Class B boys season preview

jayslagle
1 day ago
8 min read

Contributor: The Nerd

2024 State teams (max possible returners)

1. 38 Lincoln Pius X (3 returners)

2. 66 Hastings (1)

3. 79 Omaha Skutt (3)

4. 92 Beatrice (4)

5. 93 Gretna (4)

6. 99 Lexington (4)

7. 124 Elkhorn (6)

8. 129 Gretna East (4)

9. 130 Mount Michael (1) (Now in Clas C)

10. 135 Plattsmouth (2)

11. 143 Gering (2)

12. 154 Norris (2)

Top returners (notable 2025 track results)

4 Joseph Majerus, 12, Lincoln Pius 1:53 (3^rd B), 4:18 (3^rd B), 9:25 (3^rd B)

5 David Krier, 12, Lincoln Pius 1:55 (8^th A), 4:23 (6^th B), 9:15 (4^th B) – 9^th as sophomore

6 Trevor Zurn, 12, Alliance 2:06, 4:42

7 Samuel Robinson, 11, Norris 2:00, 4:26, 9:26

9 Jared Schroeder, 12, Waverly 4:21, 9:29 2-mile (9:26 converted)

10 Caleb Larsen, 12, Gretna 4:25, 9:44

13 Isac Portillo-Munoz, 11, Lexington 4:27, 9:36 (4:31, 9:41 as freshman)

14 Lincoln Wolfe, 12, Omaha Skutt 2:02, 4:34, 9:52

15 Derek Rieck-Capellan, 12, Elkhorn North (No T&F results)

17 Esten Shane Kohl, 11, Platteview 4:31, 9:46

19 Joseph Norman, 10, Lincoln Pius X 4:50, 10:06

20 Axton Stone, 12, Gering 4:25, 9:40

22 Cody Rice, 11, Omaha Skutt 1:55, 4:28

25 Mesach Nkurubujango, 10, Mount Michael (Class C in 2025) (no T&F results)

29 Elliot Reece, 12, Gretna East 4:42/10:22

30 Colton Menning, 11, Gretna 2:07/4:50

32 Gerardo Hernandez-Tapia, 11, Elkhorn 2:01, 4:31, 10:11

33 Garrett Barreras, 12, Elkhorn 1:58

34 Travis Emblin, 12, Lincoln Northwest 2:06, 4:40

36 Erick Grijalva-Ibarra, 11, Lexington 2:16, 5:04

37 Finnian Hartman, 12, Elkhorn 2:02 (4^th B 4x800)

40 Enrique Cano-De Leon, 11, Lexington 4:53, 10:52

42 Asher Saka, 11, Alliance 4:51, 10:46

43 Gavin Wemhoff, 10, Scottsbluff 2:05, 4:57

44 Thomas Morgan, 11, Bennington 4:53, 10:25

45 Dominic Smith, 11, Gretna East 4:44, 10:19

46 James Given, 10, Beatrice 2:08, 4:49

47 Brayden Romero, 10, Elkhorn 2:00, 4:37

48 Charles ‘Tyler’ Scott, 10, Beatrice 4:44, 10:40

49 Noah Zach, 12, Lincoln Pius X 4:30, 10:01

50 Jude Martz, 10, Elkhorn North 2:06, 4:37, 10:17

Class B has one classification change this fall. Aurora is moving from Class C to B while Mt. Michael falls from Class B to C. Mount Michael’s enrollment has fallen by 90, from 324 to 234, in the latest classification report so we expect to see them in Class C for quite some time.

As a reminder, Class B teams are allowed to run up to six athletes at Districts and State, and the placement of the top four athletes is used to calculate a team’s point title.

The top three finishers from last year’s meet have moved onto college. Braden Lofquest of Gretna East briefly held the all-Class 1600 record and still holds the Class B record; he’ll attend Duke. Austin Carrera of Hastings has the Class B 3200 record and will compete at Wichita State. Tommy Rice held the Class B 1600 record for three weeks in 2024 before Lofquest took it back; he’ll be running at Nebraska.

Last season Lincoln Pius and Hastings broke the seven-year Skutt/Lexington stranglehold on the Class B podium. Pius is the favorite again this year, led by Joseph Majerus (4^th at 2024 State XC, 1:53, 4:18, 9:25) and David Krier (5^th, 1:55, 4:23, 9:15), who both earned four State T&F medals last May in the 800, 1600, 3200 and 4x800. They return two other competitors from 2024: Joseph Norman (19^th, 4:50, 10:06) and Noah Zach (49^th, 4:30, 10:01). Only the top four finishers count in Class B, so having four sub-10:10 guys should be a ticket to a State title.

Beyond Pius, there are a number of schools who should be competitive. Omaha Skutt returns their 2^nd through 4^th runners. Lincoln Wolfe (14^th in 2024, 2:02, 4:34, 9:52) and Cody Rice (22^nd, 1:55, 4:28) were part of Skutt’s State champion 4x800 title; junior Drew Luethje (57^th) appears to play another sport in the spring.

We saw quite a bit of the Elkhorn squad this spring. They return all six boys, including four who finished 4^th at State in the 4x800. Their returners include Gerardo Hernandez-Tapia (32^nd, 2:01, 4:31, 10:11), Garrett Barreras (33^rd, 1:58), Finnian Hartman (37^th, 2:02), Brayden Romero (47^th, 2:00, 4:37), Kellen Krivohlavek (53^rd, 2:03 split) and Elias Eyler (2:14, 4:44, 10:43). From my observations this spring, these boys are deeply invested in excelling as a team, so it will be interesting to see what they accomplished during the summer break.

