NEDERLAND - The Nederland Cross Country team has had an exceptional season on the trails. At the meets the runners have been setting personal records (PR) and constantly improving. 

Coaches Gavin Coombs and Kathy Butler agree that the work that the runners put in over the summer is one of the reasons for their success. Coombs said, “They had a successful year last year and they wanted to keep that going. Success breeds success.…They showed up for each other.”

Early in the season they set goals and they had a clear direction. Coombs stated, “As coaches, we can put the time and effort to come up with a plan but it always comes down to them. The athletes are the ones out there pushing themselves. They are the ones doing the work. We just have the privilege of getting a front row seat to all their hard work.”

At the Foothills Championship race in early October, Nederland sophomore Amika Begin won the race and was named Runner of the Year for the Foothills League. Junior Abby Hess finished 3rd with All League honors, freshman Nitzana Harkness came in 18th with All League honors, freshman Libby Chandler finished 27th, junior Eliza Brundege finished 30th, and sophomore Gray River Pearl came in 32nd. The Nederland girls’ team came in 3rd overall. 

 For the boys’ team, junior Ben Weber placed 9th with All League honors and senior Lukey Mahorski-Bodley came in 25th. 

During the Regional Cross Country competition, again, the girls’ team took 3rd place and were headed to the State Championships in Colorado Springs. Begin’s time put her in 5th place and she was named All Region. Hess placed 11th and was named All Region and Harkness took 14th and was named All Region. Chandler placed 34th and Brundege took 36th. 

The boys took a team of four to Regionals. Weber took 7th place and qualified for State. Freshman Tad Collins placed 22nd, Mahorski-Bodley placed 54th, and sophomore Finn Fitzer took 78th place. 

The 2A State Championships in Colorado Springs took place on Saturday, November 2. The Nederland Panthers were ready to tackle the 3.1 mile (5K) course. This was the second year in a row the girls’ team was at State after years not qualifying as a team, and this was Weber’s first time to the State Championship.  

Despite all their nerves and excitement the runners stayed focused and kept improving. Begin stood on the podium at the end of the race in 9th place and was named All State. She had a PR of 20:14. Hess also ran a personal best and came in 30th. Harkness finished the race in 61st, Chandler finished in 107th, and Brundege in 117th. The girls’ team took 10th place at the State Championship. 

Weber was the proud Panther running in the boys’ race and he came in 31st with a PR, as well. 

Butler commented after the State Championship, “Everyone improved over previous years and the girls’ team is really showing their potential with improving from last year. Everyone is back next year from that team so it’s exciting to see what the future holds for the team.”

The coaches say that the camaraderie and teamwork among all of the cross country runners is what makes this team and this season special. They will miss their captain and senior leader Lukey next season. The 2025 season does look to be one of great promise for the Panther runners as they grow in experience and endurance. Congratulations to the Panthers on an awesome season of running!