Noecker leads local team in cross country opener

HARTINGTON — Carson Noecker started the 2020 cross country season off the way he ended the 2019 season.

The defending Class C boys’ state cross country titlist sprinted out in front of the rest of the group, and was in the lead after less than 300 yards. He stayed there the rest of the race to easily out-distance the field Thursday at the Hartington Community Complex.

Noecker finished the 5,000-meter course in 16:31.77, well ahead of runner-up Hunter Oestreich of Battle Creek. Homer’s Grant Lander (19:24.99) was third.

Another local runner, Riley Kuehn, also fared well on the day, earning ninth place.

In the girls’ race, Battle Creek’s Afftynn Stusse won, finishing the 5,000-meter course in 23:46.00, followed by Plainview’s Abby White (24:25.56) and Hartington’s Sara Burbach (24:49.64).

Hartington-Newcastle invite

Top 10 girls: 1. Afftynn Stusse, BC, 23:46.00; 2. Abby White, PLA, 24:25.56; 3. Sara Burbach, H-N, 24:49.64; 4. Lindsey Bolling, BC, 25:21.42; 5. Maggie Bishop, BC, 26:30.18; 6. Makenzie Arens, H-N, 27:10.64; 7. Riley Wagner, OSM, 27:23.15; 8. Jessica Opfer, H-N, 27:29.71; 9. Alexis Bodlak, PEN, 27:45.90; 10. Sophie Philgrin, BC, 28:05.89.

Top 10 boys: 1. Carson Noecker, H-N, 16:31.77; 2. Hunter Oestreich, BC, 19:12.32; 3. Grant Lander, HOM, 19:24.99; 4. Johnson Chishiba, OSM, 19:29.36; 5. Graysen Schultze, OSM, 19:29.96; 6. Brody Taylor, PON, 20:13.35; 7. Griffin Claussen, N-O, 20:32.33; 8. Nathan Breitbarth, PEN, 20:38.22; 9. Riley Kuehn, H-N, 20:40.64; 10. Ashton Higgins, N-O, 20:46.98.

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