DT Races Towards Victory

Boys and girls compete in the state cross country meet.

By: Ridley Sadd

The Doniphan-Trumbull Cross Country team competed in the state meet, Friday, Oct. 22 at the Kearney country Club.  As a team, the girls’ finished 8th. The boys’ team finished 17th. 

“The energy was absolutely perfect throughout the entire day,” said coach Mr. Corey Hatt. After the races, everyone was so positive because the team ran so well. Teammates were excited for each other, coaches were excited for the team's success, and everyone was happy with their individual performances.”

As a team, the boys finished 17th, they have now qualified for state as a team the last seven out of eight years. This year five boys’ from D-T qualified for the meet. A total of 132 boys ran at State. Sophomore Harrison Sjuts led the way for the Cardinals finishing 76th, followed by freshman Tice Yost in 90th, senior Carter Schultz finished in 111th, sophomore Owen Schultz ended 113th and junior Camdyn Beirow crossed the finish line 119th. 

“I was feeling really good about our chances. I think the team as a whole was very nervous because of the number of people that showed up. Overall I was very happy with how I ran as well as how the team ran,” says senior Carter Schultz.

With the best team finish in school history, the girls’ team placed 8th as a team. This was their second time finishing in the top ten in school history. Freshman Anna Fitzgerald led the way for the girls finishing 18th followed by Avery Robb in 38th. Senior Emma Saathoff finished 80th, junior Halle Kohmetscher ended in 94th and freshman Reba Watts finished 98th.

Fitzgerald has had an excellent first season on the team...

“Preparing for a race is something you just have to get used to. You get your uniform on, attach your number, put in your spikes, warm up, and step up to the line,” said D-T freshman Anna Fitzgerald. “At that moment, you know that it's go time. You may be nervous, but so is everyone else. It's all okay because as soon as the gun goes off, everything goes away. All the nerves and shakiness just disappear. My first state meet was challenging, as I expected it to be. It was important to start off strong and stay strong. After each mile, I kept working up in the pack, and before I knew it, we were in the last half of a mile. At that point in a race is when you put out all of the energy you have been saving up throughout the race. So how was it? It was pretty good. I beat my best time and did better than I expected.” 

To make the state meet even more memorable, DT offered to have a fan bus and fan van for any students in grades 7-12. 

“They knew there would be a great crowd of support from DT, but they were still surprised when everyone showed.  It got the team amped and it gave them a little extra motivation to do well,” said Hatt. “We were able to stay in Kearney on the night before the meet.  This gave the team some time to be together before a big race, and that was comforting to them.  Our team was focused, but I could feel excitement from them.”.

For the seniors, this year was...

“I love this team and I love this sport,'' added coach Hatt. “I already miss everything about this past season and would do it all over again right now. I miss running with the team, watching them grow as athletes and people throughout the season. I miss pasta feeds, bus rides and listening to music while we stretch and do ab workouts. I think the biggest part of XC that I will miss will hit me next year when our seniors are no longer part of the team. Emma, Carter, Sam and Nastassja added so much to our team this year and over the past years. They will be missed by all, but they have definitely left their mark on our program. We will continue to build on what they gave and make it even better.”