Cross Country Runners Bring in Strong Finish at State Championships

By Marisa Dawson

Two young men standing in front of a white van with personalized messages and names written on the windows, outdoors on a sunny day.

A group of ten female athletes pose together in front of a white van. They are smiling and wearing casual sports attire. The van has names written on its side.

Photos above from state send-off, by Marisa Dawson.

Bennington’s cross-country teams officially wrapped up their 2026 seasons Oct. 23 at the Class A State Championships in Kearney, where the girls team earned a ninth-place finish and senior Selah Carson placed 13th individually.

Competing against some of the state’s top Class A programs, the Bennington girls finished ninth out of 14 teams with 214 points. Millard West claimed the state championship with 41 points, followed by Omaha Marian with 87 and Lincoln Southwest with 111.

Despite windy conditions, Head Coach Joe Schumm was pleased with how his team handled the challenge.

“Pretty windy day for the meet this year,” Schumm said. “I thought our girls ran a very good race against some very tough competition.”

The team had a strategy for navigating the conditions, focusing on a conservative start before pushing through the middle portion of the race when runners would face less wind.

“We talked about starting out conservative early and pushing the middle part of the race when we didn’t have to fight the wind as much,” Schumm said. “We thought that would give us a good chance to get into the top 10.”

The Badgers finished just outside that goal, but Schumm said he was happy with the team’s overall performance.

“We are very happy with the way the girls performed,” he said.

Carson (pictured below) led Bennington with a 13th-place finish in 19 minutes, 48 seconds, capping her high school cross-country career with another strong performance at the state level.

A young girl with braided hair smiles while holding a medal at a cross-country championship event. She wears a t-shirt celebrating the Nebraska state cross-country championships and is standing outdoors in a grassy area with spectators in the background. — *Courtesy Photo*

“Selah ran an outstanding meet,” Schumm said. “It was great to see her finish her cross country career and I’m excited to see what she can do this spring.”

Maddie Scott was the next Badger across the finish line, placing 36th in 20:45. The result continued a strong season for Scott, who has consistently competed among the team’s top runners.

“Maddie had another great race, she’s ready to level up,” Schumm said. This is the third time she has qualified to compete at the state level.

Bennington’s runners gained valuable experience competing against the state’s top programs. Mazlyn Cornett finished 59th in 21:26, followed by Jaden Messerly in 72nd in 21:51 and Lucy Lampe in 75th in 21:53. Lucy finished her high school career as a four-time state qualifier.

Nicole Huse placed 89th in 22:23, while Brooklyn Reiner finished 90th in 22:26.

Schumm said the state meet provided an opportunity to see how the younger athletes would respond to the competition without placing too much pressure on them.

A group of six girls wearing blue running uniforms with 'Bennington' printed on them, posing for a photo with their coach in a grassy field. They are smiling, and there are backpacks and personal items in the background. — *Courtesy Photo*

“We also got to see what some of our younger kids can do at this level without putting a lot of pressure on them, and they responded fairly well also,” he said.

For the girls, the ninth-place finish provided a strong conclusion to the season, with experienced runners delivering solid performances and younger athletes gaining exposure to the highest level of Class A competition.

“This was a great way for the team to end the season,” Schumm said.

Morgan Finishes Strong for the Boys

On the boys side, Thomas Morgan (pictured below) represented Bennington at the state championships, finishing 28th individually in 17:16.

A young male athlete stands on a grassy field, wearing a blue sports tank top with 'BENNINGTON' printed on it and gray sweatpants. He has a race number '100' pinned to his outfit and is smiling at the camera, with a clear sky and trees in the background. — *Courtesy Photo*

Creighton Prep won the boys team championship with 71 points, followed by Papillion-La Vista South with 85 and Lincoln North Star with 108.

Schumm praised Morgan’s performance and his contributions to the program throughout the season, even as the runner fell short of the finish he had hoped to achieve. He is finishing his high school career as a three-time state qualifier.

“A solid performance by Thomas and a great end to his season,” Schumm said. “It wasn’t the finish he was looking for but still a great effort.”

Beyond his individual results, Morgan played an important role in helping the boys team remain competitive and supporting his teammates throughout the season.

“He’s been a big part of making the boys competitive, and he’s been a great leader for the guys,” Schumm said.

With the state championships complete, Bennington’s cross-country season has come to a close. The Badgers leave Kearney with a top-10 girls team finish, another strong state performance from Carson and valuable experience for the younger runners who will continue building the program in seasons to come.