Cambridge girls capture last D-3 state qualifying spot by one point

CAMBRIDGE — The Cambridge girls were clutch when it counted most as they claimed a top three state-qualifying place at Thursday’s D-5 district race.

Cambridge totaled 40 points to edge Axtell by ONE point (41) for that final spot in next Friday’s Class D state champinship meet.

Elm Creek’s six points won the title and Hi-Line placed second (33).

Trojan freshman Briar Gunderson qualified invidually when she finished 13th 924:02.64).

Yet her teammates did enough with junior Katie Fegley placing 17th (24:28.08), senior Rachel Harris 21st (25:24.87), frehman Kylie Koeppen 28th (26:01.56) and junior Jensyn Weiss 37th (27:31.12).

Senior Rilyn Schledewitz from Sumner-Eddyville-Miller was indivdual D-5 champ at 22:02.1.

Southern Valley senior Tayley Becker led other Gazette-area runners in 26th (25:53.83). Southwest senior Ambie Custard was 27th at 25:55.76 and freshman Rylan Custard claimed 31st (26:24.1).

Arapahoe freshman Natalie Breinig finished 29th overall at 26:13.08.

Cambridge senior Gavin Gunderson will represent the area boys at state after his 12th-place finish at Thursday’s D-5. His time was 19:19.13.

The Trojans were sixth overall with 64 points, Arapahoe seventh (84) and Southern Valley ninth (94) among 14 teams.

Bertrand breezed to the team title with just six total points. Alma (27) and South Loup (30) also qualified their entire boys’ teams for Class D state.

Individually, Southern Valley senior Prestin Horwart became the next best area placer behind Gunderson in 22nd at 20:14.23.

Cambridge sophomore Braden Sandfort finished 25th (20:35.21) and soph Henry Shoemaker reached 29th (21:07.01).

Arapahoe’s Eli Carpenter took 28th (20:48.81), another sophomore in Thomas Magorian was 36th (21:17.76) and senior Lael Rathbun 37th (21:18.96).

Southern Valley junior Isaac Hamilton took 38th (21:24.92) with senior Eagle teammate Trenton Shockman 39th (21:34.52).