2026 State Recap, part 2

Contributor: Nerd Speedwalker

Trevor Alber, a coach at Hastings St. Cecilia's, has been our chief number cruncher all year. For a few weeks before State, he dug into the NSAA results archive to create a huge spreadsheet of qualifiers, medalists and champions. In the aftermath of the State meet, he provided so much data to me that I couldn't fit it into my State recap. I asked him to write his own article, and that's what I've posted below.

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History was made up and down the results at the 2026 NSAA State Cross Country Championships. Seward, Lincoln Christian and McCool Junction each swept the team and individual titles in their classes, and the Seward boys won the program’s first team championship. Trevin Opp became just the eighth boy in state history to win three individual championships, and Norfolk, Seward and North Platte St. Pats all crowned the first individual state champions in school history.

Seward’s Jackson Einspahr (15:43.4) and Omaha Marian’s Maya Freyer (18:43.9) posted the fastest boys and girls times of the meet. Eight athletes became four-time state medalists, tying 2023 for the most ever in a single season, and 14 more earned their third career medal. Seventy-two of the 120 medalists reached the podium for the first time, the most first-time medalists since 2010.

Team champions: Creighton Prep (Class A boys), Seward (Class B boys), Lincoln Christian (Class C boys), Doniphan-Trumbull (Class D boys), Millard West (Class A girls), Lincoln Pius X (Class B girls), Chase County (Class C girls) and McCool Junction (Class D girls).

Individual champions: Liam Gonzales, Norfolk (Class A boys); Jackson Einspahr, Seward (Class B boys); Trevin Opp, Lincoln Christian (Class C boys); Colton Ham, North Platte St. Pats (Class D boys); Maya Freyer, Omaha Marian (Class A girls); Sophia Reynolds, Hastings (Class B girls); Scout Bell, Gothenburg (Class C girls); and Leah Dawson, McCool Junction (Class D girls).

Class D Girls

McCool Junction made history in 2026, capturing its third consecutive Class D girls state championship with 15 points behind individual state champion Leah Dawson. Dawson became the second individual state champion in school history and earned her third career state medal after placing 10th in 2025 and ninth in 2024. Teammate Kayleigh Betka also claimed her third state medal, finishing sixth after battling a hip injury for much of the season. Betka won the state title as a freshman in 2024 and placed fifth in 2025. She will look to earn her fourth career medal next season. Sophomore Kayliana Kitto joined Dawson and Betka on the medal stand, bringing McCool Junction’s total to seven individual state medals over the past three seasons.

The championship marked McCool Junction’s fourth girls team title in school history, all of which have come since 2020. The program moved into a tie for 10th place among girls teams for most state championships and a tie for sixth for the most consecutive titles. Dawson and Betka also became the second and third three-time state medalists in program history, joining Candiace Clark, who medaled from 2004-2006.

Nebraska Christian matched its best team finish in school history, placing second for the second time. The Eagles previously finished as state runners-up in 2021 behind Crofton. Sophomore twins McKinley and Adelaine Mankin led the way, with both earning their first career state medals.

Centennial turned in its best team performance in school history, finishing third behind the individual efforts of freshman Stella Steele, who placed fourth. Crofton placed fourth, one year after finishing as state runner-up, and added two more individual medalists to its storied program history. Freshman Meredith Wortmann finished second, while Cecilia Wortmann placed ninth. The medals pushed Crofton’s all-time total to 71, keeping the program at the top of the girls leaderboard, three ahead of Lincoln Southeast and Lincoln Pius X.

Perkins County also made history, placing fifth for its best team finish ever. Madison Potts led the way with the best individual finish by a Perkins County runner since 2010. Ord returned to the state meet for the first time since 2014 and finished sixth, while Laurel-Concord-Coleridge recorded its best team finish in school history with an eighth-place showing.

Amherst qualified for state for the first time since 2000 and finished ninth, while Stanton returned for the first time since 2017. Stanton’s 11th-place finish marked its best result since 2016.

