By Maria Gonzalez-Alvarez
The Silver Lake cross country program made history when sophomore Kaylee Karr became the first Mustang to qualify for the NSAA State Cross Country Meet, held at the Kearney Country Club. Competing against the state’s top runners, Karr finished 35th out of 121 with a personal-best time of 21:07, more than a minute and a half faster than her previous best.
This year’s district meet marked a breakthrough moment for both Karr and the Silver Lake program. Coach Kel Knehans emphasized a calm but focused approach leading up to the meet. “We tried to make practice as normal as possible while still keeping in mind that it was an important race,” Knehans said. “I wanted them to think of it as just another race but also understand that this could make it or break it for some of the kids to qualify for state.”
In preparation, the team concentrated on improving their pace and positioning. “I wanted them to focus on not getting stuck behind people when they’re running,” Knehans explained. As the meet drew closer, the runners pushed themselves by increasing their pace on 1K runs and pairing up to maintain rhythm and consistency. For Kaylee Karr, that focus paid off. Competing against some of the best runners in Class D, she placed 13th at districts with a time of 22:46, earning her ticket to the state meet.
Despite missing the earlier meet at the Kearney Country Club due to illness, Karr proved ready for the challenge on the state stage. Her performance showcased her growth as an athlete this season.
“Kaylee puts her head down and gets to work,” said head coach Kel Knehans. “She hits her target pace and times in practice and, more importantly, trained throughout the summer to set herself up for success. She’s a great example of how you can change your destiny with sheer work ethic.”
Karr’s drive didn’t stop once she secured her state berth. “Kaylee has a ton of intrinsic motivation, which makes it very easy to coach,” Knehans added. “When she hit her goal for making state, it was already on to the next goal—PR-ing at state.”
At the state meet, Karr’s determination and preparation paid off. Coach Knehans said the moment was rewarding for everyone involved. “I was so excited to see the number of people watching Kaylee at state,” Knehans said. “There’s a level of justification when you see someone’s hard work pay off. Kaylee has some well-earned confidence heading into next year. She understands now the level of dedication required in the summer, and I believe she’ll take another big step in her junior year.”
Beyond her own success, Knehans hopes that Karr’s journey has sparked excitement throughout the Mustang cross country community. “I hope she’s inspired some younger girls in junior high and even elementary school to give cross country a try.”