With the crack of a starter pistol at Gretna Crossing Park, the cross country team kicked off their first competition of the season just under a week ago at the Gretna Cross Country Invitational. The five-school invite transcended the school split and was hosted by both the Griffin and Dragon teams. The meet served as the first cross country meet that Gretna has hosted since 2020. Three Omaha Public Schools teams, Bryan, Buena Vista and Westview participated in addition to both Gretna high schools.
“Since we’re not part of Metros, it’s exciting that we get to host something and take some ownership of it,” new Boys Head Cross Country Coach Nolan Field said.
With a total of seven medalists, the boys team finished in second place with 25 points just behind Gretna High. Notably, one of those medalists was returning runner, senior Braden Lofquest who earned a first-place finish in 15 minutes, 57.77 seconds, ahead of 88 other competitors.
“I think it went amazing,” Lofquest said. “Good amount of hills, good race, finish was just a little long.”
In addition, the girls team coached by Girls Head Coach, Megan Sugrhoue finished in third place with 43 points and a total of four medalists. New to the sport, sophomore Avery Visser earned the highest-place finish for the girls team. She placed seventh out of 54 runners, completing the five-kilometer course in 23:52.34.
“I feel like I had a strong finish,” Visser said. “It feels good running with all my teammates and cheering each other on.”
In their previous season, runners ran their first meet at the Metro Conference meet at Walnut Grove in Papillion. However, with the team being part of the Eastern Midlands Conference this season, and Gretna Crossing Park barely being a year old, runners were happy to run on their first course at the new park.
“The runners are organized in a way that makes sense,” Field said. “There’s no hard tight corners and no blind spots.”
The five-kilometer course required athletes to run a total of two laps around the Capehart Soccer Fields in Gretna Crossing Park before making their way to the finish line.
“I’m glad Gretna gets to host a cool meet like this and hopefully more teams come next year,” Lofquest said. “I mean Gretna Crossing is just a good place to run.”
With one meet completed, the teams have been working and preparing for their second meet which will be tomorrow at Beatrice High School against several other Class B schools: Beatrice, Elkhorn High, Norris, Raymond Central, Syracuse, Tri County, Waverly and Wilber-Clatonia.
“Everyone’s pushing really hard,” Lofquest said. “I like to see where the team’s going, and hopefully we can qualify for State down the road.”
