Cross country team competes at Wisner
Even a late change to the morning hours of Thursday still brought runners out to a muggy Wisner course.
The heavy air did not keep the Falcons down, both teams striding to runner-up finishes in the team races with two runners inserting themselves into the top ten in the season debut.
Mazzy Kuchar, returning two-time state medalist, was right back in form with a run of 20:47.4 on a course unfamiliar to all runners as the time change forced a relocation. Leading a team that remains a hopeful state qualifier and a top-ten team finisher at that, also scored top-20 finishes from Miley Broberg and Brenna Lawson. Emerson Penne also ran in the top 40.
The boys, also a state hopeful for 2026, saw its returning state qualifier Abe Johnsen placed in ninth with a time of 18:01.4. Hank Johnsen joined the frey and placed 14th at 18:12.8 with Charlie Tegeler coming in 16th and Korbin Rutjens 18th. Though Ponca secured first place with just 14 points, the Falcons still put together a great score of 48.
Elkhorn Valley now prepares for the Norfolk Catholic Invite this Friday.
Wisner-Pilger Invite Girls
Team Scores: 1. LCC 22, 2. Elkhorn Valley 50, 3. Homer 55, 4. Wisner-Pilger 61, 5. Bancroft-Rosalie 80, 6. West Point-Beemer, 7. Winside 125, 8. Wakefield 134, East Butler 147, Cedar Bluffs 148, Tekemah-Herman 169.
Elkhorn Valley: 3. Mazzy Kuchar 20:47.4, 16. Miley Broberg 22:20.2, 17. Brenna Lawson 22:23.9, 38. Emerson Penne 24:38.9,
Boys
Team Scores: 1. Ponca 14, 2. Elkhorn Valley 48, 3. East Butler 80, 4. Homer 98, 5. Oakland-Craig 111, 6. Wakefield 120, 7. West Point-Beemer 124, 8. Wisner-Pilger 160, 9. Humphrey 163, 10. LCC 164, 11. TCNE 168, 12. Tekemah-Herman 177, 13. Cedar Bluffs 211, 14. Madison 219, 15. Bancroft-Rosalie 235, 16. Pender 248.
Elkhorn Valley: 9. Abe Johnsen 18:01.4, 14. Hank Johnsen 18:12.8, 16. Charlie Tegeler 18:19.3, 18. Korbin Rutjens 18:33.8, 26. Landon Rutjens 19:12.8.
