Three race into cross country season

HARTINGTON - Two Cardinals and one Lady Cardinal cross country runners competed in the Hartington-Newcastle Invitational on Aug. 29 at the Hartington Golf Club in Felber Park.

'I was happy with the way the kids ran,' said Randolph coach Tom Shafer. 'Considering our experience, I thought we did pretty well.'

None of the Cardinals had ever run a fivekilometer race in varsity competitiona as the two boys are just coming to high school after competing at the junior high level where the races are 1.5 miles or shorter.

'It was great experience for them' Shafer said. 'And I just thought they did pretty well.'

Kamdin Worlein came in 37th with a time of 24-minutes and 35.24-seconds, Brecken Shearer was 49th with a time of 26:49.78.

Kellen Medina of Winnebago was the winner of the boys' division of the race, crossing the finish line in 18:50.72; Gannon Pfister of Ponca was second.

Homer won the team title for the boys with 18 points, Hartington-Newcastle was second with 44 and Creighton was third with 46.

Emily Gilliland was the lone Lady Cardinal competitor in the girls division, finishing 33rd with a time of 28:48.47.

Lilly Harris of Homer was the medalist on the girls' side with a time of 21:06.31 with Pender's Kyla Krusemark taking second place.

The Lady Pendragons of Pender took the team title with just 14 points, Homer was second with 43.

Next up, Randolph will run in the Niobrara Cross Country Meet on Sept. 5 which is held at Niobrara State Park.

'It's the only meet we have that is not on a golf course,' Shafer said. 'All of our kids have run there before but again, this will be a full 5K. It should be fun for them.'

Hartington-Newcastle Invitational Boys' Division Team Results: 1. Homer 18; 2. Hartington-Newcastle 44; 3. Creighton 46; 4. Winnebago 48; 5. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, 66.

Individual Results: 1. Kellen Medina (WINN) 18:50.72; 2. Gannon Pfister (PON) 19:04.04; 3. Conner Rohrer (CRE) 19:09.01; 4. Caden Barclay (HOM) 19:11.20; 5. Broderick Hogan (PON) 19:40.95; 6. Triston Owens (HOM) 19:44.37; 7. Aayden Harris (HOM) 19:53.15; 8. Junius Snowball (HOM) 19:58.89; 9. Adam Elks (H-N) 20:01.74; 10. Ian Crockett (CRE) 20:08.05; 37. Kamdin Worlein (RAN) 24:35.24; 49. Brecken Shearer (RAN) 26:49.78.

Hartington-Newcastle Invitational Girls' Division Team Results: 1. Pender 14; 2. Homer 43; 3. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 44; 4. Hartington-Newcastle 47; 5. Winnebago 77.

Individual Results: 1. Lilly Harris (HOM) 21:06.31; 2. Kyla Krusemark (PEN) 22:15.37; 3. Ava Brennan (PON) 22:37.74; 4. Jala Krusemark (PEN) 22:46.54; 5. Hadley Walsh (PEN) 23:07.94; 6. Megan Breitbarth (PEN) 23:11.77; 7. Carmen Buschkamp (H-N) 23:13.30; 8. Claire Rolfes (H-N) 23:14.75; 9. Laken Pfister (PON) 23:55.90; 10. Kate Tasler (LCC) 24:18.77; 33. Emily Gilliland 28:48.47.