Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Kimball boys track team is pictured above. Front row, from left, Jordan Cluff, Connor Cluff, Nicholas Thomas-Lewis, Jake Jenkins, Blaynne Rohde and Corey Gardner. Second row, from left, are Izaak Rohde, Deven Gardner, Joseph Pagan, Christian Allen-VanPelt, Jaden Mohr, Samuel Cajero and Toby McManigal. Third Row, from left, are Stephen Bateman, Beau Hanks, Corey Travis, Paycen Harroun, Luis Portillo, Brayden Tyan and Brady Kilgore.
The Kimball girls track team is pictured above. Front row, left to right, are Jenna Greenwood, Megan Spicer, Carli Wurdeman, Sierra Rutledge and Lexi Hoppes. Middle row, left to right, Sydney Biesecker, Raven Johnson, Ashlyn Guzman and Emma Martin. Back row, from left, Natasha Selves, Kennedy Lewis, Madison Wynne, Hannah Biesecker, Samantha Bemis and Alex Reader.
Kimball High head track Coach, Gene Mohr, reports the numbers are up this spring with 29 boys and 20 girls checked out at the time of this writing. Coach Mohr and his staff also have some quality athletes returning, as well as, good numbers.
Let's start with Brady Kilgore, a junior, who finished 5th at the state track meet last year as a sophomore, running 15.2, not far off the new school record of 14.59 he ran at last year's WTC Conference meet. Kilgore is a very versatile track man who competes well in the high jump and long jump, and can run a leg on a relay team or run the 300 hurdles. He fits in wherever Coach Mohr needs him.
Hannah Biesecker, a senior, is also a returning state qualifier, who excels in the long jump. Her best mark last year as a junior, was 16'8", which gave her the gold at the District meet. She didn't have the best state meet, however, scratching on a couple of her prelim attempts and failing to make the finals. She is a consistent winner in the long jump and can also pick up points in the sprints, run on the relays and high jump.
Other returning letter winners for the boys includes, senior Paycen Harroun in the pole vault and already this spring he has eclipsed his best effort of 12'0" of last year by winning the vault at the Kimball Invite to set a new meet record of 12'6". Senior teammate, Jaden Mohr, is also back and he cleared the 12'6" mark a year ago. Mohr also adds points in the hurdles. Senior Kaden Adrian, is back in the middle distances, as is senior, Nicholas Thomas-Lewis, and both are capable of scoring in the individual events or helping out a relay team. Jacob Jenkins is a sprinter who shines in the 100 and 200 and can really help the sprint relay team.
Other non-lettermen who might also shine are, senior, Byron Rowley, an all-around athlete who came back to Kimball for his senior year and has good speed. There are 10 juniors checked out, along with the 7 seniors, 6 sophomore and 6 freshman. Colton Mielke and Corey Travis show good promise from the junior class. Brayden Tyan and Sam Cajero both scored well at the Kimball Invite and are sophomores. There are freshmen who also scored in the Kimball meet.
In talking about the season outlook for the boys, Coach Mohr said, "We will have a nice mix of athletes that will place first through sixth. Kilgore should bring home the gold in the hurdles. Adrian should have a good year in the 800 and Harroun and Mohr should do well in the vault. We have a lot of young athletes in all the events that will get better throughout the year." Mohr went on to say that depth in numbers and quality athletes will help to fill almost all the events and looks to see points scored in the weights this year. As for team goals, Mohr said, "We want each of our student athletes to increase their PR throughout the season."
Only 3 other letter winners join Hannah Biesecker for the girls. Senior, Kennedy Lewis, is back in the pole vault and had a best of 7'6" last year. Sophmores, Jenna Greenwood, in the triple jump and high jump should add points after a good freshman season and Carli Wurdeman lettered in the discus.
Top newcomers are incoming freshmen, according to Coach Mohr, and they showed him right by their performances at the Kimball Invite. Sam Bemis can do most all events, but really shines in the triple jump, other jumps and sprints. She also tried the pole vault at the Kimball Invite and made 7'6". Raven Johnson is also a vaulter and Megan Spicer can do the jumps and sprints and should score points.
Coach Mohr, in his season outlook said, "Our numbers are a little low this year. Our best chance for State is Hannah Biesecker once again. One of our goals for the team is to put together a great 4x100 relay. We will be working hard on our PRs and then the winning will take care of itself." Mohr went on to say, "The girls are willing to work hard with very little complaints. I hope their hard work pays off."
Kimball took a limited squad to the Chadron State College indoor meet and had some success, as they did at their own Kimball Invite, their opening outdoor meet. They will be at the Bayard C-D meet today (March 29) and have the Creek Valley meet on the schedule for Monday (April 3).