Individually, Mazzy Kuchar placed fifth, recording the best state finish in Elkhorn Valley history and becoming the program’s first three-time state medalist. Arapahoe also returned to the state meet for the first time since 1998, finishing 15th.

Niobrara/Verdigre senior Delani Runnels placed third to become the first three-time state medalist in program history. Runnels also finished second in 2025 and sixth in 2023.

Two programs celebrated their first state medalists. Sandhills/Thedford sophomore Shylee Gonzales placed 10th, and Archangels Catholic freshman Brisa Reigle finished 14th. Burwell senior Lena Spencer added a 15th-place finish, the program’s best individual result since 2017.

Class C Girls

Chase County captured its second consecutive Class C girls state championship, edging Gothenburg by just one point, 44-45, in a tightly contested team race. Addison Hauxwell led the Longhorns with a third-place individual finish, marking Chase County’s best individual result since Monica Barger won the Class C state title in 1996. Senior Emily Randall also earned her first career state medal, finishing fifth to help secure the championship.

Gothenburg was led by Scout Bell, who won her second consecutive individual Class C state championship. Freshman Cassidy Reiman joined her on the medal stand with a sixth-place finish. Bell earned her third career state medal after placing fourth as a freshman, becoming the fifth three-time state medalist in Gothenburg girls history. Bell’s two titles are the only individual championships in Gothenburg girls history, and as a junior she will have a chance next fall to become just the 14th girl in state history to win three. The runner-up team finish also marked Gothenburg’s best since 2002.

Minden recorded its best team finish since 1998, placing third behind Alexa Warner’s eighth-place individual finish. Warner’s result was Minden’s best individual state performance since Jessie Hurt placed fourth in 2020.

Adams Central rounded out a highly competitive top four, led by freshman medalist Margaret Lehn, who finished 14th. With four freshmen and two juniors on the roster, the Patriots have a strong foundation to remain competitive in the years ahead.

Norfolk Catholic made a successful transition to Class C, returning to the state meet for the first time since 2020 and earning its best team finish since 2016 with a seventh-place showing. Mayla Sukup led the Knights with a 10th-place individual finish, the program’s best individual result since 2013.

Yutan made history by qualifying for the state meet for the first time in program history, finishing 12th.

Individually, Jaelyn Witter became Kearney Catholic’s fourth three-time girls state medalist, joining Jennifer Nikkila, who medaled in 1997, 1999 and 2000 and won the Class D title in 1999; Tiffany Torson, who medaled in 1999, 2000 and 2002; and four-time medalist Erica Hamik, who earned a medal every year from 2004-2007. Witter was also a freshman on Kearney Catholic’s 2023 Class C championship team, the only girls team title in school history.

North Bend Central senior Emma Williams finished 11th to become the first four-time state medalist in program history. Williams placed 14th as a freshman, eighth as a sophomore and seventh as a junior.

Arlington sophomore Neva Bauer finished as the individual runner-up, jumping from 12th in 2025, as Arlington returned to the state meet for the first time since 2022 and placed 11th. Central City junior Amelia Buhlke placed fourth, matching the program’s best individual finish since Mercy Dinwiddie also placed fourth in 2002.

Milford sophomore Macie Carter earned her second career medal with a seventh-place finish. O’Neill sophomore Kiarra Kennedy placed 12th for the program’s best individual result since 2014, and Battle Creek freshman Olivia Jessen finished 15th in a school-record 20:28.0, becoming just the second girl in program history to earn a state medal and the first since Chelsea Renner in 2003.

Class D Boys

Doniphan-Trumbull continued its championship run, capturing another Class D boys state title in a thrilling finish. The Cardinals edged Tri County by just two points, 26-28, while McCool Junction finished third. All three teams came out of District D3, which accounted for six of the 15 individual state medalists.

Doniphan-Trumbull was led by Kaser Johnson’s second-place finish, making him the first four-time state medalist in Cardinals history. Johnson won the state title in 2025 after placing third in 2024 and sixth in 2023. Junior Carter Hannon also earned a medal, finishing 10th for the second consecutive year. Hannon will look to earn his third career medal next season.

