Lincoln Track Club Award Six with Scholarships in 2026
(LINCOLN, Nebraska - June 07, 2026) The Lincoln Track Club (LTC) awarded six $2,500 scholarships in 2026 to local high school cross country and track and field athletes. The award presentation was held prior to the LTC board meeting on June 07. This is the 13th consecutive year the LTC has presented these scholarship awards.
“Each year it is exciting to receive applications from such qualified and talented student athletes,” said Ryan Regnier, LTC president. “It is a part of the LTC mission to encourage the sport of running for all different levels of competitors. This is an honor for Lincoln Track Club. We get to help these competitors further their education and have the opportunity to run at the collegiate level. It is another way to showcase the LTC mission to run, connect and give back to the community.”
The 2026 scholarship recipients are:
Josiah Bitker
Josiah Bitker is the son of Chuck and Betsy Bitker and a graduate of Lincoln North Star. He will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to study Chemical Engineering, with aspirations of one day running his own firm.
When asked about his approach to leadership, Josiah shared that he wanted to be a leader worth following — and to do that, he looked to the leaders already in his life to learn from their example.
Josiah’s high school career was nothing short of remarkable. Among his top honors:
• 2025 Class A State Champion
• 2024 & 2025 Team Runner-up
• 2025 NXR Champions
• 2023 NXR Rising Stars Champion
Perhaps most impressively, Josiah accomplished his greatest feat while battling a debilitating injury this season. He still qualified for State in the 4x800, 3200, 1600, and 4x400 — and delivered when it mattered most. He anchored his 4x800 team to a first-place finish, then claimed individual gold in both the 3200 and 1600, earning three State gold medals at a single meet. To cap it all off, his team pulled off a stunning upset over Kearney and Creighton Prep to claim the team title.
Congratulations, Josiah — a true champion on and off the track.
Joe Majerus
Joseph Majerus is the son of John and Kendra Majerus and a graduate of Lincoln Pius X. He will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with aspirations of pursuing a career in the medical profession.
Running shaped Joseph in ways that will follow him well beyond the track. He reflected on the lessons the sport taught him: the importance of consistency, determination, and discipline, the skills of strong leadership, and an understanding that there is real strength in teamwork and the sacrifices made together. In his own words: “It’s rewarding to see what working together can do. Running also taught me balance and time management — I’m truly grateful for the experience.”
Joseph’s list of accomplishments across cross country and track is exceptional:
• 2024 State XC – Class B: 4th place individual, 1st place team
• 2024 State Track – Class B: 2nd in 3200 Meter Relay, 3rd in 800, 1600 & 3200
• 2025 State XC – Class B: Individual Runner-Up, 1st place team
• 2025 Nike Cross Nationals – Team Qualification
• 2026 State Track – Class B: 3rd in 800, 2nd in 1600, 4th in 3200
And saving the best for last — Joseph’s 4x800 relay team closed out his high school career in historic fashion, setting both a State Meet Record and a Class B State Record with a blistering time of 7:44.76. As Joseph put it: “Breaking the record was the highlight of my season.”
Congratulations, Joseph — a remarkable career defined by team-first excellence and a record that will stand as your lasting mark on the sport.
Silvy Munn
Shanon and John Munn and a graduate of Lincoln Southwest. She will be attending Iowa Western Community College to study Exercise Science, with goals of becoming a physical therapist.
Running gave Silvy a foundation built on hard work, teamwork, and trust — but it was adversity that shaped her most. Through injuries, she developed patience, focus, and toughness. As she reflected: “Challenges have taught me patience and gratitude.”
Looking back across four years, Silvy’s career shows steady growth and quiet determination:
Freshman Year
• State XC Competitor
• State Track Qualifier in the 3200
Sophomore Year
• State XC Competitor
• State Track Qualifier in the 3200 and 1600
• 6th place finish with her 4x800 team at State Track
Junior Year
• 2nd place team finish at State Cross Country
Senior Year
• 2nd place team finish at State Cross Country
• State Track Qualifier in the 1600
What stands out in Silvy’s story isn’t just the individual accolades — it’s four consecutive years of showing up, competing at the state level, and contributing to a program that contended year after year.
