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Sidney cross country sweeps district meet, rolls into state

The Sidney High varsity cross country teams swept the Class C-4 district meet at West Winds Golf Course in Ogallala on Thursday afternoon.

With the wins, both the Sidney boys' and girls' teams qualified for the Class C state meet next Friday in Kearney.

The boys' team earned a score of 24, as it placed all six of its runners in the Top 18 out of the field of 59 male runners. The girls' team represented half of the Top 10 finishers, posting a score of 23 – a whopping 30 points ahead of second-place Cozad.

Senior Jachob Wiedeburg finished third overall and first on the Sidney boys' team with a time of 17:05. Hayden Lienemann crossed the finish line 12 seconds later in fourth. Brody McKnight came in one second behind Lienemann for fifth, while Ryan Aurich posted a time of 18:00 for 12th place. Freshman Josh Schaub ran an 18:12, good for 14th overall and Jacob Schaub came in 18th with a time of 18:26.

Wiedeburg said he felt great about the way he and his teammates ran at districts. But it was a particularly special day for the boys' team.

"Sidney has never had a boys' district champion (team) and I think we made history today," Wiedeburg said. "We all ran pretty well today. I thought I had a pretty good race but I want to have an even better race next week at state. I'm excited for state."

Lienemann was also satisfied with his performance on Thursday, but he knows he and his team has one more big race to run.

"I ran well today and the team ran well," Lienemann said. "But I always want to be faster. We just have to keep rising and race to win."

The Sidney girls' team, who last won the district meet in 2010, placed all six of its runners in the Top 12 on Thursday.

Junior Jami Flores led the Sidney team, coming in third overall with a time of 20:53. It was the first time she's placed first on the varsity squad this season.

Chantal Riggs finished seventh with a 21:06, while Preslie Allen clocked in three seconds behind Riggs for eighth-place. Erin Lindeman came in ninth with a time of 21:12, Charlie Brockhaus placed 10th with a 21:14 and Abby Heller ran a 21:23 for 12th to round out the Sidney team.

Flores was ecstatic after she knew she finished third in the girls' race and found out her team made state.

"I feel amazing," Flores said. "I just kicked it in down that last stretch. Pain is temporary. I'm so excited for my team – I'm speechless right now."

In next Friday's state meet, the Class C girls will start at 2 p.m. and the Class C boys will begin at 3 p.m.

 

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