KEARNEY, Neb. — Austin Carrera finished second place and helped carry the Hastings boys cross country team to a runner up finish at the state meet.

Carrera finished with a time of 15:18.6, which was four seconds behind state champion Braden Lofquest of Gretna East. The pair both ran 4:50 in the first mile and were at 9:57 after two miles. Lofquest separated late to take gold.

“You beat such a good field like this,” Carrera said. “Yeah, you come up short, but how can you not be happy coming away with silver and getting ahead of the field like this?”

Carrera, a senior, led the way for Hastings High at the Kearney Country Club. The Tigers finished second with a team point total of 66. The total was behind state champion Lincoln Pius X, who totaled just 38 points, but well in front of third place Omaha Skutt, who tallied 79.

“I’m glad that I got to lead one of the best Hastings teams,” Carrera said. 

2.    66  Hastings                                (  16:30.91  1:06:03.65   1:42.59)

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     1      2  Austin Carrera 12                   15:18.59

     2     19  Marvelous Robinson 12               16:50.68

     3     22  Nolan Albers 12                     16:53.20

     4     23  Diego Chojolan 12                   17:01.18

     5   ( 56) Isaac Kelley 12                     18:22.01

     6   ( 59) Beckett Hoshaw  9                   18:28.34