Abigail Burger of Kearney runs 18:36 to win state, Bearcats finish 3rd in team race

Class B Boys Race

KEARNEY, Neb. — For the first time in 26 years, Kearney High has a girls state cross country champion.

Abigail Burger closed strong to post a time of 18:36.4 to claim the gold medal. She bested Katherine Ebmeier of Millard West by four seconds to get the top spot.

Burger overcame a fall early in the race to take home the title.

“I just need to get back up, there wasn’t another option for my team, for myself.”

Burger is the first cross country champion for the Bearcats since Monica Erickson in 1998.

“I couldn’t have done it without all my amazing coaches and my classmate and my teammates behind me.”

Burger’s strong run helped Kearney High to a third place finish as a team. They totaled 98 points, behind Lincoln Southwest at 93 and Millard West at 54.

3.    98  Kearney                                 (  19:50.83  1:39:14.17   2:07.90)

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     1      1  Abigail Burger 12                   18:36.37

     2     15  Augusta Ganz 10                     19:44.92

     3     18  Dawson Kreycik 11                   19:50.85

     4     27  Kierra Wilson  9                    20:17.76

     5     37  Savannah Kelliher 11                20:44.27

     6   ( 39) Addison Garringer  9                20:55.29

     7   ( 57) Blaire May 11                       21:37.72