Carrington’s Kenadie Pazdernik hopes for performance in major state meet – Jamestown Sun

CARRINGTON, N.D. — The Carrington track and field team headed into the 2024 NDHSAA State Track and Field Championships with high expectations for many of its athletes, including Kenadie Pazdernik.

“It would mean a lot (to do well at the state meet),” Pazdernik said. “I did a lot of work this season. I feel like I could do well for my team and I feel like it would mean the world to me to do well.

The junior runner took second place in the 3,200-meter race with a time of 12:00.71 and third in the 1,600-meter race with a time of 5:25:35. She is also the second runner on the Cardinals’ 4×800 relay team which holds first place in Class B with a time of 9:53.29. In both distance races, Pazdernik follows teammate Madison Johnson, who she says is one of her close friends. Pazdernik said running with Johnson motivates her to continue improving.

“We’re pretty close,” Pazdernik said. “We have raced together for almost our entire track career. So we created a really good friendship, I would say.

Cardinals head coach Greg Hoeckle said his expectations for Pazdernik as she heads into the tournament is to stay ahead of the pack.

“She has to run her own race,” Hoeckle said. “She’s not going to try to stay with Madison.” She has to run her race and be competitive against other athletes. … Her (Des Lacs-Burlington’s Brynn Hanson) times haven’t been as good this year, but we expect her to do much better at the state meet and we hope Kenadie can run with her.

Pazdernik has competed in the state competitions every year since she was in eighth grade. His best individual result in the final competition is a fourth place in the 3,200 meter race with a time of 12:04.67 last year on May 22.

“She has qualified in the past, but this year her times are a little better and that comes from the fact that she is able to speed up her 200 and 400 times, which allows her to run longer distance times. “She’s been working hard all year, so she’s exactly where she wants to be and I hope she has a good competition. of State.”

Hoeckle said Pazdernik was always willing to work hard to succeed as a distance runner.

During his four years as a Cardinal, Pazdernik competed in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter races each year. To be successful at running long distances, she said you have to be able to fight through pain.

“It’s been a pretty good season, but I mean there’s definitely some things I’ve had to work on,” Pazdernik said. “I would say yes, I’m pretty tough mentally.”

Pazdernik said she has been running the longest races since she first joined the program in eighth grade. Pazdernik said one of her favorite aspects of the sport is the time she spends with her teammates.

Pazdernik said her best quality as a runner is her positive attitude. Hoeckle said Pazdernick succeeds because of his consistency, work ethic and competitiveness.

“I love the rewarding feeling of having a good race or getting a personal best and knowing that you are improving every day, even on the tough days, that you are progressing and becoming a better athlete every day,” » said Pazdernik.

With the weather in Bismarck expected to hover around 50 degrees on the second day of events, Friday, May 24, that doesn’t bother Pazdernik.

“It definitely involves more warming up so we don’t tighten any muscles or anything during our run,” Pazdernik said. “But, honestly, I’d rather it be cold than 90 degrees, so we’re just going to have to make sure we have our warm gear and be ready for anything and know that we have to go.”

The state meet is the last for Hoeckle, who is retiring after 34 years. If the Cardinals win the team state title this year, it will be the first for the women’s program since 2014 and the first for the men’s program since 1982.

“It would mean the whole world,” Pazdernik said. “He was a very good coach. He is so encouraging and everything he has done for all of us. It would be great to do that for our team and for him.

Pazdernik said she wants to get stronger before next year.

“I mean maybe get in the weight room a little more and build a little more muscle so next season I can come back stronger and better than ever,” Pazdernik said.

Although she is only a junior, Pazdernik said the University of Jamestown, University of Mary and Valley City State University have already contacted her.

Good morning,
My name is Max O’Neill. I’m a sports reporter for the Jamestown Sun. I’m originally from New York and graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Television-Radio in 2020.