross country championships in Kearney, the Fremont boys edged out US#19 and Heartland No. 1 Millard West 66-69 for the Class A crown. 

Fremont, which had spent time in the rankings, won for the second straight year. 

Millard West suffered off day by three of its top four runners, including leader Sam Kirchner, who finished 70th, Cole Haith who was 45th and Seth Fey, who was 31st. All three projected to be in or near the top 10. Kirchner was running second at the mile and ninth at the 2-mile split.

Gabe Hinrichs of Elkhorn South made sure that he took care of business at the front of the race, improving from second in 2020 to claim the state title in 15:18.2, which also earned him the all-class medal. 

Fremont, led by Carter Walters (fourth), put three in the top 11 to help secure the title. Freshman Juan Gonzalez made a huge contribution with a PR time to take 11th. 

A month ago, at the Heartland Cross Country Classic, the team finished 52 points behind Millard West. 

Elli Dahl from Fremont capped her senior season with a meet record and won her second state cross country title. She won it as a sophomore in 2019 and then finished 11th in 2020. 

Dahl became the first girl to break 18 minutes on the state championship course, clocking 17:58.2. Last year's champion, Stella Miner of Marian, did not race this fall due a transfer that left her ineligible.

A trio of Lincoln East runners -- Peyton Svehla, Mia Murray and Izzy Apel -- finished seventh, eighth and ninth to lead the Spartans back to the winner's circle with 54 points. Fremont was second with 87 points. 

Lexington dethroned Omaha Skutt Catholic for the boys B title, 34-38. (Four runners score). Mesuidi Ejerso from South Sioux City won the race in 16:28.7. 

Norris put all four of its scorers in the top 11 to win the girls title with 24 points. Madison Seiler from Gering won for the second year in a row, in 19:29.5.

Fort Calhoun's boys went 3-4-5 on the way to winning the Class C title with 46 points. Carson Noecker, a junior from Hartington-Newcastle and one of the top boys in the state, won his third consecutive state championship race in 15:19.6. 

Sidney edged Lincoln Christian 64-67 to win the Class C girls title. Keelianne Green from Arlington Public ran 18:50.1 to claim the individual crown. 

In Class D, Tylan Schlueter from Ainsworth won the title with 16:40.2 and Norfolk Catholic scored 20 points to collect the team win. Jordan Arens, a sophomore, led Crofton to the girls team title with her individual victory (19:11.5). 

Team Champions - 

Class A - Fremont boys 66 points, Lincoln East girls 54 points - RESULTS

Class B - Lexington boys 34 points, Norris girls 24 points - RESULTS

Class C - Fort Calhoun boys 46 points, Sidney girls 64 points - RESULTS

Class D - Norfolk Catholic boys 20 points, Crofton girls 46 points - RESULTS