NEBRASKA STATE MEET

Carson Noecker Smashes State Championships Record And Becomes Nebraska's First Male Four-Time Champion

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Hartington-Newcastle standout Carson Noecker put his final stamp on the Nebraska state cross country championships with a performance that strengthens his case as the best runner in state history. 

Noecker, ranked No. 13 in the latest DyeStat Individual Rankings, already had the Kearney Country Club course record with 14:51 in September. On Friday, he became the fastest to do it in the state meet. His 14:58.3 beat Seth Hirsch's 2016 best of 15:04.9.

He also became the first male athlete to win four individual titles in Nebraska. 

Competing in Class C, Noecker has not lost a cross country race since before the pandemic. He won Friday's final by a minute and 45 seconds. 

In the Class A meet, Fremont's boys and Lincoln East's girls retained their team championships. Fremont scored 72 points to Millard West's 105 and Gretna's 108. Sophomore Juan Gonzalez led the way for Fremont, taking the victory in 15:36.1. 

Lincoln East scored 64 points as junior Mia Murray won in 18:23.3 and led three more teammates in the top 20 overall. 

In Class B, the Lexington boys and Norris girls both defended their titles. 

Riley Boonstram from Norris won the individual title in 16:14.8. 

Madison Seiler from Gering ran 19:13.1 and won the B girls race by 30 seconds. Norris runners placed second, fourth and seventh. 

The Gothenburg boys won the Class C title by a slim 45-47 margin over Lincoln Christian. 

Keelianne Green of Arlington won the C girls race in 19:15.5. Wayne edged Auburn 74-76 for the team win. 

Jordyn Arens of Crofton won the D girls race by more than 30 seconds, in 19:29.8. Hemington edged out Ainsworth and Crofton in a team competition where only three on the team score. 

Cornerstone Christian went 2-4-10 to beat a 1-6-12 combo by North Platte St. Patrick's to win the the boys D title, 16-19.

Trey Robertson from Wallace won the small-school race in 16:38.7.

Team Champions - 

Class A - Fremont boys 72 points, Lincoln East girls 64 points - RESULTS

Class B - Lexington boys 23 points, Norris girls 50 points - RESULTS

Class C - Gothenburg boys 45 points, Wayne girls 74 points - RESULTS

Class D - Cornerstone Christian boys 16, Hemington girls 38 points - RESULTS