Blair High School cross-country coach Carson Norine wanted his Bears to “go big” this season.
On Friday at the NSAA Class B State Championships in Kearney, the BHS girls met the challenge.
“We saw it today with times,” the coach said, noting course personal records across the board.
The Bears finished seventh overall across 5 kilometers, while fellow Eastern Midlands Conference school Norris — and the lead Titan, Kendall Zavala — took first ahead of runner-up Elkhorn North.
Seniors Reece Ewoldt and Allie Czapla led Blair with their best times on the familiar Kearney Country Club course.
“It was so much fun,” Czapla said. “I feel like I just ran way harder and I never gave up. I just kept running hard the whole entire time.”
A lot of the field did as times suggested.
“Today was a fast race for girls Class B,” Norine said. “But, in cross-country, we try to tell them, 'Control what you can control.'”
The state race was there for the Bears to do their best.
“They did really well with that today,” the coach noted.
Ewoldt finished just one place out of the individual medals in 16th. The senior stopped the clock in 20:14.44, finishing less than 3 seconds out of 15th.
“I'm so happy with how I did. I did my best,” she said, smiling. “Some people at state just go crazy, I guess.”
Norine said Ewoldt closes out her BHS cross-country career with the second-fastest state time in school history across 5K. Former Bear and University of Nebraska-Kearney runner Molly Dibben, meanwhile, has the fastest.
Czapla, a state regular for Blair in her prep career, was 25th in 20:40.67 — the sixth-best state title in school history. Jade Wickwire took 39th in 21:39.92, too, while Ryen Anderson was 54th in 22:12.6.
Nadia Davey and Ryleigh Schroeter, meanwhile, were 63rd and 84th in 22:54.63 and 25:57.56, respectively.
“Our girls had phenomenal times today,” Norine said, noting Anderson's full 60-plus second improvement on the course.
“Everyone, I think, did their best, so I'm happy with how we did,” Ewoldt added. “Last year we got 11th, this year we got seventh. That's a big improvement.”
Now, though, the two senior Bears are finished when it comes to running high school cross-country.
“Leaving this team is going to be tough, for sure,” Ewoldt said.
“It's a little sad,” Czapla added. “But, same as Reece, I'm running in college. I mean, we have a lot more races.”
As it turned out, she wasn't even done running for the weekend. The senior planned on completing the Spooky Sprint 5K on Saturday in Omaha.
NSAA CLASS B STATE XC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Friday at Kearney Country Club
GIRLS
Team standings: Norris 21, Elkhorn North 41, York 62, Bennington 97, Omaha Duchesne 105, Hastings 110, Blair 116, Omaha Skutt 137, Plattsmouth 152, Gering 181, Scottsbluff 198, Lincoln Northwest 220.
5K race winner: Kendall Zavala, Norris, 19:03.3.
Blair results: 16, Reece Ewoldt, 20:14.44. 25, Allie Czapla, 20:40.67. 39, Jade Wickwire, 21:39.92. 54, Ryen Anderson, 22:12.6. 63, Nadia Davey, 22:54.63. 84, Ryleigh Schroeter, 25:57.56.
BOYS
Team standings: Omaha Skutt 37, Lexington 42, Norris 45, Hastings 81, Bennington 92, Elkhorn 115, South Sioux City 124, Elkhorn North 136, Gering 139, Plattsmouth 144, Grand Island Northwest 169, Seward 170.
5K race winner: Riley Boonstra, Norris, 16:10.3.
Blair results: NA.
