OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Day 1 of the NSAA State Track and Field Championships at Omaha Burke Stadium saw athletes from across Classes C and D shine under the sun, with standout performances, dramatic finishes, and even a state meet record to kick off the two-day event.
Class C Highlights
South Loup was represented well with senior Ella Cool clocking a 12:22.60 in the girls 3200 meters, placing 12th. Sophomore Evalynn Wonch finished in eighth-place with a throw of 112-10.
Hershey had strong showings in the field and on the track. In girls discus, Addison Frederick narrowly missed a podium finish, landing fourth with a throw of 119-11, while teammate Karissa Czarnick placed 18th (103-02). On the boys side, junior Michael Salinas secured a fourth-place finish in the shot put with a mark of 54-08. Sprinter Eli Smith edged into the boys 100-meter finals with the 8th-best qualifying time. Cole Murdock (22nd, 52.54) competed in the 400 meters.
North Platte St. Patrick’s brought firepower across multiple events. Mason Giebler made Saturday’s finals in both the 100 meters (6th, 11.04) and 200 meters (8th). Senior Jaxon Knisley made the 110m hurdles final with a 14.19. Sophomore Coltan Ham captured a bronze medal in the boys 3200 meters (9:47.27), while Logan Dodson added another bronze in shot put (56-03). Sutton Tickle landed 7th in triple jump (42-07), and the 4x800 relay finished 15th (8:36.81).
Perkins County dominated distance races. Mason McGreer (9:21.17) and Elijah Goodell (9:25.19) went 1-2 in the boys 3200 meters, with Ethan Swesey placing 9th (9:59.60). Ryder Potts made finals in the 200 (7th, 22.70) and placed 6th in the 400 (50.40). Their boys 4x800 team ran to a silver medal (8:01.36).
Class D Highlights
Dundy County-Stratton had a big day, both on the track and in the field. In the sprints, Laken Wissink (3rd in 100m, 2nd in 200m at 22.19) and Ethan Latta (8th in 200m prelims) are moving on to the finals. August Shaw finished 20th in the 400m (53.94). In hurdles, Kevin Garcia Guzman qualified 4th in the 110m event. Latta also claimed a silver medal in high jump (6-06), while Brock Bailey earned a gold in shot put with a powerful 59-00. On the girls side, Clara Spargo stole the show, winning the 400 meters in a state meet record time of 56.30, while also qualifying second in the 100m (12.21) and advancing in the 200m (25.16). Her sister, Abigael Spargo, qualified in the 100m hurdles (15.38) and was runner-up in the 400m (57.81). Kennedy Bailey added another gold in girls discus (133-09).
Hitchcock County junior Madysen Carlson finished 16th in the 200 meters and landed 5th in the long jump (16-02).
Maywood-Hayes Center had near misses and triumphs. Ava Messersmith (9th, 12.98) just missed the 100m finals, while Reagan Stengel (8th, 1:01.23) and Blayklee Farr (15th, 1:02.12) represented in the 400. Farr also placed 4th in long jump (16-04), and the girls 4x800 team brought home gold with a winning time of 9:49.12.
Medicine Valley’s Kael Garrett placed second in the boys 3200m (10:09.41), and Mason Roblee took 14th in high jump (5-10). In girls discus, Remmi Stout threw 95-04 for 23rd.
Wallace senior Ashley Robertson captured silver in the girls 3200m (11:39.12), and Max Hanson finished 14th in the boys race (10:42.45). Their 4x800 boys relay took 10th (8:42.67).
Wauneta-Palisade had a top-eight finish in boys high jump from Aden Acton (8th, 6-02). Emma Acton (24th, 20.21) ran in the 100m hurdles, and their girls 4x800 team placed 12th (10:31.23).