WAUSA – Wausa varsity track and field had another busy week running, jumping and throwing around northeast Nebraska at 2024 invitationals.
On April 23, the Lady Vikings were the champions of the Creighton Invitational on the girls’ side, scoring 137 points to win the team title over runner- up Laurel-Concord- Coleridge’s 110 points.
Meanwhile, the Vikings were the runners- up at the meet on the boys’ side, scoring 122 points as they fell just nine points short of Osmond to claim the second-place spot.
“Last Tuesday, the Viking track squads traveled to Creighton on one of the better days we have had all season,” Wausa head coach Greg Conn said, noting the nice spring weather. “Both boys and girls teams scored team highs for this season with again several PRs (personal records).”
The next two meets for the Vikings and Lady Vikings are the Jim Winch Invitational in Laurel at 10 a.m. May 2 and the May 8 District D-3 Track Meet in Hartington.
“We are getting down to the home stretch in the season with only two meets left in the season and we are starting to make some solid gains in both the field and on the track,” Conn said.
Creighton Invitational Girls’ Results -200meters: LexiWright,28.67,second(PR); Kennedy Gillilan, 30.13, sixth (PR).
-400meters: ReaganGillillan,62.94,first(PR). -800 meters: Taylor Dawson, 2:44.07, first. -100-meterhurdles: MackenzieSuhr,17.21, second (PR); Kennedy Gillilan, 18.51, fourth.
-300-meter hurdles: Avery Stevens, 56.45, second.
-4-by-100-meterrelay: AveryStevens,Taylor Dawson, Sienna West and Kennedy Gillilan, 57.90, fifth.
-4-by-400-meter relay: Elle Brazel, Taylor Dawson, Reagan Gillilan and Lexi Wright, 4:39.89, first (PR).
-4-by-800-meter relay: Carlie Kleinschmit, Elle Brazel, Kendall Story and Jayden Gillilan, 11:48.98, second (PR).
-Highjump: Carlie Kleinschmit, 4’6”, second. -Longjump: Lexi Wright, 15’6”, first; Reagan Gillilan, 14’7”, third.
-Triple jump: Elle Brazel 29’01”, fourth. -Pole vault: Carlie Kleinschmit, 6’0”, fourth. -Shotput: KateLundberg,33’01”,first;Tierney Alexander, 31’00”, second.
-Discus: Tierney Alexander, 95’3”, second. Boys’ Results -100 meters: Jyler Petersen, 11.45, second. -200 meters: Jyler Petersen, 23.69, second. -400 meters: Matthew Schindler, 56.06, first;Brady Kristensen, 58.83, fifth.
-800 meters: Cade Wakeley, 2:13.25, first; Braydon Hoesing, 2:22.08, fourth.
-110-meter high hurdles: Gaven Nipp, 18.69, third.
-300-meter intermediate hurdles: Gaven Nipp, 48.87, fourth.
-4-by-100-meter relay: Mac Carlson, Colton Baue, Jyler Petersen and Cade Wakeley, 47.00, second (PR).
-4-by-400-meter relay: Gaven Nipp, Jyler Petersen, Braydon Hoesing and Brady Kristensen, 3:55.12, second (PR).
-4-by-800-meter relay: Braydon Hoesing, CadeWakeley,LukeWoockmanandMatthew Schindler, 9:04.84, first (PR).
-Highjump: ColtonBaue,5’8”,second;Brady Kristensen, 5’4”, fourth.
-Long jump: Colton Baue,, 20’6”, third (PR). -Triple jump: Mac Carlson, 37’3”, second. -Shot put: Preston Schlote, 43-3”, third. -Discus: PrestonSchlote,128’3”,fourth;Cash Carlson, 124’11”, fifth.
On April 25, three Wausa athletes qualified for the Norfolk Track and Field Classic, where the top trackand- field athletes in northeast Nebraska compete against one another no matter what class they are.
