Fifty years ago, in 1975, Burke High School’s Cross Country team made history. Under Coach Skip Morris, the Bulldogs won the school’s first-ever state championship in any sport. It marked the beginning of a legacy that would shape Burke athletics for years to come.
This fall, during Homecoming week, those champions—along with the coach who led them—returned to celebrate that milestone. Former runners traveled from across the country, from Arizona to California, Colorado to Texas, to reconnect. The reunion wasn’t just about reliving a trophy moment—it was about honoring a coach, reconnecting with teammates, and passing on the spirit of perseverance to a new generation of Burke athletes.
Connecting the Past and Present
The highlight of the two-day celebration came when Skip’s Harriers from the 1970s met today’s Burke Cross Country runners. Both groups shared stories, memories, and lessons learned from their time as part of a championship team.
Senior runner Braden Pickett expressed how impactful the experience was:
“Learning from a former championship holder inspires me because when they talk to me, it’s like good juju,” Pickett said. “You can feel their aura, honestly, just because they won a state championship. It’s cool having them back on these grounds. It makes it feel natural, like it’s human.”
For Pickett, the experience wasn’t just a motivational talk.
“This will help me motivationally because not many kids get to experience something like this,” he said. “Knowing I got to see the first state championship team at Burke, it might push me a little more.”
When asked about his biggest takeaway, Pickett didn’t hesitate.
“Just why I love Burke so much,” he said. “Events like this happen, and I’ve been a part of so many cool opportunities here. Getting to be part of something like this is really special.”
Coach Skip Morris Reflects on Legacy
Coach Skip Morris, who led the team to victory in 1975, spoke about what it was like to return to Burke after so many years. He smiled as he looked at his former athletes, gathered together once again.
When asked how it felt to be back after 50 years, his answer was simple:
“It’s great.”
After a pause, Morris added with a laugh:
“How much time do you have? The school looks pretty much the same. A lot of improvements, beautiful shape, but it’s like they just opened the front doors after 50 years. The memorable part, of course, is all the former athletes I had the privilege of coaching. We were the very first team at Burke to win a state championship. Most of the runners from that team are here for this reunion.”
Morris also recognized two trailblazers in attendance—June Costar-Mayher and Tracy Threan-Jerkovich, the first girls to ever compete in high school Cross Country in Nebraska, back in 1976.
For Morris, though, the real joy of the reunion was the chance to reconnect.
“Mainly, it’s catching up,” he said. “Reliving the old days. Some of them even put on the jersey again and jogged around the course. I can’t single out one thing—it’s just been fantastic. This is the memory of my life.”
