Eagles Earned the Right to State XC
October 20, 2014
Launch the media gallery 1 playerLast week the O’Neill Eagles once again ran in district competition. Districts C-2 district meet was held at Wayne. Eleven teams competed with the best three teams and top fifteen individuals qualifying for the state meet next week held in Kearney at the Kearney Country Club.
The Lady Eagles were in the first race of the day. Leading the Eagles to a 6th place finish against 5 rated teams in the top ten in Class C. Alejandra qualified for the state meet placing 9th overall. Running for the Eagles and helping earn 95 points were Abby Gillham 25th, Ellery Butterfield 28th, Kadra Sommersted-Simmons 34th, Traci Vandersnick 42nd, and Olivia Schmale 47th.
“I thought their performance was great. These young ladies have improved all year. Alejandra has worked hard and is a three time state qualifier,” said Coach Hilker.
The O’Neill Boy’s team ran against 5 rated teams and one of the best individuals in the sate. The Eagles placed 3rd and qualified for state earning sixty points. Leading the Eagles again was Grant and Blake Johnston who placed 2nd and 11th respectively and earning medals. Nathaniel Jennings 23rd, Jon Gettert 24th, Kyle Fowler 30th, and Blake Walters 39th. This is the team who will run next week at Kearney.
“Like the girls this race was tough. I knew that all the runners were going to make a difference at the end of the race. We were only two points away from the runner-up team and twenty-one points from the district championship team, Columbus Scotus. I feel that we ran a little tight but we have a chance to make it up next week,” said Coach Hilker.
Next week the Eagles will compete at the state cross country meet. The Class C girls will run at 2:00 pm and Class C boys at 3:00 pm at the Kearney Country Club, October 24th.
