Contributors: The Nerd team
This is our sixth of eight previews of the 2024 Nebraska high school cross country season. While we have connected with some coaches, keep in mind that we may not know about injuries, transfers, lack of summer training, bad break-ups or anything else that might impact athletes this season. If we didn't highlight your athlete, it's not out of spite; it's takes a lot of research to write eight articles and at some point we just got tired. If we've made an error, please DM us or e-mail jayslagle@hotmail.com and we'll get it corrected.
The annual reclassification of high schools – and the expansion of Class A and B to 65 schools – will have a significant impact on Class B competition this fall. South Sioux City moves from Class B to Class A; Lincoln Pius and Gretna slides down from Class A to Class B; Alliance, McCook, Mount Michael, Omaha Gross and Platteview move up from Class C to Class B.
In the list below, we added the top 50 performers from the 2023 Class A and Class C races who are now in Class B. Keep in mind that the Class C boys race started three hours after the Class B boys race, so race conditions were not the same. These new A/C additions represent 7 of the top 18 returners and at least two of the new teams could be in the mix for a top- five finish.
Top returners from 2023 State meet with current grade listed:
2, Braden Lofquest, 12, Gretna East, 16:11.6
3, Thomas Rice, 12, Omaha Skutt, 16:15.3
*9, David Krier, 11, Lincoln Pius, 16:18.1 (Class A in 2023)
4, Austin Carrera, 12, Hastings, 16:22.2
*14, Gavin Luthi, 12, Gretna, 16:26.6 (Class A in 2023)
9, Isac Portillo-Munoz, 10, Lexington, 16:54.4
*5, Michael Rodgers, 12, Mount Michael, 16:54.4 (Class C in 2023)
10, Axton Stone, 11, Gering, 16:56.1
13, Calin O'Grady, 12, Bennington, 16:58.2
14, Jared Schroeder, 11, Waverly, 16:59.6
18, Herson Rodriguez, 12, Lexington, 17:04.8
19, Lincoln Wolfe, 11, Omaha Skutt, 17:14.9
*41, Damien Johnson, 12, Lincoln Pius, 17:16.1 (Class A in 2023)
*44, Caleb Larsen, 11, Gretna, 17:17.5 (Class A in 2023)
20, Diego Chojolan, 12, Hastings, 17:20.8
*14, Trevor Zurn, 11, Alliance, 17:27.5 (Class C in 2023)
21, Ethan Smith, 10, Northwest, 17:30.5 (injured)
*16, Jackson Teetor, 12, Mount Michael, 17:33.6 (Class C in 2023)
*17, Esten Shane Kohl, 10, Platteview, 17:34.6 (Class C in 2023)
26, Samuel Robinson, 10, Norris, 17:37.4
29, Josiah Quinones, 12, Beatrice, 17:41.6
*21, Mesach Nkurubujango, 10, Mount Michael, 17:48.1 (Class C in 2023)
31, Gerardo Hernandez-Tapia, 10, Elkhorn, 17:48.9
33, Nathan Seiler, 12, Gering, 17:58.3
34, Dalton Weber, 12, Norris, 18:00.4
36, Diego Balderas-Perez, 10, South Sioux City, 18:01.3 (to Class A)
37, Garrett Barreras, 11, Elkhorn, 18:02.1
*34, Jack Carda, 12, Mount Michael, 18:04.5 (Class C in 2023)
*36, Max Teetor, 10, Mount Michael, 18:07.9 (Class C in 2023)
40, Riley Moore, 12, Plattsmouth, 18:08.7
42, Eduardo Duarte-Benavide, 12, Lexington, 18:11.5
43, Jacob Kimbrough, 12, Seward, 18:11.7
44, Nolan Albers, 12, Hastings, 18:12.6
46, Jonathan Rico-Avalos, 11, Nebraska City, 18:16.9
47, Mynor Hernandez Raya, 10, Schuyler, 18:17.8
*50, Devin Graham, 10, Alliance, 18:24.2 (Class C in 2023)
49, Hunter Mazzulla, 12, Plattsmouth, 18:25.0
50, Marvelous Robinson, 12, Hastings, 18:26.0
Top teams in 2023:
1. Omaha Skutt, 37 points (return 3 of 6 2023 State runners)
2. Lexington, 42 points (3)
3. Norris, 45 points (2)
4. Hastings, 81 points (5)
5. Bennington, 92 points (3)
*3. Mount Michael, 57 points (6 return from Class C squad)
Braden Lofquest (#309 below) and Tommy Rice (#340) are the most decorated returners in Class B. Lofquest won the Class A 800 title (1:53) in 2023, the Class B 800 title (1:51) in 2024, and he set PRs of 4:12.11 (Class B State record) and 9:13. Lofquest first broke the 1600 record on March 28 with his 4:15.16, and then Rice broke that record on April 12 with his 4:15.04. While Rice only held the State mark for three weeks, it seemed to push him to a new level. At State he finished 2nd in the 800 (1:52 PR), 4th in the 1600 (4:19), and 2nd in the 3200 (9:10 PR).
Austin Carrera (#312 below) of Hastings has been trending upwards the last two years. This past track season he improved his 1600 PR by 11 seconds to 4:13 and his 3200 PR by 19 seconds to 9:14. He finished 2nd and 4th, respectively, in the State 1600 and 3200. His goal as a sophomore XC runner was to be listed in the Nerd rankings; he’s clearly moved onto much higher goals.
