Lady T-Birds Finish Fourth at Districts; Martinez Qualifies for State
State Meet October 19th
by Nick Weber
October 16, 2007
The Johnson County Central Cross Country teams came up just short or their goal of qualifying for the State Cross Country Meet, as the girls squad finished 4th at the District D-1 Meet, held at Branched Oak State Recreation Area , on October 11th. The top three teams and top 15 individuals qualify for the State Meet, and the girls team was aiming for the State Meet in Kearney. However, JC Central came up short in as the girls finished just 27 points behind Malcolm for third and final qualifying spot 85-57.Freeman won the girls race with 36 points, with Lincoln Lutheran in second with 41 points. Then, came Malcolm in 3rd with 57 and JC Central in 4th with 85. The rest of the girls teams scores included Palmyra with 99, Louisville- 102, Yutan- 103, North Bend Central- 106, Lincoln Christian- 107, Weeping Water- 162, Concordia and Pawnee City did not have full teams. Yutan took the boys team title as they scored 31 points, followed closely by Lincoln Lutheran who placed second with 39 points. Malcolm won the final qualifying spot with 50 points, followed by Louisville with 52, Lincoln Christian- 86, North Bend Central- 96, Weeping Water- 102, Palmyra- 163, Archbishop Bergan, College View Academy, Concordia, JC Central, and Pawnee City did not have full teams.
JC Central was able to place one girl in the top 15. Sophomore Angie Martinez, who has had a tremendous season, finished a strong 7th out of 57 runners to qualify for State, with a great time of 17:28 for the 4,000 meter course. Jamie Scott came up just short of the qualifying mark in 18th place, with a fine time of 18:25, followed by Nicole Searcey in 24th, in 19:31. Sophomore Becky Scheer and Junior Megan Murphy competed well in their first district meet, as Scheer finished in 36th place (20:39), and Murphy 45th (21:23). Katie Kuhl wrapped up the girls finishers by placing 56th in 24:28.
Freshman Ricky Reyes finished off a fine first season by finishing 42nd in 21:13. Sophomore Derek Kuhl finished the 5,000 meter course in 24:15 for 54th place. Both boys saw great improvement over the last couple weeks of the season and both improved greatly on the Branched Oak course.
The State Cross Country Meet will be held on Friday, October 19th at the Kearney Country Club. The Class D girls compete at 2:00. Like the district meet, the top 15 runners will win state medals, and Coach Weber feels that Martinez has that potential at the State Meet. Martinez, has won a medal in every meet she has run except for one, and she has consistently placed high in meets this year, including 4th at the ECNC conference meet earlier this year. This is the second time that Martinez has run at the state meet, so she has experience on the course that will be very beneficial. As far as the teams are concerned, the district meet was a disappointing end to a tremendous season. With many young people returning, the coach feels the Thunderbirds can make a push for the State meet again next year.
