GERING – The Niobrara County middle and high school cross country teams headed to Gering on Friday to compete at the Five Rocks Amphitheater.

The middle school girls all ran very well for being early in the season. Maci Lyons placed fifth out of 100 girls in a time of 12 minutes, 39 seconds, which was almost 10 seconds faster than last year on the same course.

Hazel Gaukel was just outside the top 10 placing 13th overall in a great time of 13:35.

Aalyiah Pavone and Izzy Requejo were both in the middle of the 100-runner pack. Requejo ran 15:23 in her first race of the year while Pavone ran 15:33.

Sixth-grader Avery Johnson ran her first 3K in 16:26 to place 66th.

Sixth grade boys Cooper Skeen and Paul Kruse also ran very well. Skeen ran 16:50 to place 67th out of 95 runners. Kruse was just behind him with a time of 16:56.

Nathaniel Fadness was the first high school runner for Niobrara County in several years and the first to wear a Tiger uniform while running. He competed in the junior varsity race where he ran the 5K race in 26:11 to place in the top two-thirds of the 67-runner race.

The Tigers head to Chadron on Friday to compete.