Lexington looks to bounce back from its 6^th-place finish in 2024. Isac Portillo-Munoz aims for his third State XC medal in as many years after finishing 9^th as a freshman and 13^th as a sophomore. He ran 4:27 and 9:36 this spring. In past years the Minutemen had a deep roster that shifted almost weekly, and they return three other boys from the 2024 State squad: Erick Grijalva-Ibarra (36^th, 2:16, 5:04), Enrique Cano-DeLeon (40^th, 4:53, 10:52) and Rogelio Garcia-Vargas (56^th, 2:10, 4:54).

Gretna finished 5^th last season and returns four of its top five runners, led by Caleb Larson (10^th, 4:25, 9:44). Other returners include Colton Menning (30^th, 2:07, 4:50), Miles Cradduck (60th, 5:14) and Elliot Suing (76^th, 5:25, 10:57). Three sophomores will fight for varsity spots: Ben Pierce (2:20, 5:10), Kallan Hodges (2:12, 4:59, 10:40) and Burke Lightle (54.25, 2:09). The Dragons add three accomplished freshmen in Braxton Boyd (10^th at JH State XC, 2:30, 5:18), Graham Heinauer (2:13, 5:00) and Josh Nakai (20^th at JH State XC, 5:33).

There are a number of teams that are not expected to be in the top five this season but do have boys who should be in the mix this season:

· Sam Robinson finished 7^th last year for a Norris team that graduated four boys. Robinson’s spring marks of 2:00, 4:26 and 9:26 put him in the mix for a State title. He’ll be joined by Hunter Dilley, who didn’t qualify in 2024 but posted marks of 52.53, 2:00 and 4:48 during track season.

· Jared Schroeder of Waverly, who was 9^th in 2024, had an outstanding track season with PRs of 4:21 and 9:26 (converted). I’ve been in a winter workout with Jared (spoiler alert, he’s a lot faster than me), and he’s got an incredible work ethic that should pay off in his senior season.

· Alliance did not qualify as a team in 2024 but has the potential this year. They return 6^th-place medalist Trevor Zurn (2:06, 4:42) and Asher Saka (42^nd, 4:51, 10:46). We think they’re adding freshman Tripp Johnson, who ran 2:18 and 5:06 as an 8^th grader.

· Gretna East finished 7^th last year while Lofquest was winning the individual title. They return four boys including Elliot Reece (29^th, 4:52, 10:22), Dominic Smith (45^th, 4:44, 10:19), Landon Koch (83^rd, 5:45) and Aiden Stephenson (85^th, no T&F results).

· After finishing 21^st at State XC as a freshman, Ethan Smith of GI Northwest broke two bones in his foot last July and effectively lost his sophomore year of cross country. He took a conservative approach in his return and had a productive track season, running PRs of 2:08, 4:33 and 9:57. He’s had a solid summer of training and should be in the medal conversation this fall. Northwest’s other top runner will be Joe Sutherland, who medaled in five of his first six meets last fall before a foot injury. He did not finish the season but rebounded with times of 2:01 and 4:37 during track season.

· Elkhorn North didn’t qualify in 2024 but could have a chance this year after adding quality and depth. They are led by Derek Rieck-Capellan, who finished 15^th last fall but does not compete in T&F. Jude Martz, who finished 50^th in 2024, also returns after running 2:06, 4:37 and 10:17 in the spring. Kaden Sprowls has been the surprise of the summer; he’s a senior soccer player without anything on his athletic.net profile since 6^th grade, but he could easily be one of their top runners.

· Esten Kohl of Platteview has been a work in progress in his first two years of high school, lowering his freshman PRs from 4:48 to 4:31 and from 10:04 to a school record of 9:46 (which explained the screaming coach after Esten finished 11^th at State). In addition to his times, he’s continued to grow physically, and I expect his best times are ahead of him. He finished 17^th last fall but should be in the mix for a top-10 medal.

· Axton Stone, a senior at Gering, finished 10^th at State XC in 2023 before falling to 20^th at last year’s meet despite running nine seconds faster. Last spring was by far his best T&F season of his career, running 4:25 and 9:40 while qualifying for State in both events. Look for him to bounce back in his senior season.

· Declan McCabe of Blair didn’t qualify for State as a junior, but he ran 53.16, 1:58 and 4:44 in the spring. A fast 800 time isn’t an absolute predictor of cross country success, but it can be when you pile on solid summer mileage. Declan could be a factor this year.

· Jackson Einspahr, a junior at Seward, will be competing in cross county for the first time this season. He had an exceptional track season, running 1:55 and 4:23, but he appears to have ended the track season with an injury. We hope to see him healthy and on the course this fall. He’ll be joined by Aaron Royuk, a freshman who finished 16^th a JH State XC and posted times of 2:24 and 5:08 in the spring.

Team predictions

The Class B coaches will issue five or six polls during the season. As is our custom, we only issue one team ranking, and that is our pre-season prediction:

1. Lincoln Pius

2. Elkhorn

3. Omaha Skutt

4. Lexington

5. Gretna

Individual rankings

We’ll post our preseason rankings on the Rankings tab at www.preprunningnerd.com, and we’ll update them almost every week during the season.

Errors and omissions

Our season previews are based on prior results and an assumption that underclassmen competing at State in 2024 will run again this year. If you’re aware of an error in the article above, or have information on an impactful runner not listed above, please email jayslagle@hotmail.com so we can determine whether the article should be updated. Our goal as volunteers is to be a resource for fans of Nebraska high school country, but we readily acknowledge that we need feedback from followers and coaches to provide accurate information.

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Originally written and published in August 2025 at www.preprunningnerd.com.

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