The 2025 high school cross country season is off and running for the South Loup Bobcats, who traveled to Burwell on Friday, Aug. 28, for the first meet of the year. And what a meet it was!

The South Loup boys’ team came away with the team championship on the day from a 7-team field that included Niobrara/Verdigree, West Holt, Twin Loup, Burwell, Summerland, and S-E-M. The teams finished overall in the order listed in the team standings.

Individually for the Bobcats, senior Josiah Coleman led the team, earning the silver medal behind West Holt’s Kellen Monasterio. Coleman ran his first race of the season in a time of 14:26.90.

Jaden Baker, a sophomore, earned the fourth-place medal with a time of 15:13.27, and junior Walter Bierman came home with the fifth-place medal in a time of 15:39.51. Rounding out the team was senior Eli Rogers, who finished 18th in a time of 18:23.15.

This is a rebuilding year for the girls’ cross country team, with seniors Chenney Dishman and Kaygan Witthuhn joining the sport for the first time. Dishman came in 14th overall in the opening race of the year with a time of 22:02.10, and Witthuhn was right behind her at 22:32.30 for 15th place. Freshman Lyla Bierman did not run.

The Bobcats are back on the course today, Sept. 4, at the Cozad Country Club.