Individually, Colton Ham made history by becoming the first state champion in school history. He joined the four-time medalist ranks for North Platte St. Pats with Jarrett Miles, who earned a state medal in each season from 2020-2023.

Samuel Holsing led Tri County to its second consecutive runner-up finish, placing third individually for the best state finish by a Tri County runner. Holsing also became the program’s first three-time state medalist after placing fifth in 2025 and ninth in 2024.

McCool Junction finished third, led by sophomore Carter Mierau, who improved from 11th in 2025 to fourth in 2026. Mierau recorded the best individual finish by a McCool Junction boys runner and will look to become the program’s first three-time state medalist next season.

Cornerstone Christian placed fourth as a team. Sullivan Jackson finished sixth to become the program’s first three-time state medalist, and senior Tobin Klaassen placed seventh for his second career medal. Ponca recorded its best team finish in school history, placing fifth, with sophomore Kole Krusemark medaling in 15th.

Hemingford finished sixth, its best team result since placing third in 2005. Austin Benda led the way with an eighth-place individual finish, the highest by a Hemingford runner since 1992, and sophomore Fletcher Moseman added a 12th-place medal. Ord placed seventh for its best finish since 2013, while Homer finished eighth to establish a new program-best team result. Creighton also made history, placing 10th for its best team finish ever.

Gordon-Rushville returned to the state meet for the first time since 2004, finishing 11th. Arcadia-Loup City qualified for state for the first time in program history and placed 14th, while junior Dutch Miller finished fifth for the best individual finish in Arcadia-Loup City history. East Butler returned for the first time since 2016, finishing 15th, while Amherst made its first state appearance since 1988 and finished 17th.

Freeman senior Hayden Jansen placed ninth for his second career medal, and Dundy County Stratton junior Xander Cardoza finished 11th, the program’s best individual result since 2016.

Class C Boys

Lincoln Christian continued its dominance in Class C, capturing its second consecutive team championship with just 19 points. The Crusaders were led by Trevin Opp, who won his third consecutive individual state title after placing 12th as a freshman. Opp is just the eighth boy in state history to win three individual championships and the first since Fremont’s Juan Gonzalez won three straight from 2022-2024. Only Hartington’s Carson Noecker has won four. Opp became the first four-time state medalist in Lincoln Christian history. The Crusaders placed three additional runners in the top 10, with Amos Glenn finishing sixth, Nolan Steiner seventh and Griffin Opfer ninth. All three return next season as Lincoln Christian looks to capture its third consecutive team title, while Glenn will also aim for his third career individual state medal.

Holdrege secured its second consecutive runner-up finish after winning the team championship in 2024. Samuel McQuistan led the Dusters with an individual runner-up finish, marking the best state performance by a Holdrege runner since 1973. McQuistan also became the second three-time state medalist in program history, joining Tyler Peterson, who medaled from 2016-2018. He will look to become Holdrege’s first four-time state medalist next season. Teammate Christophe Widick also reached the medal stand, earning his second career state medal.

Mount Michael Benedictine finished third, led by senior Mesach Nkurubujango’s 12th-place finish.

Tyler Hetz continued his remarkable career at Gothenburg, finishing third to become the program’s first four-time state medalist. Hetz placed second, third and second in his first three seasons and helped Gothenburg win the 2023 team championship as a freshman. Gothenburg finished fourth as a team this fall.

Grayson Oswald led Aurora to a sixth-place team finish with the best individual result by an Aurora runner since Matt Haden won the Class B state championship in 2000. Aurora was also represented by Spanish exchange student Pablo Munoz Oliver, who finished 14th.

O’Neill finished seventh for its best team result since 2014. Norfolk Catholic’s Andrew Kastl continued to build his state-meet résumé after earning 10th- and eighth-place finishes in Class D over the previous two seasons. Moving up to Class C, Kastl finished 10th again and will look to earn his fourth career state medal next season, which would make him the school’s second four-time medalist.

