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            2018 State Cross Country meet  was run on Friday October 19^th  at the Kearney golf course.  Class D boy’s race started at 1:00 with 143 runners in the field.  Osmond sophomore Johnson Chishiba was among the anxious participants.  Johnson had run this course a year earlier with Jared Bessmer as the two Tigers finished in 71^st and 60^th place respectively. Johnson had a goal of placing in the top 50 this year.

          At the gun the field headed down the gradual sloping hill to the first turn, thinning out as they went.  Johnson was out well with the large lead pack.  By the first mile he had made it up to 34^th place in 5:30.  At the second mile his time was 11:34 and he had moved up to 29^th place. 

          During the third mile positions continued to change and Johnson saw a few runners pass by.  He managed to pick up his pace and work his way up for the final strait and push to the line.  On his kick to the gate he passed Fisher of Thayer Central and Wallin of Chase County, but couldn’t quite get Jordan Tasler of West Holt.  He finished in 23^rd place in a time of 18:16.5.

          “Johnson ran a very good race, getting out well and running a solid middle and he had an excellent kick” praised Coach Ortmeier.  “He beat a lot of the kids that placed in front of him in our District race.”

          The District run at Skyview Lake the week before yielded two of the top three team finishers: 1^st Malcolm – 46 : 2^nd Norfolk Catholic – 78: 3^rd West Holt – 79: 4^th Thayer Central – 106: and  5^th Ainsworth – 108. Also the District champion and runner-up from Ainsworth also were State Champion and runner-up.

          “I would like to congratulate both Osmond boys and girls cross country teams on a successful season.  Boy’s collected three championship and three runner-up plaques.  Also thank you to Senior Jared Bessmer.  Jared had a fine career including 2 state appearances.  He taught the team how to train and run tough,” complimented Coach Ortmeier.