We’ve had cross country runners before, and with a few showing serious interest. Instead of putting them in a Douglas or Torrington uniform, why can’t we put them in our Lusk uniforms instead? To start a new program, you have to start somewhere.”

Coach Jim Lyons

LUSK – Jim Lyons is no stranger to Niobrara County High Schools’ (NCHS) newest athletic program. After a trial run last fall with a handful of middle school students, cross country was approved by the school board earlier this year. 

Already the NCHS head boys’ track and field coach, Lyons was the cross-country coach at Chadron, Nebraska, before coming to Lusk.

“We’ve had cross country runners before, and with a few showing serious interest,” Lyons said. “Instead of putting them in a Douglas or Torrington uniform, why can’t we put them in our Lusk uniforms instead? To start a new program, you have to start somewhere.”

As of this writing, Lyons has six middle school runners but none at the high school level yet. The three eighth grade Lady Tigers show some promise that he hopes to build the new program around.

“These three eighth graders did a lot of running this summer, and they want to be competitive as future NCHS Lady Tigers. The thing about cross country is that you’re not just competing against the other runners, you’re competing against yourself – trying to better your time each week.” 

The 2A East Regionals will be in Dayton on October 19,  followed by the state championships October 26 in Cheyenne.