Wayne placed ninth for its best team finish since 2011, while Yutan returned to the state meet for the first time since 2016 and finished 14th.

Ashland-Greenwood junior Archer Ferguson placed eighth to become the program’s first state medalist, and Douglas County West junior Jack Steinbach finished 11th, the program’s best individual result since 2018. Platteview senior Esten Kohl Jr. also medaled, placing fifth.

Class B Girls

Lincoln Pius X returned to the top of Class B for the first time since 2018, reclaiming the state championship with 28 points behind Malia Woosley’s fourth-place individual finish. Woosley recorded the program’s best individual performance since 2017 and became the sixth three-time state medalist in Lincoln Pius X girls history. The program also boasts two four-time medalists. Senior Klaira Sander and sophomore Emerson Mailander added to the Thunderbolts’ impressive medal total, bringing Lincoln Pius X to 68 all-time individual state medals and a tie with Lincoln Southeast for second-most among girls programs. The title was the program’s 12th, the third-most among girls programs behind Crofton and Lincoln Southeast.

Sophia Reynolds became Hastings’ first individual state champion since Chelsey Espinosa in 2019. Reynolds, who placed eighth, fifth and second in her first three seasons, joined Shona Jones as the only four-time state medalists in school history. Jones won the Class A title every year from 1982-1985. Reynolds’ victory moved Hastings into a five-way tie for second among girls programs with six individual state champions, alongside Geneva, Gering, Lincoln Pius X and Omaha Marian, which also crowned a champion this year in Maya Freyer. All five trail Crofton, which has eight.

Seward finished as the state runner-up, earning its best team finish since winning the championship in 2020. The runner-up finish marked the Bluejays’ third in program history, joining previous second-place finishes in 2004 and 2011. Junior Lily Philips led Seward with a fifth-place finish.

Gretna finished third, one year after placing as state runner-up. Junior Sierra Regan placed 11th and senior Lucy Zabloudil finished 14th, each earning a second career medal.

Scottsbluff placed fourth for its best team finish since 2017. Freshman Nina Polk led the way with a runner-up finish, the program’s best individual result since Kaylee Bentley also placed second in 2017, and fellow freshman Hannah Wemhoff added a ninth-place medal.

North Platte recorded its best team finish since 1982, placing fifth, led by sophomore Emma Nichols in eighth. Individually, Natalie Ramirez became the first Lexington girl to earn a state medal since 2022, finishing 15th.

McCook freshman Rinlee Blomstedt placed third, the best finish by a McCook runner since 2020, and York senior Annah Purdue finished sixth to become a three-time state medalist.

Grand Island Northwest also returned to the state meet for the first time since 2021, finishing 11th.

Class A Girls

Millard West continued its impressive run of success, finishing among the top three teams for the fifth consecutive year and capturing its second state championship during that stretch with 41 points this fall. The Wildcats were led by freshmen Madison Scott and Harper Dubas, who finished third and fourth, respectively. Berkeley Batten and Sadie Osher also earned state medals, placing 10th and 14th. The four medals pushed Millard West to 48 all-time girls state medals, fifth-most in the state. With their top three finishers all underclassmen, the Wildcats will look to extend their streak of top-three finishes next season.

Omaha Marian’s Maya Freyer became the school’s first individual state champion since Stella Miner won the title in 2020. Freyer also posted the fastest time among all girls at the state meet, 18:43.9. Freyer, a junior who placed eighth in 2025, gave Marian its sixth individual state champion, tying the school with Hastings, Geneva, Gering and Lincoln Pius X for second all-time behind Crofton. She will have a chance to defend her title next fall.

Omaha Marian also earned its second consecutive team trophy, finishing runner-up after winning the state championship in 2025. Freyer led the way with her individual title, while Louise Walker added a runner-up finish to help the Crusaders secure another top-two team result.

Lincoln Southwest finished third as a team, led by freshman Emma Osiychuk’s 12th-place finish.

