A cannon signified the start of Class C District 2 cross-country races Thursday at Omaha Concordia.
The loud crack of the weaponry startled spectators and made one Tesla vehicle's alarm go off both times it was fired.
There was no such earsplitting sound at the finish, but the Fort Calhoun Pioneers made noise all the same. They qualified eight runners for Friday's state meet in Kearney, winning the boys' district team title by six places ahead of Arlington. Seth Waters, Merritt Olberding, Chris Post-Whiteowl, Will Dennis, Matthew Kelly and Travis Skelton earned the championship plaque with their efforts.
“It's a fun group that is pretty motivated to go to state and prove that they are one of the best,” FCHS coach Kyle McMahon said.
Waters earned fourth individually, clocking in at 18:11.18 across 5 kilometers. Olberding secured a top-10 finish, too, posting a time of 18:26.91 for sixth, while Post-Whiteowl was ninth in 18:36.85.
Dennis, Kelly and Skelton finished 10th, 11th and 14th, respectively, finishing the race in 18:47.85, 18:49.17 and 18:59.41 on a windy day in Omaha.
“I like how we are becoming more of a pack-running team that is learning how to run together and move up through the race,” McMahon said. “I like how they believe, and I think, as well, their best race is still out there.”
The coach said his staff told the Pioneers what place they wanted them to finish beforehand. It was a move done to force tactical running without over-working and the athletes delivered. McMahon said, “All were within two places of that spot, which usually never happens.”
FCHS' Raeann Massey and Lauren Lammers, meanwhile, also qualified for state off of the Pioneers' fifth-place girls team result. They both finished within the necessary top-15 with Massey claiming ninth in 22:36.33 for her second-straight state berth. While the runner's ninth-grade year went smoothly, the sophomore said her second high school season has been anything but, citing a September respiratory infection as a major roadblock that still affects her.
“During practices, I've been gutting through it — fighting through it,” Massey said.
Her faith has helped her overcome, but she's had to trust the comeback process, too.
“I feel more proud of myself this year,” Massey said. “Now, I am back at state.”
Lammers, however, will make her Class C state debut Friday after securing 13th at Concordia. She finished 5K in 22:40.04, clocking in about 23 seconds ahead of what would have been the cutoff time produced by the 16th runner.
The Pioneers' NSAA Championships race times are 3 and 4 p.m. at Kearney Country Club. The boys team runs first Friday before Massey and Lammers compete second an hour later.
CLASS C DISTRICT 2 XC MEET
Thursday at Omaha Concordia
BOYS
Team standings: Fort Calhoun 29, Arlington 35, Omaha Concordia 53, Wahoo 56, Yutan 132, Douglas County West 145, David City 149, North Bend Central 151, Omaha Roncalli 185, Columbus Scotus 192, Wahoo Neumann 196.
5K race winner: Kolby Tighe, Arlington, 17:35.33.
Fort Calhoun results: 4, Seth Waters, 18:11.18. 6, Merritt Olberding, 18:26.91. 9, Chris Post-Whiteowl, 18:36.85. 10, Will Dennis, 18:47.85. 11, Matthew Kelly, 18:49.17. 14, Travis Skelton, 18:59.41.
GIRLS
Team standings: Columbus Scotus 29, Omaha Concordia 53, Wahoo 54, Arlington 67, Fort Calhoun 69, Omaha Roncalli 117, Douglas County West 125, Yutan 132, North Bend 148, Neumann 152, David City 167, Boys Town 188.
5K race winner: Hailey O'Daniel, Arlington, 20:02.5.
Fort Calhoun results: 9, Raeann Massey, 22:36.33. 13, Lauren Lammers, 22:40.04. 22, Emily Barta, 23:35.91. 25, Anna McMahon, 23:49.45. 27, Emma Ochoa Gomez, 23:53.08. 57, Annaleigh McLaughlin, 26:34.32.
