Feature articles

Emmett Hassenstab of Omaha Skutt won two medals as the 2021 state track meet.  Six days later, a diving accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. This is his journey.

Jeremy Fischer high jumped 7'4" in high school; but he's made an even bigger mark in coaching.  We interviewed him about how to develop young jumpers and grow the sport.  

Samantha Rodewald, Madison Seiler, Kassidy Stuckey, Mesuidi Ejerso, Riley Boonstra are the favorites for a State title. 

Jordyn Arens, Hannah Swanson, Ty Schlueter and Trevor Kuncl headline an outstanding Class D line-up.  

Pre-race anxiety can be crippling.  Remember why you started running; it had nothing to do with medals.

As the year end of the 2020 XC season approaches, five boys and five girls stand out for their performances prior to Districts.   Here's the boys and girls articles.  

Through unprecedented cooperation, Class A coaches worked much of the summer to create safe guidelines for a Fall 2020 season.  

Class A District assignments are a bit complicated, but are they unfair?  A new NSAA rule may be a solution in search of a problem. 

Molly Paxton was a track standout at Mullen High School, but Mullen didn't have a cross country program.  She convinced the School Board to approve one.  

An aspiring basketball star, Liem Chot rode a skateboard to his first junior high cross country race.  He hung up his basketball shoes, but he still became a star.  

Four Creighton Prep seniors are the bedrock of their distance program, but none of them saw early success.

A running veteran and a talented freshman look ahead to excelling at the State meet.  

Running talent runs in the Muma family, and Jenna is adding to the family's athletic legacy at Lincoln East.  

She's only a sophomore but she has great advice for young runners.  "Don't give up at the beginning of your running career.  It's easy to doubt yourself, but the hard works pays off."  

It's difficult to be a high-level competitor in one discipline, but Kate Dilsaver and Rylee Rice have found great success in both distance running and sprinting.  

A state champion and UNK signee, Ben Arens showed his toughness.  As a junior, he broke off a piece of his pelvis and tore his hamstring during the Class D State meet - and still finished second.

Ethan Goldner is a high-level soccer player and one of the best cross country runners in State.  He somehow manages to excel at both sports each fall.

Running wasn't her first love, but consistent progress over the past three years has led to huge dividends for Gabby McGinn.  

As a freshman, Aidan was disqualified at the State 3200 for having his toe over the starting line.  That's the last time he let someone else dictate his success.  

Katie Williams' past year has ranged from three medals at the State track meet to an injury-filled senior XC season that ended in a 49th-place finish at State.  She's back on track now.  

Two-time State champion Taya Skelton mixes running with basketball, and she's got big goals for the next two years. 

Freshman Anna Jennings finished 2nd in State XC behind OSU-bound Taylor Somers.  Her brightest days are ahead.  

With four state titles and a sub-5:00 mile, Taylor Somers looks for a few more victory laps.

Milo Greder and Seth Hirsch pushed each other to Nike National qualifying spots.  Milo's success the past two years will pay dividends in college.  

It's time to get up to speed on this year's crop of great T&F athletes:

Pole vault      Long jump     Throws

Hurdles        Triple jump       High jump

Sprints         Distance      Class A distance 

Gabe Hinrichs, Sam Kirchner, Daniel Romary, Elli Dahl, Jaci Sievers.  First-class studs.

Luke Bonifas joins our State preview with three undefeated athletes:  Keeli Green, Lindee Henning and two-time State champ Carson Noecker.  

Two strangers faced off for the fifth time this season.  Their finishing strides were picture perfect. 

You didn't win state.  You didn't qualify for State.  You didn't make varsity.  Get over yourself.  You won. 

In a move that will have a long-lasting impact on hundreds of athletes, OPS became the only Nebraska school district to cancel its Fall 2020 sports seasons.

COVID caused the Spring 2020 sports to be cancelled, but the NSAA is committed to giving student athletes an opportunity to compete in Fall 2020.  

Millard South senior Brandy Kent may not leave high school with an armful of medals, but running has given her so much more.  

Jacob Kosmicki's best running advice: "If you want to be a great distance runner, don't go out for golf your first two years of high school."

Mahassin Abakar will run three events at the May 2019 State track meet - while fastest during daylight hours to observe Ramadan.  

One of the best runners in Blair High School history, Sam Lueders aims for a healthy summer and a productive college career.  

A commitment to running, solid coaching and  incremental gains each season have led to dramatic improvements for Mason McDonald.

Lindsey Blehm excels in school, music and running.  She didn't find immediate success as a freshman, but her progress each year has made her a force to reckon with at the State meet.

The girl who thought she wasn't good at anything turns out to be good at almost everything.  

A trio of Lincoln Southwest seniors have each had their share of success and setbacks, and LSW's title hopes depend on there success at the State meet. 

Noah Lambrecht of McCool Junction finishes last in nearly every race he runs.  The next time you run, will you have as much heart as Noah?

A medal contender as a junior, Ally collapsed 100 meters short of the finish line at the State meet.  She's on a mission to win a medal this year.  

Noah planned to go out for freshman basketball, but standout Reno Law made a bet that Noah couldn't turn down: "If I beat you in a 1-on-1 game, you have to dedicate yourself to distance running."

Joe's high school coach jokes that he didn't know Joe could talk until his junior year.  Joe's race results this year have made a loud statement.  

Jake Ralston turn a wrong turn at State XC in October 2016, but the setback just made him set higher goals.  

Ryan Eastman was a mediocre sprinter in junior high.  He joined the XC team as a freshman and is hitting his stride as a junior.  

A running phenom since grade school, Wisconsin-commit Seth Hirsch's career started because a 4th-grade soccer game was cancelled.

Did a long driveway form the foundation for Mazie Larsen's running success?  Or was it her marathon-winning mom?