KEARNEY — The most suspense during Friday's state cross country meet came during the last of the eight races.
That’s when it would be decided who among two of the best boys distance runners in state history would leave the Kearney Country Club as the best in the state this year.
Carson Noecker from Hartington (the only boy to go sub-15 minutes this year), or Gabe Hinrichs of Elkhorn South (undefeated Class A runner)?
Early in the afternoon, Noecker set the mark to beat by running 15 minutes, 19 seconds in the Class C race. A few hours later, Hinrichs knew the time to beat to win the all-class gold medal.
And Hinrichs did that — just barely — by winning the Class A race in 15:18. Hinrichs was able to see his time on the clock while running the final 40 meters and got across the finish line just in time.
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When he saw Noecker’s time he thought it was "beatable."
"I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it in the middle part, but I was able to kick hard and do it," Hinrichs said.
Hinrichs had hoped to break the state meet record of 15:04.
“It was a tough course today,” Hinrichs said. “I was going for the record but I was happy to get the all-class gold.”
Lincoln Northeast senior Daniel Romary finished second, giving him top-10 finishes in the past two years.
Fremont had a great race to beat No. 1 Millard West for the Class A team title. Fremont had 66 points, and Millard West 69. Fremont had three runners in the top 10, including a rare freshman medalist for Class A (Juan Gonzales in 11th).
Fremont has three state titles in four years.
In Class C, Noecker still hasn’t been beaten in three trips to the state meet. He improved his Class C state meet record from last season by 3 seconds.
His margin of victory was 1:23. But Noecker stayed near the finish line to shake hands with the second-place runner. In fact, Noecker stayed by the finish line for 9 minutes after his race to greet as many of the 118 finishers as he could.
He’s done the same thing after his previous two wins at state.
“Everyone is giving their God-given best out here, and I wouldn’t want anyone else to think any less of anyone out here, first or last,” Noecker said.
Next year, Noecker will attempt to be the first boy in state history to win four individual state titles. He’s the seventh boy in state history with three wins.
Fort Calhoun won the Class C team title. Lincoln Christian was fourth, led by sophomore Carter Hohlen in seventh place.
In Class B, South Sioux City junior Mesuidi Ejerso won in 16:28. Nathan Nottingham from Seward finished second.
Lexington won a close team race edging runner-up Omaha Skutt 34-38. That ended Skutt’s streak of four straight titles.
In Class D, Tylan Schlueter from Ainsworth won by 15 seconds. Norfolk Catholic won the team title, and McCool Junction was runner-up.
Photos: Kearney is the site of the state cross country meet, where the best runners in Nebraska square off
Crofton's Jordyn Arens (637) leads the Class D qualifiers out of the start on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Arlington's Keeli Green (377) leads the Class C girls race, closely followed by Ogallala's Lindee Henning on Friday at the Kearney Country Club.
Hartington's Carson Noecker runs the last stretch to the finish line to win the boys Class C state cross country championship Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Omaha Westside's Jayden Wall and Lincoln East's Hudson Davy sprint to the finish line during the boys Class A race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Fremont's Elli Dahl (right) takes off from the starting line during the girls Class A race at the state cross country meet on Oct. 22, 2021, at Kearney Country Club. Dahl, a five-time state track champion and the state cross country record holder, is one of 44 members of the Nebraska signing class.
The boys Class C race rounds the first corner in the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Fremont's Elli Dahl runs on her way to winning the Class A girls state cross country championship Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Pender's Kairece Morris crosses the finish line in the Class D girls state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Chadron's Aliyah Mills runs in the Class C girls state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Ainsworth's Tylan Schlueter celebrates winning the Class D boys race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Lincoln Christian's Carter Hohlen (center) leads a small pack of runners in the boys Class C race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Runners in the boys Class C race round the first corner in the state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Fullerton's Macy Shotkoski (653) leads a pack of girls Class D runners in the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Lincoln East's Izzy Apel (32) leads her team near the starting line and into the pack during the Class A cross country state meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
A spectator splashes water on Northwest's Evelyn Keller (center) during the girls Class B race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Gretna's Kale Edmonds (left) and Lincoln Pius X's Thomas Greisen hug after finishing the boys Class A race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Nebraska City's Hayden Beccard is supported by a Nebraska-Kearney student after crossing the finish line in the Class B boys state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Palmyra's Ava Palm (left) and Kinsley Havranek hug after crossing the finish line during the Class D girls race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Norris' Kendall Zavala leads her team off the starting line in the Class B girls race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Bennington's Gabriela Calderon (left) runs the final stretch in the Class B girls race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Ogallala's Lindee Henning reacts after finishing second in the Class C girls race at the state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
The Class C girls race begins at the 2021 state cross country meet on Oct. 22 in Kearney.
Arlington's Keelianne Green runs the final stretch of the Class C girls race during the state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Hastings St. Cecilia's Alayna Vargas runs in the Class D girls race during the state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Pender's Kairece Morris sprints to the finish line in the Class D girls race at the state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Pierce's Callie Arnold (472) receives assistance after crossing the finish line in the Class C girls race at the state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Lincoln Southwest runners take off after the starting gun in the Class A girls race during the state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Aurora's Isaac Bisbee sits on the ground after completing the Class C boys race at the state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
A sprint to the finish line unfolds during the Class D boys race in the state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
A race official fires a gun to mark the start of the Class B girls race at the state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Lincoln Northeast senior Daniel Romary runs the final stretch of the Class A state cross country meet on Oct. 22 at Kearney Country Club. He finished second in the race.
Elkhorn South's Gabriel Hinrichs runs in the boys Class A race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Fremont's Carter Waters reacts after crossing the finish line in the boys Class A race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Runners compete in the boys Class B race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Northwest's Caden Keller runs to the finish line in the boys Class B race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
South Sioux City's Mesuidi Ejerso leads the pack during the boys Class B race at the state cross country meet on Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Seward's Drew Collings competes in the Class B boys state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
South Sioux City's Mesuidi Ejerso leads the pack down the final stretch during the Class B state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Lexington's Kennadi Ureste finishes the final stretch of the Class B girls state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
On Oct. 22 Gabe Hinrichs from Elkhorn South won the Class A cross country state championship in Kearney.
Norris' Riley Boonstra (329) and Bennington's Kai Olbrich (291) take off at the start of the Class B state cross country meet Friday at Kearney Country Club.
Fremont senior Elli Dahl runs the final stretch in winning the Class A girls state cross country championship on Oct. 22 at the Kearney Country Club.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner.
Brent Wagner
Husker volleyball/women's basketball reporter
Brent Wagner has worked at the Journal Star for 19 years, including 11 years covering the Nebraska volleyball program. His other beats include Nebraska women’s basketball, high school cross country and high school soccer.
