By Rich Winter

605 Sports

GREGORY — After a disappointing cross-country season, Gregory’s Finn Adams went to work.

While his classmates were competing in indoor sports, Adams was contemplating his running future and grinding on the pavement in Gregory. 

“I had a tough year in cross-country,” Adams said. “I had a few mental weaknesses but over the winter I prayed about it and overcame so much.” 

As a junior in 2023, Adams finished 15th in the Class B state cross-country meet (17:41.01). Last fall, Adams finished 26th, one spot off the Class B podium (18:24.73). 

During those cold winter months Adams discovered a new passion for the sport of running.

“My feet hurt, and I had so much stuff I had to work on if I wanted to go farther in this sport,” he said. 

Adams is a key cog on a Gregory track team aiming for a third consecutive Class B boys team championship. At the 2024 Class B state track meet Adams anchored the Gorillas sprint medley relay team (Pierce Stukel, Paul Sinclair, Luke Stukel) to a state championship (3:44.73).

Adams said the experience was fueled by having fun and bringing his higher power into the equation.

“Without God we wouldn’t have been able to do it,” he said. “Winning that relay is one of those things that makes you want more and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys to do that with.” 

One day later, in the 800-meter run, Adams faded in the latter part of the race and just missed the podium with a ninth place finish (2:08.08). 

“It was a tough race,” he said. “I was just glad to be there and not everyone gets that opportunity.” 

Adams is off to a quick start in the 2025 outdoor track and field season. He opened that season running a 2:06.21 in the 800-meter run at the South Central Conference meet in Lake Andes on April 8. 

That time is currently the third fastest 800-meter run in the Class B ranks. 

“It was a little windy but I’m blessed to have a good time based on the day,” he said. 

Two days later at the Gregory Invitational track and field meet Adams blistered the anchor carry in the sprint medley relay, helping Gregory to a win and a Class B leading time of 3:47.79. With the same quartet that won the 2024 Class B state title Gregory put up a time that is currently over six seconds faster than the 3:54.08 time Ipswich ran on April 11. 

“I could not be more pleased with my teammates,” he said. “It is amazing to be on this team with such great friends that have the camaraderie we do. That’s not something you always find on a high school track team.”

Adams started school in Burke before transferring to Gregory for the last two years of high school. 

“Coming here I was a little skeptical,” he said. “We had a lot of seniors and big shoes to fill but I could not ask to be part of a better team.”