The Blair and Fort Calhoun High School cross-country teams ran their first 5-kilometer races of the fall Tuesday at Rhylander Park in Plattsmouth.
One of the four varsity lineups, the BHS girls, earned a first-meet victory during the Blue Devils' invitational.
“We did amazing just as I expected,” said the Bears' individual race winner, Reece Ewoldt. “I knew we were going to do good.”
The Blair boys added a sixth-place finish, while the Fort Calhoun boys earned fourth led by Lawson Tjardes. The Pioneers' girls team was sixth, too.
Bears dominate girls' race
Ewoldt's BHS team has shown its ability during preseason practices for coach Carson Norine.
“Everyone's been working really hard,” the senior said. “I'm proud of everybody.”
Ewoldt won the girls' 5K race by nearly 50 seconds despite starting out behind a few runners Tuesday evening. She made the conscious decision to pass the leaders during their second lap around Rhylander Park.
“I sped up and, eventually, I passed them,” the victor said.
The Bear clocked in at 20:18.67, showing off what she'd work at during the offseason.
“I put, I think it was, over 400 miles in this summer,” Ewoldt said.
Her teammate, Allie Czapla, took fourth in 21:30.78 as well. Jade Wickwire was eighth in 22:22 ahead of FCHS freshman Raeann Massey, who claimed 10th in her high school debut. The Pioneer finished the race in 22:28.63.
Blair's Nadia Davey earned 15th in 23:27.77, while Ryen Anderson was 22nd — just behind Bella McLaughlin of Fort Calhoun, who was 21st.
The Bears' Lainey Bilau was next in 30th ahead of the Pioneers' Emily Barta (33rd), Brady Work (43rd) and Rowan Roehr (45th).
Ryleigh Schroeter of Blair won the junior varsity race as well.
Tjardes leads county boys
Tjardes earned Washington County's top finish during the boys' race in Plattsmouth.
Coached by Kyle McMahon, the Fort Calhoun Pioneer was 11th in 18:42.04.
“Crossing that finish line meant so much to me because, by about the second mile, I knew I was down for the count,” he said.
But the senior looked inward, thinking about whether last year's seniors would quit on a race.
“And I was like, 'No. They wouldn't. So, I can't either,'” he said.
FCHS' Travis Skelton earned 14th in 18:52.33, too, while Chris Post-Whiteowl took 15th in 18:53.78. The Pioneers' Seth Waters was next in 16th, stopping the clock after 5-kilometers in 19:05.48.
Caleb Funk, meanwhile, earned Blair's top finish in the boys' race. He was 29th in 20:04.13, while Fort Calhoun's Jay Stoa III was 30th and the Bears' Tannon Bellamy earned 31st.
BHS' Declan McCabe was 33rd ahead of Calhoun's Will Dennis (35th) and teammate Zack Anderson (43rd). The Bears' Michael Amandus (54th) and Sakuto Yamada (56th) filled out the varsity lineup as well.
After the race, Tjardes said he's optimistic about the Pioneers' potential.
“I think our team's strong,” he said. “We just need to get all of our ducks in a row and, once we do, we'll be solid.”
Fort Calhoun's next race is next Thursday in Arlington at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Blair, meanwhile, runs the same day at Lake Wanahoo.
PLATTSMOUTH XC INVITATIONAL
BOYS
Team standings: Elkhorn Mount Michael 20, Plattsmouth 39, South Sioux City 52, Fort Calhoun 56, Falls City 91, Blair 136, Omaha Bryan 139, Sidney (Iowa) 154, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 156, Auburn 158.
5K race winner: Elijah Dix, Plattsmouth, 17:22.08.
Blair results: 29, Caleb Funk, 20:04.13. 31, Tannon Bellamy, 20:42.32. 33, Declan McCabe, 21:00.12. 43, Zack Anderson, 22:26.14. 54, Michael Amandus, 24:29.68. 56, Sakuto Yamada, 24:55.13. Top JV: 15, Roland Barondeau, 20:41.58.
Fort Calhoun results: 11, Lawson Tjardes, 18:42.04. 14, Travis Skelton, 18:52.33. 15, Chris Post-Whiteowl, 18:53.78. 16, Seth Waters, 19:05.48. 30, Jay Stoa III, 20:36.73. 35, Will Dennis, 21:17.7. Top JV: 7, Matthew Kelly, 20:24.32.
GIRLS
Team standings: Blair 28, Auburn 36, Plattsmouth 50, Omaha Duchesne 57, South Sioux City 61, Fort Calhoun 100, Abraham Lincoln 119.
5K race winner: Reece Ewoldt, Blair, 20:18.67.
Blair results: 1, Ewoldt, 20:18.67. 4, Allie Czapla, 21:30.78. 8, Jade Wickwire, 22:22.0. 15, Nadia Davey, 23:27.77. 22, Ryen Anderson, 24:06.65. 30, Lainey Bilau, 25:34.46. Top-10 JV: 1, Ryleigh Schroeter, 24:05.01. 4, Addie Sullivan, 24:42.01. 5, Bella Matzen, 24:57.67. 7, Katie Kramer, 25:38.48. 10, Ella Donner, 26:07.54.
Fort Calhoun results: 10, Raeann Massey, 22:28.63. 21, Bella McLaughlin, 24:06.64. 33, Emily Barta, 26:20.34. 43, Brady Work, 31:41.38. 45, Rowan Roehr, 33:42.98.
