Hailey Roewert was successful Tuesday as Blair High School track and field athletes contended for conference crowns in Gretna.
The senior Bear earned first in the Eastern Midlands Conference (EMC) high jump, leading her girls squad to an eighth-place finish — the same result coach Bryan Soukup's boys team earned.
“The environment was super good today. I think vibes were good,” Roewert said after her 5-foot, 5-inch effort. “And, obviously, support does a lot for that, too. I think we had a pretty good crowd today.”
She and third-place teammate Emma Ammon had friends and family down at track level supporting them for the event at Gretna High School.
“They don't know it, but it plays a big role in performance for track,” Roewert said.
BHS athletes added two second-place, two third-place and two fourth-place results during the EMC meet as well. Chase Cottle, Declan McCabe, Colin McCabe and Hayden Daggett combined for a silver medal in the 1,600-meter relay, stopping the clock in 3:23.9.
Cottle was second in the boys' high jump, too, clearing the bar at 6-3, while Daggett was fourth with a 6-1 effort.
Declan McCabe broke 2 minutes (1:58.45) and earned third in the 800-meter run, while Ammon was third in the 100 hurdles in 16.23 seconds. Colin McCabe also finished the 400 dash in 50.64 seconds for fourth, while Jacy Schueth converted a 7-6 effort for fourth in the pole vault.
Additionally, Blair's Brynn Lundgren, Jade Wickwire, Ryleigh Schroeter, Lainey Bilau, Jordan McGill, Madeline Chikos, Carter Corbett, Tennyson Larsen, Charlie Gutzmann and Roland Barondeau contributed to the Bears' team scores with top-eight EMC finishes Tuesday. Next, they'll compete 11 a.m. Tuesday during the Class B District 3 Meet on their home track at Krantz Field. Top finishers will qualify for the NSAA State Championships on May 21-22.
“You get what you put in,” Roewert said after her conference title win. “Effort is a lot.”
Unified athletes compete
BHS Unified track and field athletes competed in Gretna, too.
During competition, Jaden Rogge, Cornez Tucker Jr., Caden Finken, Keenan Wyman, Riley Yanak and AJ Damme were all apart of first-place results.
EMC TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tuesday at Gretna High School
BOYS
Team standings: Waverly 136.5 points, Gretna East 90, Elkhorn 78, Bennington 75, Norris 73, Elkhorn North 64, Gretna 38, Blair 35.5, Hastings 34, Lincoln Northwest 20, Lincoln Standing Bear 17.
Top-8 Blair Finishers
200-meter dash: 7, Colin McCabe, 22.58 seconds.
400 dash: 4, Colin McCabe, 50.64.
800 run: 3, Declan McCabe, 1:58.45.
1,600 relay: 2, BHS (Chase Cottle, Declan McCabe, Colin McCabe, Hayden Daggett), 3:23.9.
3,200 relay: 7, BHS (Carter Corbett, Tennyson Larsen, Charlie Gutzmann, Roland Barondeau), 9:32.64.
High jump: 2, Cottle, 6 foot, 3 inches. 4, Daggett, 6-1.
GIRLS
Team standings: Bennington 127 points, Waverly 97, Gretna 91, Norris 87, Elkhorn North 68, Elkhorn 63, Gretna East 51, Blair 32, Hastings 23, Lincoln Northwest 16, Standing Bear 6.
Top-8 Blair Finishers
100-meter dash: 6, Brynn Lundgren, 12.85 seconds.
3,200 relay: 8, BHS (Jade Wickwire, Ryleigh Schroeter, Lainey Bilau, Jordan McGill), 10:33.65.
100 hurdles: 3, Emma Ammon, 16.23.
High jump: 1, Hailey Roewert, 5 feet, 5 inches. 3, Ammon, 5-1.
Pole vault: 4, Jacy Schueth, 7-6.
Discus: 7, Madeline Chikos, 99-5.
