Creighton Prep has strived in recent years to reclaim its spot as an elite cross country school in Nebraska. 2017 may be their best year yet.

Prep has been outstanding this year, with accomplishments including winning four meets: the Class of the Metro meet, Nebraska Wesleyan University High School Invitational, Creighton Prep Invitational, and A-2 District meet.

Creighton Prep doesn’t have an elite runner: they have two. Seniors Jack Slagle and Ryan Eastman lead the team, ranking 3rd and 7th in the state, respectively. They are the driving force behind Prep’s fight for the state championship.

“[Slagle and I] are pretty good,” Eastman said.

These super-seniors are not only “pretty good” because of their innate speed and years of high school experience, but also because of their intense internal competition. Slagle and Eastman use each other to strive for greatness, while encouraging others on the team to follow suit.

“I think what happens is the runners push one another,” head coach Fr. Robert Tillman, SJ said. “I don’t have to tell them a lot, they’re very self-motivated.”

Prep may have some of the best runners in the state, but they have solid competition. Prep is ranked 4th going into state, per the Nebraska Class A Cross Country Coaches Poll. Papillion-La Vista South, Fremont, and Millard West are ranked above the Junior Jays.

In order for the team to have the chance of winning at state, every runner will have to do their part. In such an individual sport, teamwork shines through.

“To take state we really need our third, fourth, and fifth runners to have very good days at the state meet,” Tillman said.