Seventeen Blair Bears produced state-qualifying efforts Tuesday during the Class B District 2 track meet in Elkhorn.
“Hard work pays off, I guess,” senior Zac Keeling said after his 400-meter relay team set a school record. “That was awesome.”
Coach Bryan Soukup's Bears were fourth in both the boys and girls standings, and finished with five district event wins. Junior Greta Galbraith's came first in the pole vault as she cleared the bar set at 10-feet high for the second-straight week.
“You know, 9-6 has been there all year and all last year,” she said. “Ten was kind of a mental block for awhile, but, since I finally got it, it feels good. I feel confident.”
Galbraith's state trip will be her second in the event.
“I got last year over with and now I'm going to be there and have last year behind me,” the Bear said. “I know what it feels like. Less pressure.”
Senior Nolan Slominski is an experienced state track and field participant as well. The Dakota State recruit won the 800-meter run Tuesday in 1:56.22 and contributed to two state-qualifying relay teams. Ted Lueders, Caleb Funk, Keeling and he won the 3,200 team race in 8:09.1.
BHS junior Ethan Baessler, meanwhile, won both the 100- and 200- meter dashes in 10.55 and 22.04 seconds, respectively. His third-place 1,600 relay team of Funk, Slominski, Lueders and he finished in 3:26.7, while the 400 relay squad edged out Elkhorn for second.
“Honestly, we've been practicing handoffs like crazy,” Keeling said of the 400 squad. “Three or four times a week we put effort into handoffs and it paid off especially down there between Colin (McCabe) and Ethan.”
Ben Holcomb also filled his role in the relay race, leading to a new school record of 43.5 seconds. The old mark was 43.81 from 1996.
Fellow BHS record holder Reese Beemer earned a pair of seconds in the 100- and 200-meter dashes to qualify for her first state meet since 2021. She clocked in at 12.36 and 25.91 seconds, respectively.
Schuyler Roewert's state-qualifying time in the 300-meter hurdles was 48.53 seconds, too.
Chase Cottle (high jump), Braden McGill (shot put and discus), Funk (400 dash), Lueders (800 run) and Dawson Fricke (3,200 run) qualified as individuals as well, while Hailey Amandus, Reece Ewoldt, Jade Wickwire and Kate Wulf earned their spots through the 3,200-meter relay race.
The NSAA State Track and Field Championships begin next Wednesday and Thursday with Class A and B competition at Omaha Burke Stadium. Field events begin at 9 a.m. both days.
BLAIR STATE TRACK QUALIFIERS
Determined Tuesday at Elkhorn High School
Hailey Amandus: 3200 relay
Ethan Baessler: 100-meter dash, 200 dash, 400 relay, 1600 relay
Reese Beemer: 100 dash, 200 dash
Chase Cottle: High jump
Reece Ewoldt: 3200 relay
Dawson Fricke: 3200 run
Caleb Funk: 400 dash, 1600 relay, 3200 relay
Greta Galbraith: Pole vault
Ben Holcomb: 400 relay
Zac Keeling: 400 relay, 3200 relay
Ted Lueders: 800 run, 1600 relay, 3200 relay
Colin McCabe: 400 relay
Braden McGill: Shot put, discus
Schuyler Roewert: 300 hurdles
Nolan Slominski: 800 run, 1600 relay, 3200 relay
Jade Wickwire: 3200 relay
Kate Wulf: 3200 relay
