The South Loup Bobcat cross country team raced in familiar territory last Tuesday, Oct. 7, racing at Arnold in the Mid-Nebraska Activities Conference Cross Country Meet. The team consisted of two runners in the 5000-meter women’s contest and four runners in the 5000-meter men’s.

Jaden Baker led the men’s team with a third-place medal and a time of 18:11.70, posting a new PR for the season and setting the pace for the Bobcats. Right behind him, Josiah Coleman crossed the line in fourth, clocking a PR as well with an 18:27.60. Walter Bierman finished in the fifth place slot, also topping his best time to land at 18:44.30. Eli Rogers brought up the rear of the South Loup pack, coming across the wire at 21:09.0, also a personal best. South Loup was the only school to have a full team represented and came home with the first-place trophy overall.

On the women’s side, just two Bobcat racers competed at Arnold; Lyla Bierman and Kaygan Witthuhn. Bierman posted a personal best of 26:16.60, medaling fifth, and Witthuhn bested her record as well, sliding in at seventh with a time of 27:30.90.

Today, Oct. 16, the Bobcats travel to the NSAA District D-5 meet held at Cross Creek Golf Course in Cambridge, starting at 3 pm. The top 15 medalists and top three teams will qualify for the State Cross Country Meet, to be held in Kearney on Friday, Oct. 24.