Bison runners starting on a win streak!

The champion McCook High girls.

Courtesy Photo

COZAD, Neb. — The top five read like a “who’s who” of McCook girls cross country as Bison blazed to another team championship at Saturday’s Cozad Cross Country Invitational.

Senior Izzy Renner raised hopes high after joining the team for her final Bison fall season.

Meanwhile, sophomores Emma Cappel and Breckyn Gale keep showing why these Bison will be strong for years to come.

McCook’s Josiah Wilkinson (left) won the Cozad Invitational on Saturday while senior teammate Grant Cappel (on Josiah’s heels) was a top three placer for the Bison.

Courtesy Photo

They took hope three of the top five Cozad Invite places.

With junior Maryann Kassner-Macfee also reaching top 20, McCook had enough for the seven-point win over closest contender Sidney.

“The girls continue the winning streak!” coach Tom Sughroue proclaimed because McCook also won the North Platte Invite one week earlier. “Another great day for the Lady Bison cross country team.

Meanwhile, McCook High’s boys earned Class C state mention in today’s rankings following a top three team finish on Saturday.

Junior Josiah Wilkinson took first overall by 13 seconds over Broken Bow’s Brock Oeltjen.

“The boys had two boys in the top three positions,” Sughroue clarified. “Josiah Wilkinson finished as the individual champion and Grant Cappel finished in the third position.

Grant Wells continued with his much improved season running over a minute faster than a year ago, finishing in the 25th spot. Ethan Boner also had a very good run on the day finishing in the 28th spot, running just over the 20-minute mark.

“We will need to continue to improve as we go through the season,” Sughroue concluded. “The competition will only get tougher.”

McCook will run next at Saturday’s Broken Bow Invitational before hosting its annual Bison Invitational at Heritage Hills during Homecoming Week on Thursday, Sept. 14.

GIRLS

Teams: 1. McCook 30, Sidney 37, 3. Broken Bow 41, 4. Ogallala 41, 5. Cozad 94, 6. Holdrege 96.

Top 10 medalists: 1. L. Henning, OGA, 20:03; 2. T. Tanquary, SID, 20:14; 3. Izzy Renner, MC, 20:36; 4. Emma Cappel, MC, 21:57; 5. Brecken Gale, MC, 22:08; 6. A. Schauda, Bow, 22:15; 7. K. Kampfe, SID, 22:19; 8. L. Henning, OGA, 22:35; 9. I. Tullis, South Loup, 22:40; 10. E. Cool, South Loop, 22:52.

Other Bison placers in the varsity race: 20. Maryann Kassner-Macfee, 25:14; 30. Megan Miller, 26:29.

BOYS

Teams: 1. Broken Bow 38, 2. Holdrege 44, 3. McCook 55, 4. Kearney 57, 5. Sidney 90, 6. Cozad 93, 7. South Loup 99, 8. Ogallala 125.

Top 10 medalists: 1. Josiah Wilkinson, MC, 17:51; 2. B. Oeltjen, Bow, 18:04; 3. Grant Cappel, MC, 18:14; 4. J. Hansen, Bow, 18:20; 5. L. Recoy, SL, 18:27; 6. C. Taylor, HOLD, 18:28; 7. S. Sall, COZ, 18:32; 8. S. Laflin, OGA, 18:37; 9. M. Golus, HOLD, 18:43; 10. J. Soria, KEAR, 18:46. Other Bison placers: 25. Grant Wells, 19:49; 28. Ethan Boner, 20:22; 35. Josh Wilkinson, 21:21; 41. Jacob Harms, 22:50.