Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Kimball's four state qualified tracksters are, from left, Trent Rutledge, Jaden Withrow, Brandon Barker and Hannah Biesecker.
Kimball bus driver and high jump coach, Larry Pahl, addresses the Kimball track team prior to the District competition.
Kimball qualified four individuals in five events for the upcoming Nebraska State Track Meet being held this weekend at Omaha's Burke Stadium. Although Kimball didn't qualify but the four individuals, coach Gene Mohr said he feels this foursome could perhaps do better than any Kimball Team has in several years at the State Meet.
At the C-ll District Meet held at Grant this past week, Jaden Withrow was a double event gold medal winner capturing first place in the triple jump at 43'2.5" and the long jump at 20'11.25". Trent Rutledge finished second in the pole vault equalling his career best of 13'6". Brandon Barker ran second in the 3200 meter run clocking 10:31.23 which was 17 seconds better than his previous all time career best time. Hannah Biesecker placed second in the long jump at 15'8.50". The top two in each event plus some additional automatic qualifying marks in the field events, and additional fastest times in the track and relay events, make up the state qualifying berths in the state meet.
Mitchell won the team title in the boy's division at the District Meet scoring 133 points followed by Chase County with 90, Bridgeport 78, Kimball 55, Dundy County Stratton 54, Bayard 51, Perkins County 41 and Hemingford 23.
Chase County won the girl's team division with 165 points followed by Mitchell with 106, Dundy County Stratton 72, Bridgeport 69, Bayard 59.5, Kimball 27, Hemingford 20 and Perkins County 8.5.
The Horns had other non-qualifying highlights as well including Kyle Spicer in the sprints finishing fourth in the 100 meters in 11.67 and fourth in the 200 meters in 24.18. Freshman Brady Kilgore was one place away from a state qualifying spot in the 110 meter hurdles running third in 16.08. Kilgore also ran fifth in the 300 hurdles in 43.87 and was fifth in the high jump at 5'8". Along with her second place in the long jump, sophomore Hannah Biesecker finished fifth in the 100 meters in 13.46 and was third in the high jump at 4'10". Ali Hunsaker was fifth in the pole vault at 8'6". Madison Biesecker was fifth in the long jump at 14'9" and Jannel Fiehtner was sixth in the triple jump at 30'8". The 4 x 100 relay team of Madison Biesecker, Kate Reader, Ali Hunsaker, and Hannah Biesecker ran fourth in 52.74.
All four Kimball state qualifiers are ranked high in the Class C state times and marks and all four have excellent chances at bringing home state medals according to coach Gene Mohr. In fact, the C-ll District was without a doubt one of the strongest Class C Districts in the state and Western Nebraska should make a very good showing at this year's state meet which takes place on Friday and Saturday of this weekend.