Elkhorn North made a successful transition to Class A, finishing fourth in its first season competing in the larger classification after winning back-to-back Class B titles in 2024 and 2025. Leah Robinson led the Wolves with a ninth-place finish, earning her fourth consecutive state medal after placing sixth, second and fourth in her first three seasons. Robinson became Elkhorn North’s first four-time state medalist.

Papillion-La Vista South placed fifth behind two medalists. Senior Ashlyn Carter finished fifth, and sophomore Emily Hegge, the 2025 Class A champion, placed sixth.

Millard North freshman Alivea Blank placed seventh, the program’s best individual finish since 2019, and Lincoln Southeast senior Caitlyn Olsen finished eighth, the program’s best since 2015. Olsen’s medal kept Lincoln Southeast tied with Lincoln Pius X at 68 all-time girls medals, three behind Crofton. In all, five freshmen medaled in Class A: Scott, Dubas, Blank, Osiychuk and Elkhorn South’s Vylah Karre.

Class B Boys

The Seward boys made history in 2026, capturing the program’s first team and individual state championships. Senior Jackson Einspahr led the way in his first season of cross country, finishing the year undefeated and winning the individual Class B title. Einspahr also recorded the fastest time among all classes at the state meet, 15:43.4. Teammates Austin Koch and Mason Vest joined him on the medal stand, finishing seventh and 14th, respectively, to help secure the historic team championship with 42 points.

Norris edged North Platte by five points, 59-64, to secure the best team finish in school history. Sam Robinson led the Titans with an individual performance that marked Norris’ best since Riley Boonstra won the state championship in 2023. Junior Owen Muma added a ninth-place medal.

North Platte finished third, recording its best team result since 1986. Jack Knapp led the way with an eighth-place individual finish, the program’s best since 2021.

Lexington placed fourth as a team behind Isac Portillo-Munoz, who finished 10th to become the second four-time state medalist in school history, joining Franklin Ibarra, who earned a medal in each season from 2008-2011. Senior Erick Grijalva-Ibarra also medaled, placing 13th. The two medals gave Lexington 60 all-time boys state medals, fourth-most in the state.

Grand Island Northwest finished fifth for its best team result since 1997. Jaxon Cushing led the Vikings with a runner-up finish, the program’s best individual result since 1988. Ethan Smith also finished in the top five, placing fifth. Having two runners finish among the top five marked the first time since 1988 that Grand Island Northwest accomplished the feat. That year, Dean Bowling and Lanny Boltz finished first and second, respectively.

Freshman Carter Ribble recorded Beatrice’s best individual state finish since 2007, placing third and leading Beatrice to a sixth-place team finish. Ribble was also the only freshman boy to earn a state medal across all classes this season.

Scottsbluff finished 10th, recording its best team result since 2015. Junior Gavin Wemoff medaled in 15th, adding to Scottsbluff’s state-leading total of 76 all-time boys state medals.

Class A Boys

Creighton Prep repeated as Class A boys state champions with 71 points, capturing its sixth team title in school history. The achievement moved the Junior Jays into a tie for eighth among boys programs for the most state championships. It was Creighton Prep’s first repeat since winning back-to-back titles in 1973 and 1974. Sophomore Peter Lickteig led the way with a fourth-place individual finish as Creighton Prep continued its run at the top of Class A.

Aiden Gehring led Papillion-La Vista South to its best team finish since winning the state championship in 2017. Gehring finished second individually, earning his third career state medal after placing second in 2025 and 12th in 2024. He became the second three-time state medalist in school history, joining Jacob Ralston, and will look to become the program’s first four-time medalist next season.

Liam Gonzales made history for Norfolk, becoming the first state champion in school history. Gonzales improved on his fourth-place finish from 2025 to claim the individual title.

J’Shawn Afuh helped lead Lincoln North Star to a third-place team finish, placing third individually and becoming the third three-time state medalist in school history. Juniors Franky Turek and Titus Bitker also reached the medal stand, finishing 11th and 12th, respectively, giving the Navigators three individual medalists.

