Fort Calhoun High School track and field coach Mandy Taylor was appreciative Tuesday night after her Pioneers hosted the Class B-2 District Meet.
She wanted to express how thankful she was of everyone's efforts to put on a championship-caliber event as 10 schools contended for NSAA State Championship qualifications. The meet was successful, the coach said, as was her team. It will send 13 athletes to Wednesday's start of the Class B competition at Omaha Burke Stadium.
Five of those FCHS standouts were apart of event wins. Kaylee Taylor, Coach Taylor's daughter, will also run the 300-meter hurdles at state, but took first in the triple jump, clearing 33 feet, 11.5 inches. The junior was just ahead of second-place teammate Ari Nelson —who qualified for state with a 33-7.5 effort — and fourth-place Ella Bouwman, who just missed a wild card berth.
“All three girls brought their best today,” Coach Taylor said. “I was really proud.”
The Pioneers' 400-meter relay squad put in an effort to be proud of, too. Alex Schuler, Clay Bohnenkamp, Preston Johnson and Michael Maxon — who also qualified in the individual 100 dash — stopped the clock in 43.54 seconds, securing a gold medal.
“All four of them take great pride in that race,” Taylor said, noting the contributions of team alternate Blake Welchert, too.
Calhoun, in addition to its event wins, produced a school record Tuesday as well. The 3,200 relay squad of Seth Waters, Chris Post-Whiteowl, Will Dennis and Lawson Tjardes earned its state qualification with a time of 8:21.17 — the best in FCHS history.
“All four of those guys run really good splits,” Taylor said.
The team was third behind Elkhorn and Omaha Concordia, but it advanced to state with its time.
Matthew Kelly's time in the 110 hurdles — 15.63 seconds — was strong enough to earna Class B state spot, too, while Dylan Keyser finished outside of the top-three qualifying positions in the discus, but advanced anyway with his best attempt covering 146-6.
The Pioneers' Emilee Thayer-Mencke, however, secured her first state berth with a third-place showing in the high jump. She cleared the bar set at 5-1.
Altogether, Fort Calhoun scored 67 team points during the district meet on their home track. The boys had 27 for eighth, while the girls earned a tie for fourth with 40.
The Bennington boys and girls, meanwhile, swept the team titles in the final meet before the state championships at Omaha Burke High School.
CLASS B-2 DISTRICT MEET
Tuesday at Fort Calhoun High School
BOYS
Team standings: Bennington 84, Wahoo 80, Elkhorn 66, Elkhorn North 66, Douglas County West 62, Elkhorn Mount Michael 59, Omaha Roncalli 45, Fort Calhoun 27, Omaha Concordia 21, Boys Town 17.
Top-6 FCHS Finishers
(Top-3 individuals, top-2 relay teams advance to state)
100-meter dash: 4, Michael Maxon, 11.09 seconds.
400 relay: 1, FCHS (Alex Schuler, Clay Bohnenkamp, Maxon, Preston Johnson), 43.54.
3,200 relay: 3, FCHS (Seth Waters, Chris Post-Whiteowl, Will Dennis, Lawson Tjardes), 8:21.17.
110 hurdles: 5, Matthew Kelly, 15.63.
Pole vault: 5, TJ DeMilt, 12 feet, 2 inches.
Discus: 6, Dylan Keyser, 146-6.
Shot put: 5, Andrew Namuth, 46-3.
GIRLS
Team standings: Bennington 152, Elkhorn North 149, Elkhorn 66, Roncalli/Duchesne 40, Fort Calhoun 40, Wahoo 36, DC West 22, Boys Town 14, Omaha Mercy 6, Omaha Concordia 1.
Top-6 FCHS Finishers
(Top-3 individuals, top-2 relay teams advance to state)
1,600-meter relay: 6, FCHS (Madi Larrick, Ari Nelson, Bella McLaughlin, Kaylee Taylor), 4:16.14.
3,200 relay: 5, FCHS (Emily Barta, Harley Schwarte, Rowan Roehr, Brady Work), 12:35.7.
300 hurdles: 5, Kaylee Taylor, 49.32.
Triple jump: 1, Taylor, 33 feet, 11.5 inches. 2, Nelson, 33-7.5. 4, Ella Bouwman, 33-4.5.
High jump: 3, Emilee Thayer-Mencke, 5-1. 4, Bria Bench, 4-11.
Pole vault: 4, Afton Byelick, 8-8.
