Panthers send nine athletes to state meet

KEARNEY – Norfolk High automatically qualified for the state track and field championships in nine boys events and three girls events during the Class A-4 district meet at Kearney High School.

The Panther boys had two district champions. Rowdy Bauer won the long jump (23 feet, 3.25 inches) while Isaac Ochoa took first place in the 1,600 meters (4:26.00).

Bauer also placed third in the 100m while Ochoa finished fourth in the 3,200m. They joined Thomas Dillard and Drew Streich to qualify in the 4×400 relay by finishing in third place.

Streich also qualified in the high jump with a personal best of 6-3.

Samuel Zazueta finished second in the discus and shot put while Brendyn Luna finished fourth in the pole vault.

Cohen Skiff (discus) and Dominick Blum (300 hurdles) should be additional qualifiers in their event.

The Norfolk High girls had two silver medalists. Aubrey Russell finished second in the discus while Leann Miller tied for second in the pole vault. Adalia McWilliams finished fifth in the high jump, but earned a spot in the state meet by clearing the automatic standard of 5-2.

Team score: Kearney 177.6, Papillon-LaVista South 117.2, Lincoln Southwest 99.6, Norfolk High 68.6, Millard North 35, Omaha Westview 17, Lincoln Northeast 11.

Norfolk High Event Winners and State Qualifiers

100: 1. Anthony Jones, PLVS, 10.68; 3. Rowdy Bauer, NOR, 11:00 a.m.; 200: 1. Zaire LaGrone-Miller, KEA, 21.91; 400: 1. Evan Shaffer, KEA, 51.06; 800: 1. Max Myers, LSW, 1: 57.62; 1600: 1. Isaac Ochoa, NOR, 4:26.00; 3200: 1. Myers, LSW, 9: 43.99; 4. Ochoa, NOR, 9:48.03; 110H: 1. Luc Brachle, KEA, 14.81; 300H: 1. Buddy Otto III, LSW, 39.35; 4×100: 1. Kearney, 41.93; 4×400: 1. Kearney, 3:24.73; 3. Norfolk (Thomas Dillard, Bauer, Drew Streich, Ochoa), 3:25.41; 4×800: 1. Lincoln South West, 8: 13.68.

LJ: 1. Bauer, NOR, 23-3.25; TJ: 1. Taj Wilson, KEA, 46-4; HJ: 1. Luke Brachle, KEA, 6-5; 3. Streich, NOR, 6-3; PV: 1. Aydan Nelson, KEA, 13-8; 4. Brendyn Luna, NOR, 12-8; SP: 1. Cole Brandt, KEA, 53-4.25; 2. Samuel Zazueta, NOR, 52-2; DIS: 1. Brandt, KEA, 184-8; 2. Zazueta, NOR, 181-11.

Team score: Papillon-La Vista South 163, Lincoln Southwest 123, Kearney 86, Millard North 77, Lincoln Northeast 39, Norfolk High 25, Omaha Westview 14.

Norfolk High Event Winners and State Qualifiers

100: 1. Zaidah Lightener, PLVS, 12.26; 200: 1. Nonic Oelling, LSW, 25.21; 400: 1. Katie Shafer, PLVS, 57.09; 800: 1. Kaitlyn Swartz, PLVS, 2: 20.29; 1600:1. Swartz, PLVS, 5:17.88; 3200:1. Swartz, PLVS, 11:40.10; 100H: 1. Laney Songster, LNE, 2:56 p.m.; 300H: 1. Amari Heeren, LNE, 45h50; 4×100: 1. Papillion-La Vista South, 48.87; 4×400: 1. Kearney, 4: 04.01; 4×800: 1. Kearney, 9: 51.26.

LJ: 1. Zaidah Lightener, PLVS, 19-1; TJ: 1. Bleaching agent, PLVS, 37-7.25; HJ: 1. Rachael Chambers, MN, 5-6; 5. Adalia McWilliams, 5-2; PV: 1. Kyah Hazard, KEA, 11-6.25; 2T: Leann Miller, NOR, 10-0; SP: 1. Kat Beachler, MN, 47-6.25; DIS: 1. Beachler, Minn., 132-0; 2. Aubrey Russell, NOR, 126-2.