Fremont placed fourth and extended its state-qualifying streak to 31 consecutive years, dating back to 1996, the longest in Nebraska boys cross country history. Sophomore Jasper Semrad medaled in 15th, giving Fremont 71 all-time boys state medals, second only to Scottsbluff.

Elkhorn South finished sixth for its best team result since 2021. Individually, Cale Hemje placed 13th, recording the best state finish by a Millard North runner since 2021.

Kearney returned to the state meet for the first time since 2018 and finished ninth, its best team result since 2013, led by sophomore Maddox Helgoth, who improved from 12th in 2025 to seventh. Helgoth’s medal was Kearney’s 68th all-time, third-most among boys programs. Lincoln High also recorded a notable milestone, placing 11th for its best finish since 2005.

Omaha Westside junior Gavin Leeper placed sixth, and Millard West senior Elijah Bickley finished ninth for his second career medal.

By the Numbers

The eight new four-time medalists, tied with 2023 for the most ever in one year, were Lexington’s Isac Portillo-Munoz, Lincoln Christian’s Trevin Opp, Gothenburg’s Tyler Hetz, North Platte St. Pats’ Colton Ham, Doniphan-Trumbull’s Kaser Johnson, Elkhorn North’s Leah Robinson, Hastings’ Sophia Reynolds and North Bend Central’s Emma Williams.

The 14 new three-time medalists were Aiden Gehring (Papillion-La Vista South), J’Shawn Afuh (Lincoln North Star), Samuel McQuistan (Holdrege), Andrew Kastl (Norfolk Catholic), Samuel Holsing (Tri County), Sullivan Jackson (Cornerstone Christian), Malia Woosley (Lincoln Pius X), Annah Purdue (York), Scout Bell (Gothenburg), Jaelyn Witter (Kearney Catholic), Leah Dawson and Kayleigh Betka (McCool Junction), Delani Runnels (Niobrara/Verdigre) and Mazzy Kuchar (Elkhorn Valley).

Six of the eight individual champions won their first state title, with Opp and Bell the only repeat winners. Three schools, Norfolk, Seward and North Platte St. Pats, crowned their first individual state champion. On the team side, the Seward boys won the program’s first state championship, while five teams repeated as champions: Creighton Prep, Lincoln Christian and Doniphan-Trumbull on the boys side, and Chase County and McCool Junction on the girls side.

Eight teams posted the best finish in program history: the Seward, Norris, Ponca, Homer and Creighton boys and the Centennial, Perkins County and Laurel-Concord-Coleridge girls. Arcadia-Loup City’s boys and Yutan’s girls made their first state appearances, and Ashland-Greenwood, Sandhills/Thedford and Archangels Catholic each produced their first state medalist.

The top of the all-time medal leaderboards held steady. Scottsbluff (76), Fremont (71), Kearney (68), Lexington (60) and Lincoln Southeast (57) remain the top five boys programs, while Crofton (71), Lincoln Southeast (68), Lincoln Pius X (68), Lincoln East (53) and Millard West (48) lead the girls.

The future looks bright, too. Seventy-two of this year’s medalists were underclassmen, including 15 freshmen. The girls side was especially young, with 14 freshmen and 14 sophomores among its 60 medalists, while Beatrice’s Carter Ribble was the lone freshman boy to medal. Papillion-La Vista South’s Aiden Gehring, Holdrege’s Samuel McQuistan, Norfolk Catholic’s Andrew Kastl, Gothenburg’s Scout Bell and McCool Junction’s Kayleigh Betka will each chase a fourth career medal next fall, and Bell will also go for a third consecutive Class C title.

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Originally written and published in October 2026 at www.preprunningnerd.com. If you find any errors, please email jayslagle@hotmail.com and we'll correct them.

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Finally, if you think runners, jumpers, and throwers are the best things on earth, you'll enjoy our two most popular articles. In 2018 we published "The Runner with the Broken Heart" about a high school boy who finished last in nearly every race he ran. In 2022 we published, "The Fall and Rise of Emmett Hassenstab," a story about a high school triple jumper who became a quadriplegic after a swimming accident.