Roughrider nearly wins 'D' race at UNK

KEARNEY, Neb. — Southwest senior Jake O’Dea finished within one second of winning Class D at Monday’s UNK Cross Country Inviational.

O’Dea outran 231 challengers from across the state while nearly passing Mullen junior Trevor Kuncl.

However, Kuncl crossed the final line in 17:45.8 to edge O’Dea’s time of 17:46.73.

O’Dea clearly turned up the speed as he finished 13 seconds faster than Thursday’s Maywood-Hayes Center Invite.

Arapahoe senior Isaac Goshert joined O’Dea in the top 10 Monday, finishing ninth (18:25.47).

The Southwest Riders were No. 5 among 21 Class D teams competing at Kearney Country Club.

They totaled 171 points to join North St. Patrick’s (135), McCool Junction (143), Bertrand (143) and McPherson County (161) as pacesetters.

Southwest senior Bruce Teter was 28th (19:29.58) and not far behind Cambridge senior Shane Horwart (24th/19:15.89).

Teter edged Horwart for second place on Thursday at Hayes Center.

’Rider sophomore Cole Barnett placed 45th (20:09.96) while Dundy County-Stratton junior Cheve Lutz (48th/20:16.19) and Hitchcock County sophomore Blake Devitt (50th/20:20.43) were in the top quarter of finishers.

Arapahoe freshman Campbell Schutz (57th/20:29.43) helped the Warriors place 11th.

Cambridge junior Aidan Gunderson (74th/20:52.93) was another reason why the Trojans topped eight Class D teams.

Southwest sophomore Carter Van Pelt (102nd/21:54.46), Medicine Valley soph Josiah Nicklas and Arapahoe junior Ashton Downey (105th/21:58.25) were other leading area runners.

The Class D girls’ race featured 160 runners and Cambridge freshman Brenna Deterding took 20th (22:31.56) to lead all Gazette-area runners.

Hitchcock County freshman Chayse Keith was next in 55th (24:54.02) and Southwest junior Jesse Roland claimed 66th (25:43.34).

Maywood-Hayes Center senior Julia Broker (74th/26:01.5) and freshman Victoriah Deaver (79th/26:12.67) were two more to reach the top half of 160.