Trojans top area runners at UNK

The Maywood-Hayes Center Wolves (left) and Cambridge Trojans (right) were two areateams charging into Monday’s UNK Invitational at Kearney Country Club just as they did during last week’s M-HC Invite in Hayes Center shown here.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

KEARNEY, Neb. — Cambridge High’s boys were all over the Class D Top 10 during Monday’s UNK Cross Country Invitational.

Considered a mid-season potential state preview, senior Josh Paisley raised to ninth place (18:55.56) which was highest among all Gazette-area runners in this 5,000-meter race.

Meanwhile, the Cambridge boys captured 10th overall (205 points) among 33 Class D full teams.

There were 266 varsity runners who completed the peaks and valleys of Kearney Country Club where state championships will be decided on Oct. 25.

Trojan junior Shane Horwart nearly joined Paisley in the top 10 percent. Horward finished 31st with a time of 20:15.82.

Sophomore Aidan Gunderson became the next Trojan to finish, taking 99th overall (22:28.57).

Senior Brandon Horwart wasn’t far behind at 22:58.21 for 113th place.

Classmate John tenBensel made sure Cambridge’s first five finishers were among the top half of this massive field.

tenBensel claimed 122nd place when he finished in 23:15.51.

The Maywood-Hayes Center Wolves also entered their lineup which finished 18th (287) amon 33.

Senior Eli Handsaker placed a team-leading 30th (20:08.09) followed by junior Logan Littrel (106th/22:45.43), senior Jon Moore (109th/22:52.6), junior Magdaleno Hernandez (11th/22:56) and sophomore Mauricio Diaz (121st/23:13.3).

Other Gazette-area Class D schools were represented with top runners being sophomore Cheve Lutz from Dundy County Stratton in 118th (23:05.6) and freshman Dallas Beegle from Hitchcock County (123rd/23:17.26).

Axtell Wildcats won both the team and individual Class D title chases.

In Class C boys, Chase County was 32nd was a team (555 points) and Alma-Southern Valley finished 34th (643).

Chase junior Mason Nordhausen was fastest among this group in 71st place (20:06.87).

Freshman AJ Russell set Alma-Southern Valley’s pace as he placed 95th (20:42.8) among 313 Class C finishers.

Longhorn junior Cedrick Maxwell reached the top half when he placed 156th and recorded a time of 22:07.56.

The Sidney Red Raiders earned Class C top team honors with 78 points. Freshman Carson Noecker of Hartington-Newcastle was first (17:02.99).