The Fort Calhoun High School track and field team opened its season a day late Friday afternoon during the Bulldog Track & Field Challenge at Concordia University in Seward.
Coach Mandy Taylor's girls squad earned fifth in the Prairie Division team standings, while the boys earned sixth. The Pioneers, though, were originally set to compete Thursday in the Bulldogs' Sandhill Division before a school cancellation changed plans.
Both FCHS teams, however, competed 24 hours later and finished behind the hometown Seward Bluejays, who swept first-place honors during the indoor meet.
FCHS' Emilee Thayer-Mencke, meanwhile, secured the Pioneers' lone event win. The sophomore earned first in the high jump, clearing the bar set at 5 foot.
Additionally, Maelie Nelson, Ari Nelson, Madi Larrick and Kaylee Taylor finished second in the 1,600-meter relay for eight team points. The Calhoun team clocked in at 4:21.64.
Taylor (triple jump) and Maelie Nelson (60-meter dash) added fourth-place individual results for the Pioneer girls, while Bella McLaughlin was fifth in the long jump, Ari Nelson was fifth in the triple jump and Larrick earned the same place in the 60-meter hurdles. Larrick was sixth in the long jump, too.
Calhoun's 3,200-meter relay team earned fourth in the girls' race as well, clocking in at 11:29.29. Anna McMahon, Annaleigh McLaughlin, Lauren Lammers and Raeann Massey all competed in the event.
Clay Bohnenkamp and Andrew Namuth, meanwhile, earned the Pioneers' best finishes on the boys' side in Seward. Bohnenkamp was second in the 60-yard dash in 7.28 seconds, while Namuth was the shot put runner-up with a 47-foot, 7.75-inch effort.
FCHS' 3,200 relay squad — Seth and Sean Waters, Merritt Olberding and Matthew Kelly — earned third, too, while Logan Brewer was fourth in the long jump. Conner Hart (triple jump) and Trey King (pole vault) added fifth-place results as well.
In the second of the meet's two boys relays, the Calhoun team of Kelly, Kade Foy, Alex Schuler and TJ DeMilt earned sixth.
The Pioneers compete indoors once again this Friday. The 2 p.m. meet is at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha.
BULLDOG TRACK & FIELD CHALLENGE
Friday at Concordia University, Seward
Prairie Division
BOYS
Team standings: Seward 107 points, Riverside 86, Platteview 86, Lincoln Christian 40, Nebraska Christian 34, Fort Calhoun 31, Tekamah-Herman 15, Hastings St. Cecilia 14, Elkhorn Valley 13, Cross County 4, Plainview 2, Bancroft-Rosalie 2.
Fort Calhoun Top-Six Finishers
60-meter dash: 2, Clay Bohnenkamp, 7.28 seconds.
1,600 relay: 6, FCHS (Matthew Kelly, Kade Foy, Alex Schuler, TJ DeMilt), 3:53.79.
3,200 relay: 3, FCHS (Seth Waters, Sean Waters, Merritt Olberding, Kelly), 9:18.83.
Long jump: 4, Logan Brewer, 19 feet, 10.25 inches.
Triple jump: 5, Conner Hart, 38-6.
Pole vault: 5, Trey King, 9-6.
Shot put: 2, Andrew Namuth, 47-7.75.
GIRLS
Team standings: Seward 96 points, Nebraska Christian 89, Riverside 51, Elkhorn Valley 42, Fort Calhoun 37, St. Cecilia 35, Lincoln Christian 28, Platteview 17, Plainview 14, Shelby-Rising City 12, Cross County 10, Tekamah 3.
Fort Calhoun Top-Six Finishers
60-meter dash: 4, Maelie Nelson, 8.37 seconds.
1,600 relay: 2, FCHS (M.Nelson, Ari Nelson, Madi Larrick, Kaylee Taylor), 4:21.64.
3,200 relay: 4, FCHS (Anna McMahon, Annaleigh McLaughlin, Lauren Lammers, Raeann Massey), 11:29.29.
60 hurdles: 5, Larrick, 10.44.
Long jump: 5, Bella McLaughlin, 15 feet, 9 inches. 6, Larrick, 15-4.25.
Triple jump: 4, K.Taylor, 33-10.75. 5, A.Nelson, 32-3.
High jump: 1, Emilee Thayer-Mencke, 5.
