2026 Cross Country Neligh Invite
September 15, 2026
After hosting their home meet on Thursday, September 10, the Spartan Cross Country team had a quick turn around for their next competition. On Monday, September 14, 2026 the Spartans raced again in Neligh. Neligh has been selected at the District D-4 host site where the Spartans will compete for a ticket to state on October 15th.
The girls varsity took to the course to get things started. After a couple of failed start attempts, the gun and timing system finally started and the girls were off and running. Senior Kaci Koenig raced through the chute first for the Lady Spartans. K Koenig unfortunately missed the medals by two places. K Koenig placed 17th with a time of 24:20. Next through the chute was freshman Savannah Zeisler. Zeisler continues to get faster on the 5K courses. She placed 24th with a time of 26:16. Racing in next was freshman Trina Bennett. Bennett placed 31st with a time of 27:39. Senior Addi Janousek clocked in her fastest time of the season. Janousek placed 36th with a time of 28:55. Corinna Reiser, freshman, continues to improve every meet. She took 3 ½ minutes of her first race time of the season! Reiser placed 41st with a time of 35:05. The Lady Spartans placed 5th in the competitive team competition.
Boys varsity laced up their shoes next. The Spartans had some goals in mind and teams they knew they needed to compete with, and they were successful with some of those goals. Junior Aidyn Garwood earned himself the 13th place medal with a time of 19:38. Sophomore Hayden Warnke just missed the medal stand. Warnke placed 18th with a time of 20:08. Freshman Case Reiman raced in to finish 27th with a time of 20:37. The Spartans placed 4th as a team. Class C school Battle Creek won the meet. Creighton placed 2nd and Elkhorn Valley placed 3rd. The Spartans will see Creighton at the district meet.
In the junior high division the Spartans didn’t bring home one championship medal but two! 8th grader Gage Schochenmaier won the meet with a time of 9:05 on the 2200 meter course. 8th grade Baleigh Koenig said ‘me too’. B Koenig won the girls JH division with a time of 9:38. Asher Bruggeman, 7th grade, earned a medal. Bruggeman placed 10th with a time of 10:17. Kyra Reiser, 8th grade, just missed medals placing 11th with a time of 12:34.
The Spartans will venture into South Dakota next Monday, September 21st. They compete at the BonHomme Invite in Tyndall SD starting at 2pm. Then they will not compete again until Thursday, October 1 at the West Holt invite.
