The Lincoln East girls cross country team (right) at the start of the Harold Scott Invitational last month at Pioneers Park. East is ranked No. 2 in the state.
The top two teams in the Class A girls cross country rankings will compete for the Heartland Athletic Conference team championship Thursday.
Fremont is No. 1 and Lincoln East is No. 2 in the coaches’ poll.
The 12-team meet will be at the Kearney Country Club, with the girls varsity race at 4:50 p.m. and the boys race at 5:20 p.m.
Lincoln East and Fremont were the top two teams at the state meet last year.
Fremont kept winning meets this season even when its best runner, Elli Dahl, was injured. Dahl was the all-class state champion last year as a sophomore.
Dahl raced for the first time this season last week at the Columbus Invitational and placed fourth. Fremont swept the top five spots in that meet for a perfect team score of 15. With Dahl out, Fremont seniors Mara Hemmer and Shelby Bracker have each won races.
East has a four-year winning streak at the conference meet and 14 titles overall. The Spartans’ wins this year include the UNK Invitational and Lincoln Public Schools championship.
Fremont is trying to win the conference title for the first time since 2008.
The boys race on Thursday has five ranked teams: Fremont (second), Lincoln North Star (third), Lincoln East (eighth), Lincoln Southwest (ninth) and Norfolk (10th).
Lincoln North Star senior Liem Chot will be attempting to win the conference meet for the first time after placing fourth at the meet last season. Chot was the all-class champ last year.
— Brent C. Wagner
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln Southwest's Grant Reid finishes third in one of the boys varsity races at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln East's Joe Volkmer finishes in fourth in one of the boys varsity races at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Hastings' Chelsey Espinosa finishes fourth in one of the girls varsity races at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
The Lincoln East girls cross country team (right) at the start of the Harold Scott Invitational last month at Pioneers Park. East is ranked No. 2 in the state.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln Southwest's Bri Rinn finishes strong to win one of the girls varsity races at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln Southwest head cross country coach Ryan Salem (left) speaks with athletes and assistant coaches during the Harold Scott Invitational on Sept. 17 at Pioneers Park. Salem has coached at Southwest all 19 years the school has been open, including 13 as head coach.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Kearney's Hannah Godwin finishes in second in one of the girls varsity races at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln Southwest head cross country coach Ryan Salem jogs ahead of the team during the Harold Scott Invitational on Sept. 17 at Pioneers Park. Salem has coached at Southwest all 19 years the school has been open, including 13 as head coach.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln Southwest's Drew Snyder wins one of the boys varsity races at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln East head cross country coach Brian Kabourek (right) gives encouragement to his athletes during the Harold Scott Invitational on Sept. 17 at Pioneers Park. Kabourek has coached cross country at East for 28 years, including the last six as head coach. East has had only four head cross country coaches in 53 seasons.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Kearney's Hannah Godwin (left) and Lincoln Southwest's Bri Rinn battle up a hill at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Kearney's Hannah Godwin (118) and Lincoln Southwest's Bri Rinn stay close while leading the competition at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Competitors in a boys varsity race start the course at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln Northeast head cross country coach John Snoozy (right) tracks athlete's times at the finish line during the Harold Scott Invitational on Sept. 17 at Pioneers Park. Snoozy has been the Northeast head coach for 23 years.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln Southwest's Bri Rinn finishes strong to win one of the girls varsity races at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet at Pioneers Park on Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Kearney's Hannah Godwin (left) and Lincoln Southwest's Bri Rinn stay close while leading the competition at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park. Rinn won the race, and Godwin finished second.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln Northeast's Daniel Romary finishes in second in one of the boys varsity races at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Harold Scott Invitational cross country, 9.17
Lincoln Northeast's Daniel Romary (left), Lincoln Southwest's Drew Snyder and Lincoln Southwest's Grant Reid hold the lead at the Harold Scott Invitational cross country meet Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Brent Wagner
Husker volleyball/women's basketball reporter
Brent has worked at the Journal Star for 14 years. His beats include Nebraska volleyball, women's basketball and high school soccer and cross country.
