Fort Calhoun cross-country coach Kyle McMahon is never surprised when a new Pioneer leads the boys team in any given race.
It's a tight, competitive group.
“The great thing about our team is none of them care (who leads),” the coach said Friday during the NSAA State Cross-Country Championships in Kearney. “They're just trying to push each other.”
FCHS ran as a team during the 5-kilometer Class C race at Kearney Country Club, but finished just shy of what the runners wanted out of the state opportunity. It took fifth in the standings, while Lauren Lammers and Raeann Massey represented their Pioneers in the girls' race.
McMahon said about 10 seconds of combined race time kept Calhoun's boys from their overall goal.
“So close,” he said. “We were right there.”
Chris Post-Whiteowl and Merritt Olberding paced the Pioneers, though, finishing Friday's race with lifetime personal record times. Post-Whiteowl earned 27th in 17:29.6, while Olberding was 29th in 17:32.
“It's always nice to be out with the team and pushing pretty hard, seeing them all work together,” Post-Whiteowl said.
He explained how not worrying about the course and focusing on teamwork was key.
“If you push, then they'll push you,” Post-Whiteowl said. “It's a huge team effort to try to keep you both motivated and moving.”
Will Dennis added a 35th-place result for Calhoun, while Seth Waters was 48th in 17:54.6. Seniors Travis Skelton and Matthew Kelly were 63rd and 65th, respectively.
“They're awesome teammates,” Post-Whiteowl said of his 12th-grade peers. “It's always sad to see the seniors go, but I've still got track season with them.”
Skelton, however, capped his cross-country career as a four-time state runner. He's just one of seven in school history to do so.
“He's in kind of rare company there,” McMahon said. “There's not many boys from around the state that have been here today and that have been here 4 years in a row.”
Kelly, meanwhile, started his cross-country career as a sophomore and has pushed his team throughout this final prep season, the coach explained.
On the girls' side, Lammers produced FCHS' best result in 45th. The freshman stopped the clock in 21:47.2, while Massey finished 22:38.9 for 69th overall.
NSAA CLASS C XC STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Friday at Kearney Country Club
BOYS
Team standings: Holdrege 50, Lincoln Christian 69, Gothenburg 79, Syracuse 81, Fort Calhoun 106, Chase County 111, Aurora 120, Arlington 130, Lincoln Lutheran 131, Wayne 157, Battle Creek 160, Minden 163, Omaha Concordia 179, Milford 211, Bloomfield-Wausa 226.
Individual medalist: Trevin Opp, Lincoln Christian, 16:11.8.
Fort Calhoun results: 27, Chris Post-Whiteowl, 17:29.6. 29, Merritt Olberding, 17:32. 35, Will Dennis, 17:36.6. 48, Seth Waters, 17:54.2. 63, Travis Skelton, 18:07.9. 65, Matthew Kelly, 18:11.4.
GIRLS
Team standings: Auburn 64, Columbus Scotus 68, Gothenburg 70, Minden 76, Aurora 110, Syracuse 129, Palmyra 130, Wahoo 138, Kearney Catholic 147, Adams Central 152, Albion Boone Central 155, Columbus Lakeview 169, Pierce 173, Omaha Concordia 185, Sidney 200.
Individual medalist: Hailey O'Daniel, Arlington, 19:26.1.
Fort Calhoun results: 45, Lauren Lammers, 21:47.2. 69, Raeann Massey, 22:38.9.
