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McCook girls' running duo hits big goal at state
McCOOK, Neb. — She can speak some Spanish and mix in just enough Dutch accent for teammates to say...
“Oh, that’s Brecken being Brecken.”
Yet what McCook juniors Brecken Gale and Emma Cappel really like is when a certain message for all dialects can be found in their cleats.
“Coach (Tom) Sughroue leaves notes telling us we are strong and have confidence,” the two three-time Nebraska state cross-country qualifiers revealed. “That’s why we love running for him. He doesn’t put any extra pressure on us.”
There was enough pressure during the recent B-3 district meet when runners these Bison “had never seen before” were trying to take their state spots.
“District was definitely a lot harder this year,” Cappel confirmed as she’s captured Class C state medals each of her previous two Bison seasons.
Cappel still kept pace with several strong Norris Titans to make state.
Gale’s goal was even tougher to reach as she was around 17th near the end of this pressure-filled district meet.
But Brecken and Emma do what they always do together: make state.
Gale moved up just enough and claimed the final 15th qualifying spot.
“That was my one goal all season,” she confirmed.
Both Bison made that ultimate final trip to Kearney Country Club worthwhile again.
Cappel ran her fastest Kearney Country Club time by more than a minute, and Gale was better than two minutes faster.
A solid finish for two runners who’ve never settled for anything less than challenging the best.
“They are of one mind. They’re like sisters who know what each other are thinking,” Bison assistant coach and former state great Sarah Peterman said.
Both thanked every cheer and all their senior teammates this fall.