It was a banner day for the Bobcats at the District D-5 cross country meet in Cambridge last Thursday, Oct. 16.

The boys’ team raced straight to victory, bringing home the gold overall with each of the three team members placing in the top ten individually.

In the men’s race, four Bobcat competitors ran against a field comprised of 69 total runners and 14 teams. The women’s side totaled 53 runners and 12 teams, with the Bobcats having two representatives.

Sophomore Jaden Baker led the men’s 5,000 meter race, crossing the line in fourth place with a time of 18:27.87. Walter Bierman and Josiah Coleman rounded out the team, placing sixth and ninth respectively. Bierman clocked a personal best of 18:42.01, and Coleman finished a few seconds later with an 18:47.43. Eli Rogers crossed the line with a time of 21:52.29 for the final run of his senior year. Baker, Bierman, Coleman and Rogers captured first place as a team, and will represent South Loup at State later this week.

In the women’s 5,000 meter run, Kaygan Witthuhn and Lyla Bierman paced together for much of the race, crossing the line just under a minute apart. Witthuhn clocked a time of 28:28.58, while Bierman ran her race in 29:22.82.

The Bobcats will head to the Nebraska Class D State Meet on Friday, Oct. 24 at Kearney Country Club in Kearney. The girls’ Class D race will start at 12 pm and the boys’ will follow at approximately 1 pm.