All-time bests ignite Bison girls to state

McCook junior Emily Jacobs (below right) almost seems in awe after posting a fastest career 800-meter time and winning the district championship at Ogallala on Thursday.

R.B. Headley

OGALLALA, Neb. – Plenty of McCook flights are now open to Omaha although some Bison preferred speedy ground travel at Thursday’s B-6 district meet.

Coach Brent May wasn’t complaining about either travel plan as long as he knew several McCook girls have earned their trips into next week’s Nebraska State Championship Meet.

“We had a lot of great performances,” May confirmed after McCook officially qualified nine for Class B competition at Burke Stadium.

Perhaps a couple of more events could reach that goal depending on results from other Class B districts .Watch for the official complete list in Monday’s Gazette.

Juniors Shayne Coleman and Emily Jacobs left no doubts about their spots.

Both achieved career best as Coleman cleared 33’6 1/4” to win the B-6 triple jump.

Meanwhile, Jacobs blazed across the finish line on a warm Thursday for her all-time best 800-run time (2:21.17).

No other 800 runner was in serious striking distance of this title.

“She’s running more fierce,” May mentioned as one reason for Jacobs’ great late-season push.

Other Bison soared through the air for their state qualification.

Pole vaulters Haiden Loop, Kyleana Blau and Elise Stevens will all reach Omaha clearing the automatic height of 9’5” Thursday.

“We were excepting maybe two, but Elise went out and had her career best,” May observed.

Juniors Holli Thomas and Jacobs also unleashed their fastest 400s. They are part of a qualifiyng 400-meter relay that includes juniors Jaden Bryant and Emily Arp.

Team scores and all McCook top eight placers at Thursday’s B-6 district track-field meet:

Top six teams of 10: 1. Gering 71, 2. Gothenburg 70, 2. Scottsbluff 69, 3. Sidney 69, 3. Cozad 69, 6. McCook 67.

100-dash: 1. K. Von Seggern, SID, 12.89; 3. Jaden Bryant 13.06; 8. Emily Arp 13.43. 200-dash: 1. D. Hoffmaister, COZ, 26.45; 4. Laurel Schmidt, 26.95.

400-run: 1. Y. Garcia, SCOT, 59.01; 3. Holli Thomas 59.87 (career best); 4. Emily Jacobs 1:00.3 (career best); 8. R iley Sis 1:04.36. 800: 1. Emily Jacobs 2:21.17 (career best). 3200: 1. W. R iesen, SCOT, 11:46.54; 7. Elsianna Rodewald 12:54.75 (career best).

400-relay: 1. Cozd 50.72; 2. McCook 50.77 (Schmidt-Bryant-Thomas-Arp). 1600-relay: 1. Gothenburg 4:08.58; 3. McCook 4:12.13 (Jacobs-Robin Grigg-Thomas-Sis).

Shot put: 1. B. Eckerberg, GER, 41’6”; 6. Jayceea Hanson 36’ 1/2” (career best). Discus: 1. S. Grant, Alliance, 124’10”; 4. Hanson 116’; 5. Faith Hansen 112’1”. Pole vault: 1. M. Johnstone, SID, 11’1”; 6. Haiden Loop 9’5”; 7. Kyleana Blau 9’5”; 9. Elise Stevens 9’5”. Long jump: 1. K. Wellman, GOTH, 16’9”; 3. Schmidt 16’ (career best); 6. Grigg 15’5 3/4”. Triple jump: 1. Shayne Coleman 33’6 1/4” (career best).

Watch for more details on Monday.