The Nebraska State Cross Country Championships took place Friday night, and the big winners came as no surprise. In the Girls A Race, defending champion Emily Sisson (So., Millard North) won another state championship, while her old team, Omaha Marian, won the team title. On the boys side, Jon Ronhovde (Sr., Fremont) won the Boys A Race in the fastest time of the meet, 16:11, while Omaha Benson used a talented top three to win the team title.
MileSplit Nebraska State CC Champs. Coverage - Meet Wrap-Up
Nebraska State CC Championships Meet Page
Girls
Emily Sisson (So., Millard North) beat her ex-teammate Kelli Budd (Jr., Omaha Marian) to win the Girls A Race at the Nebraska State CC Championships Friday evening. Sisson used a blistering pace to outdistance her friend, finishing in 14:25, while beating Budd by 39 seconds. Sisson, who finished third at Foot Locker Nationals last fall, continues to dominate her competition.
Budd's second place effort guided her team to a state championship. Placing four runners in the top 14 scoring positions, Omaha Marian beat Sissons' Millard North team 76-88, in a close team battle. Millard West snuck up to take third, scoring 94 points, as the only other team to score under 100 points.
Boys
Fremont senior Jon Ronhovde ran the best effort of the evening in the Boys A Race, showing his competition no mercy. Ronhovde's time of 16:11 beat runner-up Ter Diu (Sr., Omaha Benson) by 13 seconds. Diu's teammate, Willie White (Sr., Omaha Benson), finished third one second behind his teammate in 16:25.
With Diu and White finishing in the top three, Omaha Benson won the team title, beating runner-up Kearney 88-113. Benson also scored another top ten finish from Jaron Hall (Sr.), who ran to a tenth place finish.
The closest race of the day came in the Boys B Race. Adam Mitteis (Sr., Plattsmouth) and Jaime Torres (Sr., Scottsbluff) ran neck and neck much of the way. In the final straight, they two were virtually tied as they crossed the line, the results showing Mitties beat Torres by 16:17.13 - 16:17.96.