McCook girls conquer hill-ish Monday at UNK

McCook High's girls brought their best race faces to the UNK Cross Country Invitational on Monday. They're getting ready for the home invite at Heritage Hills in this photo.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

KEARNEY, Neb. — McCook stepped up to the massive Kearney Country Club challenge as sophomore Samantha Rodewald earned Class B No. 3 at Monday’s UNK Cross Country Invite.

With temperatures probably 25 degrees cooler, Rodewald finished this state championship meet course more than 30 seconds faster (19:44.21) than her Bison Invitational title at Heritage Hills on Sept. 17.

“She likes the cooler weather much more than hot,” coach Tom Sughroue said.

Most teammates would likely agree since McCook earned three top 30 places among the 133 Class B finishers.

Freshman Sienna Dutton placed 18th (21:23.14) and junior Grace Cappel took 29th (22:00.49).

Rodewald ran behind only Omaha Skutt champion Jaeden Bunda (19:33.38) and Gering sophomore Madison Seiler (19:41.11).

Rodewald finished 10th as a freshman at last year’s Class B championship meet. The race is set to take place again on Friday, Oct. 23.

Sophomore Shayli Wilkinson (67th/23:14.65) and senior Lexi Hauxwell (79th/23:27.18) were other Bison who powered the team into sixth place (170 points) among 15 teams on Monday.

The Bison weren’t far behind Seward Bluejays (155 points) or Blair Bears (159) for a top four finish. Elkhorn (54) won the title in front of Omaha Duchesne (84) and Omaha Skutt (109).

The Class B boys race featured McCook in 14th place (434) with leading runners Josh Hegwood (70th/19:11.8), Grant Cappel (111th/20:12.96) and Bryce Dutton (128th/21:15.7).

Omaha Skutt was runaway team champion by 74 points and captured the top three individual places.