Arlington junior Hailey O'Daniel earned her third Class C medal Friday while the longest-tenured Eagles closed out their high school careers during the NSAA State Cross-Country Championships.
For the second-straight year, coach Michaela Curran's team faced unseasonably warm temperatures on the final day of the season in Kearney.
“This course, for one, is a hard course. I'd say it's our second-hardest that we run,” O'Daniel said after a seventh-place finish in 20:59.2 across 5 kilometers. “Heat doesn't help with it because you're running in the sun for, almost, the whole race. So, you've really got to run smart and run your own race.”
Experience gained during top-10 results in 2021 and 2022 helped her succeed again at Kearney Country Club on Friday. She ran wisely, avoiding pitfalls along the way.
“I'm happy with seventh,” O'Daniel said. “I'm grateful for it.”
Senior Kevin Flesner, meanwhile, was thankful for one more race with his AHS boys team. The Eagles finished seventh overall in Class C after hopes for higher.
“It's the last time I'll ever get to run those 3 miles with the boys,” Flesner said. “Even though it's had its ups and downs, I'm so always thankful that I can run with them and feel good when they run well.”
He was 69th overall, while classmate Trey Hill took 76th. Kolby Tighe was 30th, Dallin Franzluebbers 60th and John Morrison 72nd, too.
Senior Arlington leader Nolan May, however, took 23rd in 17:51.4. After an eighth-place finish in 2021, he was unable to finish his junior year state race due to high temps similar to Friday's.
“Going into today, I knew it was going to be tough again because of the heat,” he said. “So, we came around mile two again and I felt just like last year and I was like, 'I've got to finish. I can't let this happen again.'”
May backed off a bit and watched as runners passed him on the 5K course, but he finished.
“I had some little kick left at the end — literally, all I had — and it just didn't go the way I wanted,” he said.
Though disappointed overall with Friday's results, both Flesner and May said they'll miss their time in coach Curran's program. Flesner mentioned fun at practice and inside jokes particularly.
“Oh my gosh, I love the team,” May added. “It makes everything worth it even if seasons end like this.”
The senior loved his time as a team leader this fall, bonding with his teammates one last time.
“That meant a lot to me,” he said as AHS caught its collective breath under a shade tree.
NSAA CLASS C STATE XC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Friday at Kearney Country Club
BOYS
Team standings: Gothenburg 38, Lincoln Christian 45, Elkhorn Mount Michael 57, Fort Calhoun 112, Syracuse 114, Milford 129, Arlington 132, Alliance 137, Holdrege 153, Platteview 158, Wayne 165, Bloomfield-Wausa 175, Aurora 186, Albion Boone Central 222, Minden 257.
5K race winner: Gus Lampe, Omaha Roncalli, 16:33.8.
Arlington results: 23, Nolan May, 17:51.4. 30, Kolby Tighe, 17:59.4. 60, Dallin Franzluebbers, 18:38.4. 69, Kevin Flesner, 18:53.4. 72, John Morrison, 18:56.1. 76, Trey Hill, 19:00.6.
GIRLS
Team standings: Kearney Catholic 76, Auburn 80, Lincoln Christian 88, Platteview 88, Columbus Scotus 99, Douglas County West 119, Sidney 119, Aurora 137, McCook 152, Milford 161, Broken Bow 163, Wahoo 166, Hartington 168, Fort Calhoun 175, Columbus Lakeview 176.
5K race winner: Lindee Henning, Ogallala, 19:33.9.
Arlington results: 7, Hailey O'Daniel, 20:59.2.
