Bison girls in top five as leader takes third overall

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — McCook junior Emma Cappel’s top three finish led the McCook cross country girls into fifth overall at Thursday’s Gothenburg Invitational.

Cappel completed the 5K challenge across Wildhorse Golf Course in 21:13.

Only freshman Scout Bell from the host Swedes (20:36) and Wallace Wildcat superstar Ashley Robertson (21:05) ran faster times among 64 varsity finishers.

Gothenburg also won the team title with 32 points while Minden totaled 34. Broken Bow (79) and Wallace (90) took the next two spots just ahead of McCook (94) as nine recorded team scores.

Cambridge claimed eighth just ahead of the Paxton Tigers.

Bison junior Brecken Gale placed 18th at 23:02 and second among all area runners.

Cambridge freshman Briar Gunderson was 23rd at 23:31 and senior Rachel Harris took 31st at 24:18.

Other Bison leaders were seniors Megan Miller (35th.24:54), Leni Henderson (38th/25:04), Maryann Kassner-Macfee (40th/25:18) and Ella Malcom (27:49).

“The girls team continues to be led by Emma Cappel and Brecken Gale. Both finished in the medals yesterday,” coach Tom Sughroue commented. “I felt like we ran much better yesterday as a whole.”

“Boys continue to be led by (junior) Blake Rodewald and (freshman) Axel Blomstedt,” he added. “I feel like the boys team is getting better week by week. However, the boys team has really been battling some illness the past few weeks.”

The Bison boys were ninth among 13 teams with 192 points, just three behind Cambridge’s 189. Arapahoe totaled 207 and Medicine Valley 220.

Gothenburg also took team title by 10 points over Minden, 23 to 33. North Platte was third with 37 points.

Med Valley junior Kael Garrett was seventh overall (18:18) as Swede Tyler Hetz took the title at 16:58.

Rodewald was 31st overall (20:11) just behind Trojan leader Gavin Gunderson (20:03). Blomstedt placed 50th (21:18) among 83, Warren Witt 55th (21:39), Jack Bates 56th (21:56) and senior Josh Wilkinson 60th (22:11).