Muneio qualifies for state

Ryan Muneio will be Kimball High's lone state qualifier after finishing 9th at the D-6 District Cross Country meet held at Grant this past Thursday. The top three teams and top 15 individuals in both the girl's and boy's races get to advance to the state meet corning up tomorrow (Friday-October 24) at the Kearney Country Club Golf Course. Muneio will toe the line at 12 noon Kimball time. This is nothing new for the Kimball High senior who will be making his fourth consecutive trip to participate in the State race. He knows the course!

In the boys division at the District race, Chase County won easily with 13 points followed by Dundy County-Straton with 29, and Bridgeport 62. These are the teams who will represent this district at state. Other teams were Gordon Rushville 79, Kimball (5th) with 97, Hemingford 123, St. Pats 136, Hershey 143, Paxton 148, Perkins County 156. Ryan Moline of Chase County was the winning individual with a time of 18:06.63 over the 5,000 meter course. Muneio's 9th place time was 18:56.29. Other Kimball runners in the field of 77 entries saw Jordan Greenwood run 38 in 21:32.30, Rowdy Keller 39 in 21:37.51, Kaden Adrian 40 in 21:39.88, and Joel Evertson 46 in 22:11.05.

In the girls division the top three were Perkins County with 31, St. Pats 41, and Chase County 51. The remaining schools were Bridgeport 62, Dundy County Stratton, 72, Sutherland 87, Kimball 94, Maxwell 105. Dani Wellnitz of Gordon-Rushville was the individual champion-With a time of 19:54.20. Kailey Dickerson ran 20th in 24:46.33, Ivana Valle 23 in 24:53.43, Taylor Walker-Muldoon 41 in 27:34.57, Arica McCloud 46 in 28:36.69, Christianne Clower 47 in 28:57.40, and Alexis Gawith 55 in 30:58.04. The girl's field of entries consisted of 60 runners.

Muneio and his coaches will depart Kimball on Thursday and then run his final high school hill and dale race on Friday. Ryan said he will be trying to run a career best time in hopes of bringing home a state medal by finishing in the top 15.