Competing for Wausa were sophomore Mackenzie Suhr and freshman Reagan Gillilan in the high jump and sophomore Luke Woockman in the 3,200-meter run. Suhr finished seventh in the high jump, making the height of 5’0” and matching her season best. Gillilan finished in 11th place, making the height of 4’8”. Woockman set a season best in the 3,200-meter run with a 10:42.17, finishing in 10th place. “I thought our kids competed very well and represented our team and school in fine fashion,” Conn said. “This is a meet that is kind of a mini state meet with great competition, and it has the feel of what it will feel like if you qualify for the state meet in Omaha. Congratulations to Mackenzie, Reagan and Luke on solid performances at the Norfolk Classic.” On April 27, the Vikings and Lady Vikings competed at the Lewis and Clark Conference Track Meet in Ponca.
The Wausa girls finished seventh with 56 points and the Wausa boys finished in 11th place with 32.5 points.
“We had a pretty good day all around in terms of hitting some great marks and PRs against several of the teams that will be in our district in a couple of weeks,” Conn said.
“We had some kids step up and give us a great look at where we stand district-wise and we definitely will make it interesting if we keep moving forward,” he said.
“Nothing is ever given and we have to have a great week of practice and solid showing at the Winside Invite, which will be our final regular-season meet before the district meet on May 8 in Hartington,” he said.
Reagan Gillilan noted her track performances from the past few weeks have been good, in her opinion.
“I have been really happy with myself and how I am getting new PRs,” she said. “It makes me feel very proud of myself that I am a contributor to my team and getting points for our team when I can. I am looking forward to the district meet and hopefully making it to state in the 400-meter dash and in long jump and high jump.”
Senior Cade Wakeley felt that so far this season he has seen success in many of his track events, but he thought there is still a lot to improve on for himself.
“I would consider myself a team player and doing what is best for the team and I think that’s what makes everyone on the team a major contributor,” Wakeley said.
“I compete in the events I compete in because I enjoy the competition that comes with it,” he said. “That is one reason I really love doing relays, because it’s a constant competition the whole race.
“I am looking forward to the district meet because it will be a great place to showcase what we have been training for all season,” he said.
Lewis and Clark Conference Track Meet Girls’ Results -400meters: Reagan Gillilan, 63.49, second. -4-by-400-meter relay: Kennedy Gillilan, Reagan Gillilan, Carlie Kleinschmit and Elle Brazel, 4:30.40, third (PR).
-4-by-800-meter relay: Elle Brazel, Taylor Dawson,CarlieKleinschmitandKendallStory, 11:08.54, second (PR).
-High jump: Mackenzie Suhr, 5’0”, fourth; ReaganGillilan,4’8”,sixth;CarlieKleinschmit, 4’6”, eighth.
-Long jump: Reagan Gillilan, 15’5”, second; Lexi Wright, 15’0”, fourth.
-Shot put: Tierney Alexander, 30’7”, third. -Discus: TierneyAlexander,102’8”,third(PR). Boys’ Results -100 meters: Jyler Petersen, 12.12, fifth. -200 meters: Jyler Petersen, 24.59, eighth. -800 meters: Cade Wakeley, 2:14.42, seventh (PR).
-3,200 meters: Luke Woockman, 10:45.56, third.
-4-by-100-meter relay: Colton Baue, Jyler Petersen, Cade Wakeley and Mac Carlson, 47.41, fifth.
-4-by-400-meter relay: Cade Wakeley, Jyler Petersen,MatthewSchindlerandGavenNipp, 3:49.09, sixth (PR).
-4-by-800-meter relay: Luke Woockman, CadeWakeley,BraydonHoesingandMatthew Schindler, 9:00.15, second (PR).
-Pole vault: Colton Baue, 9’6”, seventh (PR). -Long jump: Colton Baue, 18’3”, seventh. -Shot put: Preston Schlote, 41’1”, sixth. -Discus: Cashe Carlson, 120’4”, eighth.
