Senior Braden Pickett said meeting Burke’s first state championship team felt almost unreal.
“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.”
Fifty years ago, in 1975, Burke’s cross-country team made school history. Under coach Skip Morris, the Bulldogs won the first state championship in any sport in Burke history — a milestone that helped shape the future of the school’s athletic program.
This fall, during Homecoming week, members of that championship team returned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their title. Former runners traveled from across the country from Arizona, California, Colorado and Texas, to reconnect with teammates and honor the coach who led them.
The two-day reunion was more than a celebration of a trophy. It was an opportunity to connect generations of runners and reflect on a legacy built on discipline and perseverance.
Pickett said the experience left a lasting impression.
“This will help me motivationally because not many kids get to experience something like this,” Pickett said. “Knowing I got to see the first state championship team at Burke, it might push me a little more.”
When asked what stood out most, Pickett pointed to the sense of community.
“Just why I love Burke so much,” Pickett 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.”
Morris, who coached the 1975 team, said returning to Burke after five decades brought back a flood of memories.
“It’s great,” Morris said.
After pausing, he reflected on how little the school seemed to have changed.
“How much time do you have?” he said with a laugh. “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 acknowledged two trailblazers in attendance both June Costar-Mayher and Tracy Threan-Jerkovich, who became the first girls to compete in Nebraska high school cross country in 1976.
For Morris, the highlight of the weekend was simple: reconnecting with the athletes who helped build the program’s foundation.
“Mainly, it’s catching up,” Morris 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.”
