Cross Country off to a strong start with three runners on the ‘Nerds’ Top 10 list

MaeleeSmith After last year’s state championship, the Marian Cross Country team has worked hard to become even better and hopefully earn back-to-back state championships this season. With three varsity runners in the Top 10 list from the Prep Running Nerd (out of all the Class A girls runners in the state), the team is looking…

mariandigitalnetwork

October 8, 2026

2–3 minutes

#crosscountry, crosscountry, harper cowles, louise walker, maelee smith, marian, maya freyer, run, running, september, sports, XC

MaeleeSmith

After last year’s state championship, the Marian Cross Country team has worked hard to become even better and hopefully earn back-to-back state championships this season.

With three varsity runners in the Top 10 list from the Prep Running Nerd (out of all the Class A girls runners in the state), the team is looking forward to another successful season. These three runners, senior Harper Cowles ranked 8th, junior Maya Freyer ranked 2nd and sophomore Louise Walker ranked 3rd, have already had lots of success this season.

“When we ran at Sioux Falls, Maya broke 18 minutes and Harper and I both broke 19,” Walker said.

Walker said she feels that this season the team overall is healthier, stronger and more confident than last season.

“It’s really cool to see that all the hard work my teammates and I have put in is paying off; I am really proud of how far we have come individually and as a team,” Cowles said.

***Post-race Smiles.*** Harper Cowles ’27, Louise Walker ’29 and Maya Freyer ’28 pose together after running in the Lincoln North Star meet on Sept. 24. Freyer placed first, Cowles placed second and Walker placed fourth in the girls varsity race. Their team also tied for first out of 11 girls varsity teams. Photo by AshleyBialas.

With typical, unpredictable Nebraska weather, practicing has been affected. The team has had to run early in the morning due to heat or inside the gym due to rain.

“We had several rainy days in a row and were forced to run circles in the gym which is very hard on our joints,” Walker said.

Despite this, the team has continued to train to try to reach their goals.

“I would really like to win state and place individually at state this year,” Cowles said.

As one of the team captains, Cowles works to encourage her team to give their full effort in practices and at meets.

“As captain of a more individual sport, looking out for the team is less about organizing individuals than it is about keeping everyone motivated and dedicated to the sport. I also make a point to encourage each girl individually before they run, and remind them that we are one team, even though we run alone,” Cowles said.

With districts on Oct. 14 and state on Oct. 23 fast approaching, the team will continue to work hard and encourage each other so as to be successful both individually and as a team. The Marian JV Cross Country Team also hopes to close their season successfully with metros on Oct. 8. They have consistently led the the pack this season in many races.

“I expect and hope that as the rest of the season goes on we will continue to grow stronger and faster and hold our state rankings,” Walker said.