David Krier (#149 below) of Pius had the third fastest time at State among boys returning for the 2024 Class B race, and he ran 4:37 and 9:42 in the spring. Pius finished 4th in Class A XC in 2023 and return four State participants plus Joe Majerus. Joe had a phenomenal freshman XC season ending with 21st at State, but his freshman track season ended early after posting PRs of 4:29 and 9:52. He didn’t compete in 2023 XC but regained his form last spring with PRs of 1:58, 4:24 and 9:31. He’s carried that good health into August and should be contending for a top-5 finish along with Krier. Damien Johnson finished 41st last fall and ran 4:52 and 10:36 in the spring. Noah Zach was Pius’ 7th finisher at State but ran 4:32 and 10:02 during track. George Ivanov, another returner, appeared to be injured during the track season but should be a contributor this season. While their top six are unclear, the Pius coaches have options with at least 40 boys on the team.
Gavin Luthi (#123 below) and Caleb Larsen lead Gretna into Class B. Luthi’s 16:26 in the Class A race would have put him in Class B medal contention last season, and he has PRs of 4:34 and 9:40. Caleb Larsen has grown considerably since his freshman year, and he posted PRs of 2:03, 4:35 and 9:40 during track. Gretna has a strong program and competed well in Class A until it lost a chunk of its student body to Gretna East, so it may be a few more years until the two schools start competing for top-three finishes.
Omaha Skutt and Lexington have been the top two Class B teams for the last seven years and both are contenders again this season. For Lexington, Herson Rodriguez (#321 below) is expected to one of the team’s leaders after his 18th-place finish last year and his 53 (400)/2:05 (800) PRs in the spring. Fellow senior Eduardo Duarte (42nd at 2023 State, 2:35/4:54 PRs) should be a factor along with a trio of sophomores: Enrique Cano (5:09, 11:00), Manuel Zamora (5:14) and Isac Portillo-Munoz (4:31/9:41). In most years we’d also be talking about Lexington’s 2023 Junior High State XC championship team and how that will impact the high school roster but… the top four finishers for Lexington were all 7th graders. Still, Coach Jilka has a history of turning a runner’s strong work ethic into high performance, so don’t be surprised when he has a strong squad in October.
In addition to Tommy Rice, Skutt returns 2023 State runners Lincoln Wolfe (4:42/9:55, pictured below) and Riley Peters (53.2/2:04). Senior Brennan Steenson (2:01, 4:52) and sophomore Cody Rice (1:59, 4:35, 10:18) were part of Skutt’s runner-up 4x800 team at Burke and are expected to play major roles. Five of their six varsity spots are solid, so look for them to compete well against Pius and Lexington.
Based solely on time comparisons, Mount Michael features three of the top twenty-one returners in their return to Class B. Michael Rodgers (4:35, 9:55, #568 below), Jackson Teetor and Mesach Nkurubujango return and have had solid summer training sessions. Mesach had never run competitively before last year, his freshman year at Mount Michael, and some observers think he has tremendous upside – possibly this year - once he has a few more miles under his belt. Jack Carda (52.5, 1:58), Max Teetor and Oliver Sorenson (4:39, #569 below) also return – Mount Michael didn’t lose any State competitors to graduation – so a healthy Mount Michael could be dangerous.
Hastings is on the rise and has top end talent with Carrera and Diego Chojolan (#313 below), who ran 2:02, 4:31 and 10:14 during T&F. They return three other boys: Nolan Albers (4:57, 10:12), Marvelous Robinson (2:04, 4:54) and Isaac Kelley (2:16). Gering returns five of its six competitors from the 2023 9th place team, led by Axton Stone (2:0, 4:32, 10:12) and Nathan Seiler (2:14, 5:03). They also return Aiden Bell (2:11, 5:07), Gage Ruzicka and Jayden Hakert.
Beatrice doesn’t look particularly threatening based on last year’s results, but they should have a strong roster. Josiah Quinones (#284 below) finished 29th last fall before running 1:56 (5th at State) and 4:28 in the spring. Lucas Frazier is a returning senior who had a solid summer, including a 17:01 road 5K at the Cornhusker State Games. They also add Tyler Scott, who won the 2023 Junior High State XC meet and ran 2:16, 4:45 and 10:24 during the track season. Another freshman, James Given, was hurt during his 8th grade XC season but popped off PRs of 2:09 and 4:49 at the Junior High State Track meet.
Other notable returners:
Calin O’Grady of Bennington ran 1:59, 4:33 and 9:57, and he has a 4:28 PR that ranks near the top of returners.
Jared Schroeder of Waverly had an incredible sophomore track season, running five sub-4:30s including a 4:21 at the Night of the Stars meet. He’s a workhorse and should take another step up this fall.
Ethan Smith of Northwest had a successful track season, running 4:33 and 9:43 (8th at State) as a freshman. He was doing well this summer until he broke his foot playing basketball in late July, so we don’t expect to see him compete this fall.
Esten Kohl of Platteview ran in the shadows of teammate AJ Raszler last year, but he takes over the top spot on the team as a sophomore. He ran 4:39 and 10:04 during the spring, qualifying for State in the 3200, and another six months of growth will serve him well.
Way-Too-Early team predictions:
We're a week or two away from the first coaches' poll of the season, so here ares our hot takes:
Nerd Senior: Omaha Skutt, Lincoln Pius, Lexington
Nerd Junior: Lincoln Pius, Omaha Skutt, Lexington
Nerd the Third: Lincoln Pius, Omaha Skutt, Mount Michael
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First published at www.preprunningnerd.com by Jay Slagle on August 25, 2024. If you find an error, shoot us an e-mail at jayslagle@hotmail.com and we'll get it fixed.
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