Eagles Step Up To Earn Championship 

And Runner-UpAt West Holt Invite

CELEBRATING FRIST PLACE -The O'Neill Girls Cross Country Team took first place at West Holt last week. Pictured are Ellery Butterfield, Kaylee Harvey, Catrina Spangler, Makala Hladky, Sarah Pribil, Brandi Walters, Alejandra Vergara, Lizzie Price, Nicole Babutzke and Abby Gillham

Last Thursday the OʼNeill Eagles competed at the West Holt Invitational Cross Country Meet. Thirteen teams competed at the event with 55 girl athletes and 86 boy athletes.

The OHS girls ran well to earn the team championship with 34 points. Leading and medaling for the Eagles were Alejandra Vergara placing fourth, Lizzie Price placing 10th,  Abby Gillham 12th  and Brandi Walters 15th. Rounding out the varsity team were Ellery Butterfield 16th and Kaylee Harvey 21st.  In the junior varsity division Katrina Spangler placed 25th, Nicole Babutzke 34th, Sarah Pribil 47th and Makala Hladky 54th.

The boys' team placed runner-up, with 45 points, to a strong Ainsworth cross country team. Leading the Eagles was freshman Grant Johnston placing ninth. Four other Eagles medalled, Kyle Pardun 11th, Joseph Gillham 12th, Blake Johnston 13th and Blake Walters 15th. Placing for the Eagles were Humberto Costilla 17th, Shea Lueninghoener 19th, Nate Gotschall 32nd, Kyle Fowler 34th, Zach Pavel 52nd, Cory Rowse 62nd, Casey Vandersnick 63rd, Dylan Belik 73rd, Miguel Ochoa 79th  and James Walton 85th.

“I was really proud of the both teams. We are starting to run more competitively, especially coming off a tough day at the UNK Invite. We just need to keep focused and finish the season strong. Running for the team and ourselves is the key concept,” said Coach Hilker.

Finishing up the West Holt Invite was the junior high race. The OʼNeill junior high boys dominated with medaling six in the top 10. Winning the gold medal was Nathaniel Jennings, Ehric Strope fourth, Jordan Ross fifth, Devin Jurgensmeier sixth, Cody Watson eight, and Tyler Beeks ninth. Rounding out the Eagles were Sergio Gonzalez 11th, Jared Hammerlun 12th and Zeb OʼBryan 13th.

Next week the OʼNeill Cross Country Team will finish their regular season by running at the Bloomfield/Mid-State Conference Meet on Oct.  5. Junior varsity boys will start at 3:30 p.m followed by high school girls, high school boys, then the junior high race.