Congratulations, Silvy — and best of luck on your journey toward physical therapy!
Jerusha Osborne
Jerusha Osborne is the daughter of Heidi and Landon Osborne and a graduate of Lincoln High. She will be attending Nebraska Wesleyan University to study Exercise Science, with aspirations of becoming a sports rehabilitation or physical therapist.
Jerusha’s time as a runner gave her a deep understanding of what it truly means to be a teammate. She reflected on the lessons that stayed with her most: “It’s easy to feel tired, stressed, unmotivated, or lose confidence in yourself — but I’ve learned the importance of committing to your team every day, even on the days you don’t show up for yourself. In the end, it’s not about personal records and medals. It’s about the team.”
Adversity was part of Jerusha’s story too, and she embraced it. The demanding circumstances she faced shaped her into a persistent, gritty competitor — qualities that will serve her long after the finish line.
Jerusha competed on varsity cross country and track all four years at Lincoln High, a testament to her consistency and dedication. Her standout moments came in the postseason:
• 2023 – Placed 11th at Districts and earned a State Qualifier berth
• 2024 – Placed 12th at Districts, playing a key role in helping the Lincoln High girls qualify for the State Meet for the first time since 2016
That 2024 qualification may be the most fitting capstone to Jerusha’s career — a team achievement, hard-earned, that she helped make possible.
Congratulations, Jerusha — your teammates were lucky to have you.
Daren Linscott
Daren Linscott is the son of JD and Erica Linscott and a graduate of Lincoln East. He will be attending Missouri Western State University to study Finance with a minor in Mathematics.
Through his years as a runner, Daren learned the value of hard work and time management. In his own words: “If you aren’t willing to work hard and do the little things, you won’t be able to achieve your fullest potential. I will take these lessons from running with me to college and beyond.”
Daren’s career highlights speak to his consistency and commitment to the sport:
• 5 State Qualifications
• 2 Top 30 finishes at the State Meet
• 2 Top 4 Team placements at the State Meet
This season, Daren competed in the 4x800, 1600, and 3200 — contributing across multiple events for Lincoln East.
But when reflecting on his career, Daren was quick to point out that the stats only tell part of the story. The moments he valued most weren’t the placements or the qualifications — they were the ones spent alongside his teammates.
Congratulations, Daren — and best of luck at Missouri Western!
Ben Schlegelmilch
Ben Schlegelmilch is the son of Niki and Joe Schlegelmilch and a graduate of Lincoln East. He will be attending Bellevue University to study Business Administration.
Ben says that what looks like an individual sport is anything but. In his own words: “It takes more than one person to be great.” He also learned to navigate high-pressure moments with resilience, none more defining than suffering an injury during the State XC meet his sophomore year. Rather than letting it set him back, Ben worked even harder to return the following season — and the results spoke for themselves.
His high school career built steadily toward a memorable finish:
• 2024 District Championships – 2nd place individual
• 2024 State XC – Team 3rd place; 16th place individual
• 2025 LPS City Championship – Team 3rd place; 3rd place individual
• 2025 A-3 District Championship – Team District Champions; Individual Champion
• 2025 State XC Championship – 14th place, earning his first individual State medal
Ben closed out his high school career on the track as well, competing in the 3200 at the State Meet and finishing with a personal best — a fitting final chapter for an athlete who never stopped improving.
Congratulations, Ben — that first State medal was a long time coming and well deserved.
The LTC established the scholarship program in 2013 to assist area high school cross country and track and field athletes who plan to compete at the next level. Scholarships were first awarded in 2014 to six athletes in the amount of $1,000 each. Beginning in 2015, the amount was increased to $2,500 each for up to six recipients. Since 2014, the LTC has awarded $151,000 in scholarships to 64 athletes.