KEARNEY, Neb. — Gothenburg sophomore Scout Bell claimed the Class C girls state championship Friday at the NSAA State Cross Country Meet in Kearney, finishing the 5,000-meter course in 19 minutes, 16 seconds.

Bell trailed slightly at the one-mile mark but took control by the second mile and held off Wayne freshman Tayla Hurner and Kearney Catholic’s Jaelyn Witter down the stretch, finishing about 14 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

Bell said the win felt especially meaningful after months of summer training and the support of her teammates. “We start training in June, so definitely a lot of miles,” she said. “It’s easy with my team though because they make it fun. It’s rewarding to be on a team that does good because then they get rewarded too.”

She added that past experiences have helped her appreciate the victory even more. “A couple years back I took getting first for granted,” Bell said. “Now it’s just really nice- at these bigger meets it’s pure happiness once I’m done.”

NSAA State Cross Country Championships
                              Kearney, Nebraska
                       October 24, 2025 - 5000 Meters
 
                           GIRLS CLASS "C" RESULTS
 
 Place Tea Bib  Name                    Year Team                                 Rank    1m   Rank    2m   Time    Pace     
 ===== === ==== ======================= ==== ==================================== ==== ======= ==== ======= 
     1   1  430 Scout Bell                10 Gothenburg                              2    6:09    1   12:26 19:16.4  6:13 
     2   1  489 Tayla Hurner               9 Wayne                                   5    6:11    3   12:30 19:30.7  6:17 
     3   1  440 Jaelyn Witter             11 Kearney Catholic                        3    6:10    2   12:30 19:36.9  6:19 
     4   1  412 Addison Hauxwell           9 Chase County                            1    6:09    5   12:38 19:38.9  6:20 
     5   1  452 Macie Carter               9 Milford                                  13    6:21    9   12:45 19:42.5  6:21 
     6   1  472 Hailey Hengtgen           12 Palmyra                                12    6:21    6   12:40 19:46.1  6:22 
     7   1  459 Emma Williams             11 North Bend Central                      8    6:16    7   12:44 19:46.7  6:22 
     8   1  461 Corbett Lanum             12 Omaha Brownell Talbot                   9    6:17   15   12:53 19:52.5  6:24