Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Jaden Withrow splashes into the pit at the long jump in last week's state meet. He finished eighth in the event.
Ryan Muneio heads around the track in the 800 meter run. He took 14th place in the event.
Jaden Withrow brought home a Nebraska State Track medal by finishing 8th in the boys Class C Division long jump. The talented young sophomore had a best jump of 20'6.5" to finish in the number 8 spot thus giving Kimball their lone 1 point in the team standings.
Withrow was making a return trip to the state meet held at Omaha Burke Stadium having qualified in the triple jump last year as a freshman. This year he was a double event qualifier as he also qualified for the triple jump where he got out 42'4.5" leaving him in 10th place and just two spots out of a top eight finish.
Kimball had 6 qualifiers in 8 events, and for the most part, had some personal best performances. Also, for the most part, the weather was good according to Kimball High coach, Gene Mohr. Trent Rutledge, a junior, stayed consistent in the pole vault clearing 12'6" and going out on his attempts at 13'0." Coach Mohr said, "They had an elevated run way for the Class C boys vault and Trent never could get his steps down." Rutledge had gone 13'2" at district for his personal career best and watch out next year as he returns to make an assault on the record books.
For senior Ryan Muneio, his high school track is now history as he prepares to take the sport to the next level as a college runner at Midlands University. Ryan didn't have his best day at Omaha finishing 14th overall with a time of 2:06.17 in the 800 meters. He also had his career best at the recent district meet running 2:02.48.
Anthony (AJ) Williams, a sophomore, ran his best 3200 meter race ever at the state meet clocking 10:48.16 to improve by nearly 8 seconds over his previous best of 10:55.38, also ran at the district meet. AJ reportedly is leaving Kimball as his family is moving to Texas and what a blow to the Kimball High School system, and to the Kimball community as this young man is something special. Wherever he ends up will be their gain and our loss. We wish him the best and good job at Omaha where he finished 22nd in the field of outstanding runners.
Kimball had two girl state qualifiers including Madison Biesecker who was a state qualifier last year and a double event qualifier this year. Madison was well off her best times and marks at Omaha finishing 22nd in the long jump with a leap of 13'10.25," about two feet behind her season best of 15'9.75." In the 300 meter hurdles, she ran 51.13 in her prelim heat failing to make the finals. Her season best was 49.95, ran at district, and her career best is 48.26 ran last year as a sophomore.
Ali Hunsaker was also making a return trip to the state meet, this year in the girls pole vault. At the district meet Ali cleared 9'6" to better her own school record and establish a new career personal best. At Omaha she made 9'0" and according to coach Mohr had good attempts at 9'6." The vault event has become a favorite with Hunsaker and with one more year left, look for her to also improve her marks again.
Despite not bringing home a lot of hardware from the state meet, it is an honor to be involved and an honor to be a state qualifier. Congratulations to this year's Kimball High track team and to the coaches who got peak performances from their athletes at the end of the season.