Cunningham runner-up at state as Beehler’s coaching era ends

Newcastle senior Sam Cunningham saved his best race for last, finishing second at the 3A State Cross-Country Championships in Cheyenne on Saturday to close out a remarkable high school career and deliver the program’s best state result in a decade.

“It was a good day,” head coach Kathy Beehler said. “Sam had a really good day.”

Cunningham, who placed fifth at state last year and entered this year’s meet ranked fourth, ran a patient, disciplined race at Little America.

“At the conference meet he went out too fast,” Beehler explained. “This time he relaxed the first half mile and saw how the race was going. He did a really nice job of that.”

The veteran Dogie crossed the line in 17:05.37 — just 21 seconds behind champion Ethan Rayo of Buffalo — in what Beehler described as “nice weather, not too cold and not too hot, with a good breeze.”

His runner-up finish was the best by a Newcastle athlete at state since Calbi Ausmann won the girls’ championship in 2015, and it capped a career that already saw Cunningham clock the third-fastest 5K time in school history earlier this season.

“Sam had a good race, and he was happy,” Beehler said.

Cunningham led the Dogie boys to an 11th-place team finish, with senior Archer Ohnstad (54th, 19:52.01) joining him among the top half of the field. Jaden McGuire (67th, 20:35.69), Lane Carter (78th, 21:05.10) and Lucas Scribner (85th, 21:41.66) rounded out the scoring five.

“I thought Archer ran a pretty good race,” Beehler said. “Honestly, looking at the boys and the girls, most everyone ran better than the place they were ranked, so in that respect we ran well.”

Still, Beehler knows there’s more work to be done for the Dogies to return to the top of the 3A standings.

“We have a long way to go as a team before we get back to placing in the top five, where we like to be,” she said. “You win state in June, July and August. There’s just not enough time if you wait until the season starts.”

She believes this year’s core of juniors — including several of the boys’ top five — could make that leap next fall.

“The juniors seem pretty hungry all of a sudden, so we’ll see if we can keep them that way,” Beehler said. “That boys group could be good next year, but they have to push each other. As an individual, you are better with a team to help you.”

The Newcastle girls, who placed ninth overall, also showed progress and promise for the future. Freshman Lillian Lopez led the way in 45th place (24:35.68), followed by Chanel Hanson (52nd, 26:31.20) and Cheyanne Bloom (53rd, 26:39.93). Liliana Cunningham (54th, 26:42.47) and Hollie Swentesky (55th, 26:45.45) completed the scoring five, giving the young squad a total time of 2:11:14.

“We are super young. Our first two runners were freshmen,” Beehler said. “Chanel went from being our last runner to one of our best runners at the end of the season. They’re getting good at bunching up and running together, and that’s the first step.”

Now, Beehler said, that pack needs to start moving up.

“They can benefit from running in the summer too,” she added. “I think they figured out how to run together and help each other out, and now we just need to move up.”

After decades of guiding Newcastle’s distance runners, Beehler quietly coached her final race on Saturday. The longtime leader of the Dogie cross-country program is retiring, closing a career that has seen championships, milestones and hundreds of young athletes learn to love running.

“It just doesn’t feel real yet,” she said. “I’ll still run in the summer, and I have more kids that are going to run with me this winter.”

Before heading into retirement, Beehler left her runners with a bit of perspective.

“There are thousands of kids in Wyoming who can’t fathom going out every day and running 5 miles,” she said. “So if they’re even out here doing this, they’re doing something pretty special.”

Newcastle Results – State Meet (Oct. 25, 2025, Cheyenne)

Boys – Team 11th (286 points)
2. Sam Cunningham – 17:05.37
54. Archer Ohnstad – 19:52.01
67. Jaden McGuire – 20:35.69
78. Lane Carter – 21:05.10
85. Lucas Scribner – 21:41.66
Also: Gilberto Martinez – 22:13.96; Dylan Conley – 22:22.84

Girls – Team 9th (259 points)
45. Lillian Lopez – 24:35.68
52. Chanel Hanson – 26:31.20
53. Cheyanne Bloom – 26:39.93
54. Liliana Cunningham – 26:42.47
55. Hollie Swentesky – 26:45.45
Also: Kaitlyn Blumenthal – 27:54.29