Time for Fremont senior Juan Gonzalez to let it go.

The nation’s No. 9 runner, who held the lead in early September, is ready to attack the state meet record of 14:58 when Class A steps to the finish line at 12:30 p.m. – temperatures expected to be above are 50 degrees. — at Kearney Country Club.

Gonzalez’s season best of 14:34.5 is from the Augustana Twilight meet on September 6 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Since then he has been looking for a place, he remains undefeated, but does not break fifteen minutes again.

Oregon coaches watched him at districts last week. His list of college offers also includes Oklahoma State, Wake Forest and UNK.

His interest in UNK is thanks to coach Brady Bonsall, whose tutelage helped former Fremont standout Wes Fergsuon reach the Olympic Trials in the 800 meters this year.

Fremont is favored to win its fourth team title in five years by regaining the crown it lost last year after a tie with Omaha Creighton Prep. Lincoln North Star pushed the Tigers in the conference and will be their biggest challenger at state.

In Class A girls, undefeated Millard West of Lincoln Southwest should break Lincoln East’s six-year hold on the championship.

Lincoln Pius X’s boys and Elkhorn North’s girls are favored in Class B. Pius

Elkhorn North and defending champion Norris have had a tough battle, with the Wolves leading 3-2. Elkhorn North won the last meeting in the Eastern Midlands Conference and are back at full strength after injuries and illness.

Class B boys is the first race at 12:00. The order of races continues with Class A boys, Class B girls, Class A girls. Class D boys are at 2:30 p.m., followed by Class C boys, Class D girls and Class C girls.

Returning Champions: Omaha Creighton Prep; Juan González, Fremont

Team Qualifications (*–District Champion): *Fremont, Grand Island,* Lincoln East, *Lincoln North Star, Lincoln Southeast, Lincoln Southwest, Millard North, Millard West, Omaha Creighton Prep, Omaha Westside, *Papillion-La Vista South, South -Sioux City.

District Champions: Juan Gonzalez, Fremont; Josiah Bitker, North Star; Michael Jones, Millard West; David Protzman, Norfolk.

Returning champion: Lincoln East

Team Qualifications: Elkhorn South, *Kearney, Lincoln East, Lincoln High, *Lincoln Southwest, Millard South, *Millard West, Norfolk, North Platte, *Omaha Marian, Papillion-La Vista, Papillion-La Vista South

District Champions: Katherine Ebmeier, Millard West; Meredith Marsh, Lincoln Southwest; Abigail Burger, Kearney; Mabel Henningsen, Marian.

Returning Champion: Omaha Skutt

Team Qualifiers: Beatrice, *Elkhorn, Elkhorn Mount Michael, Gering, Gretna, Gretna East, Hastings, Lexington, Lincoln Pius

District Champions: Derek Rieck-Capellan, Elkhorn North; Braden Lofquest, Gretna East; Joseph Majerus, Pius Austin Carrera, Hastings.

Returning champion: Norris

Team Qualifiers: Bennington, Blair, *Elkhorn North, *Gretna, Hastings, Lincoln Pius

District Champions: Leah Robinson, Elkhorn North; Lydia Stewart, Platteview; Kendall Zavala, Norris; Sophia Reynolds, Hastings.

Returning champion: Gothenburg; Tyler Hetz, Gothenburg

Team Qualifiers: Arlington, *Aurora, Battle Creek, Bloomfield-Wausa, Chase County, *Fort Calhoun, *Gothenburg, Holdrege, *Lincoln Christian, Milford, Minden, Omaha Concordia, Palmyra, Syracuse, *Wayne.

District Champions: Trevin Opp, Lincoln Christian; Kolby Tighe, Arlington; Miles Clausen, Battle Creek; Avery Carter, Milford; Tyler Hetz, Gothenburg.

Returning champion: Kearney Catholic

Team Qualifiers: Adams Central, *Auburn, Aurora, *Boone Central, Columbus Lakeview, *Columbus Scotus, *Gothenburg, Kearney Catholic, *Minden, Omaha Concordia, Palmyra, Pierce, Sidney, Syracuse, Wahoo.

District Champions: Liston Crotty, Auburn; Hailey O’Daniel, Arlington; Fall Gasper, Boone Central; Alexis Ericksen, Aurora; Scout Bell, Gothenburg.

Returning Champions: North Platte St. Patrick’s; Mason McGreer, Perkins County

Team Qualifications: Alma, Bellevue Cornerstone, *Bertrand/Loomis, *Boyd County, Creighton, Doniphan-Trumbull, Elkhorn Valley, *Freeman, Hemingford, *Homer, McCool Junction, *Nebraska Christian, Norfolk Catholic, North Platte St. Patrick’s, * Perkins County, Ponca, South Loup, Tri County.

District Champions: Jobjosiah Muthiani, Freeman; Gannon Pfister, Ponca; Drew Martin, West Holt; Jacob Swanson, Nebraska Christian; Marcus Hernandez, Bertrand/Loomis; Elijah Goodell, Perkins County.

Returning champion: Hemingford

Team Qualifications: *Ainsworth, Cambridge, Centennial, Crofton, Elkhorn Valley, *Elm Creek, *Freeman, *Hemingford, Hi-Line, Homer, *McCool Junction, Mullen, Nebraska Christian, *Pender, Sandy Creek, Tri County, Wallace, Westholt.

District Champions: Corbett Lanum, Omaha Brownell Talbot; Ava Brennan, Ponca; Delani Runnels, Niobrara/Verdigre; Kayleigh Betka, McCool Connection; Rilyn Schledewitz, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller; Ashley Robertson, Wallace.