KEARNEY, Neb. — For the sixth year in a row, the Lincoln East Girls cross country team is celebrating a state championship.

Coach Brian Kabourek says it feels good every time you get to wear gold.

“It’s exhilarating, I will tell you that. State championships are for the kids," Kabourek said. "I can’t think of a better group that deserves that type of honor. I know when we talked afterwards, they were a little disappointed maybe in their own individual personal performances, but collectively, they came together and just had a fantastic year.”

Defending champion Mia Murray was the Spartans’ best finisher in fifth place. Peyton Svehla and Sadie Yager each finished in the top 10 and all five scoring runners were in the top 21.

East brought four seniors and three juniors to the meet. Kabourek says that group has raced a combined 97 times at Kearney Country Club.

“We feel at home here," Kabourek said. "The team is always the first thing that we talk about in our meetings and I think it’s very important for the girls.”

The East runners wrote "I Can, I Will" on their legs in honor of Kabourek’s wife, Andrea, who died from cancer in 2015. Only one runner knew her, but Kabourek says the Spartans feel connected to his wife’s mantra.

“I think it means a lot to honor her memory every time they put that on their legs, or put that on their hands, or say it, or have it on a shirt. I think that’s been the rallying point for the last six years," Kabourek said. "We haven’t always had our best races at state, but we’ve found enough to come out on top.”