Scottsbluff Girls and Gering Boys Win Western Conference Cross Country Championships

SCOTTSBLUFF- The Scottsbluff girls and Gering boys cross country teams picked up Western Conference championships at Scottsbluff Country Club Friday.

The Scottsbluff girls finished nine points ahead of second place Sidney with a final score of 21 points. Senior Hannah Rugroden finished at the top of the conference individual podium with a time of 21:25.00 in the 5k. Scottsbluff also got two more top ten finishes from senior Hannah Hertzler in fourth and junior Claire Thomalla in seventh.

The Gering boys had three runners finish in the top ten to help lead them to the conference title. Junior Axton Stone led the way for the Bulldogs with his second-place effort of 16:51.55 behind Alliance junior Trevor Zurn’s first-place pace of 16:30.72. Senior Nathan Seiler placed behind Stone with a time of 17:35.25 and senior Bryce Carrillo finished sixth to round out the top ten finishers for the Bulldogs. Gering finished 16 points ahead of the field with a final tally of 19 points, while Scottsbluff finished as runner-up with a score of 35.

Here are the top ten individuals and team finishes for both the boys and girls on the Western Conference side of the meet:

GIRLS

1. Hannah Rugroden, Scottsbluff senior: 21:25.00
2. Kylee Kampfe, Sidney sophomore: 22:04.84
3. Rayah Wolff, Sidney junior: 22:05.63
4. Hannah Hertzler, Scottsbluff senior: 22:06.68
5. Erin Cawiezel, Gering sophomore: 22:16. 79
6. Shirley Cotant, Mitchell senior: 23:00.74
7. Claire Thomalla, Scottsbluff junior: 23:11.25
8. Jentsyn Fuller, Chadron junior: 23:22.33
9. Kimber Freiberger: Alliance freshman: 23:22.50
10. Lillie Uhing, Chadron sophomore: 23:25.27

TEAMS

1. Scottsbluff- 21 points
2. Sidney- 30 points
3. Chadron- 38 points
4. Gering- 63 points

BOYS

1. Trevor Zurn, Alliance junior: 16:30.72
2. Axton Stone, Gering junior: 16:51.55
3. Nathan Seiler, Gering senior: 17:35.25
4. Gavin Whemhoff, Scottsbluff freshman: 17:50.17
5. Gavin Carrizales, Scottsbluff sophomore: 18:00.91
6. Bryce Carrillo, Gering senior: 18:09.88
7. Asher Saka, Alliance sophomore: 18:29.02
8. Aiden Bell, Gering senior: 18:33.75
9. Jonah Graham, Sidney sophomore: 18:42.44
10. Evan Merrihew, Alliance junior: 18:49.89

TEAM

1. Gering- 19 points
2. Scottsbluff- 35 points
3. Alliance- 36 points
4. Sidney- 73 points
5. Chadron- 74 points
6. Mitchell- 107 points

The meet was also the Bearcat invite at the junior high, junior varsity and varsity level, and the complete results can be found here: