With just one track and field meet to go, Blair High School senior Allie Czapla was in good spirits Tuesday after the Class B-4 District Meet at Albion Boone Central.
One of 18 Bears destined for the NSAA State Championships at Omaha Burke Stadium, she noted her team's ability to set personal bests without sacrificing — to her — one of the most important things about the spring season.
The fun.
“Run fast, turn left,” Czapla said of her simple approach.
Coach Bryan Soukup's squad earned runner-up status in both the boys and girls standings during Tuesday's district meet, securing qualifications in five field events, eight individual races and four relays. The BHS girls finished just seven points behind the host Cardinals, while the boys were eight behind them through 17 scored events.
“Amazing,” senior Reese Beemer said when asked how the Bears performed. “I felt like everybody put in all equal effort and everybody did the best they can.”
“I think we did good today,” hurdler Ben Holcomb added. “Saw a lot of good marks. Everyone just showed up to compete, and laid it down.”
Two new Blair records were set, too. Senior Greta Galbraith earned first in the pole vault, clearing the bar set at 11 feet, 6.25 inches during a windy start to the district meet. Her effort surpassed that of Kelsey Lueke (11-6) in 2007.
The Bears' 400-meter relay team of Holcomb, Ethan Baessler, Hayden Daggett and Colin McCabe won, too, breaking their own school record earned earlier this season. They stopped the clock in 42.93 seconds on Tuesday.
Each of the relay competitors qualified in individual events, too. Baessler — a defending Class B champ — won the 100- and 200-meter dashes in 10.96 and 22.28 seconds, while also earning second and qualifying for state with his 1,600 relay squad — Caleb Funk, Daggett and McCabe.
Funk earned another state relay spot with McCabe, Chase Cottle and Declan McCabe in the 3,200 race, but secured his individual qualification in the 800 run. It drained him, sending the Bear to the grass next to the track for several minutes.
“We got through it,” he said after the meet.
“We have a group of very determined athletes,” Funk continued. “And I think, with a positive mindset, we were able to go through the day. Everyone tried their best.”
Holcomb added an individual qualification in the 300 hurdles, while Daggett will high jump and run the solo 400 at state as well. Colin McCabe, meanwhile, won the individual 400 dash in Albion, crossing the finish line in 51.39 seconds after one lap.
College track and field recruit Braden McGill will represent Blair at state one more time as well. The senior was second in the discus and third in the shot put, producing state-qualifying marks of 148-9 and 48-5.5, respectively.
In addition to Galbraith's pole vault win, BHS senior Reece Ewoldt earned three gold medals during the B-4 meet. The future University of Nebraska-Kearney Loper won the 1,600-meter run in 5:13.84, the 3,200 run in 11:41.07 and the 3,200 relay with Czapla, Kate Wulf and Lainey Bilau. Jade Wickwire is the squad's state alternate.
Notably, Czapla finished second behind Ewoldt in the 3,200 run to qualify for state again, while Ryleigh Schroeter earned her spot in the 1,600 with a third-place result.
Beemer finished a competitive 100-meter dash in 12.73 seconds to earn a third state meet appearance, too, while both Emma Ammon and Hailey Roewert will represent the Bears in the Class B high jump. The Bears each cleared the bar set at 5 feet, 1 inch to qualify.
The rest of BHS' state roster and they will next compete Wednesday at Omaha Burke Stadium during the NSAA's state championships. Competition begins at 9 a.m. with Galbraith in the pole vault.
“Just running with my team for the last time,” Beemer said when asked what she most looked forward to in Omaha.
“I guess I'd have to say the same thing,” Holcomb added. “Just going out and competing one last time, trying to see what I can do.”
CLASS B-4 DISTRICT MEET
Tuesday at Albion Boone Central
BOYS
Team standings: Boone Central 110, Blair 102, Pierce 64, Columbus Lakeview 64, Columbus Scotus 58, South Sioux City 34, Wayne 33, O'Neill 27, West Point-Beemer 25, Schuyler 10.
Top-6 Blair Finishers
(Top-3 individuals, top-2 relay teams advance to state)
100-meter dash: 1, Ethan Baessler, 10.96 seconds.
200 dash: 1, Baessler, 22.28.
400 dash: 1, Colin McCabe, 51.39. 2, Hayden Daggett, 51.5.
800 run: 3, Caleb Funk, 1:58.1. 5, Declan McCabe, 2:05.12.
400-meter relay: 1, BHS (Ben Holcomb, Baessler, Daggett, C.McCabe), 42.93.
1,600 relay: 2, BHS (Funk, Daggett, C.McCabe, Baessler), 3:27.38.
3,200 relay: 2, BHS (Funk, D.McCabe, Chase Cottle, C.McCabe), 8:48.03.
300 hurdles: 3, Ben Holcomb, 41.57.
High jump: 2, Daggett, 6 feet, 2 inches. 5, Cottle, 5-8.
Discus: 2, Braden McGill, 148-9.
Shot put: 3, McGill, 48-5.5.
GIRLS
Team standings: Boone Central 110, Blair 103, Lakeview 79.5, West Point-Beemer 60, Pierce 54, South Sioux City 49, Scotus 26, O'Neill 21, Wayne 19.5, Schuyler 5.
Top-6 Blair Finishers
(Top-3 individuals, top-2 relay teams advance to state)
100-meter dash: 3, Reese Beemer, 12.73 seconds. 6, Brynn Lundgren, 12.91.
200 dash: 4, Beemer, 26.77.
400 dash: 6, Audie Keeling, 1:06.34.
800 run: 4, Jade Wickwire, 2:29.6. 5, Kate Wulf, 2:31.48.
1,600 run: 1, Reece Ewoldt, 5:13.84. 3, Ryleigh Schroeter, 5:46.88. 4, Allie Czapla, 5:49.83.
3,200 run: 1, Ewoldt, 11:41.07. 2, Czapla, 12:15.38. 6, Nadia Davey, 12:57.83.
400 relay: 4, BHS (Jacy Schueth, Beemer, Keeling, Lundgren), 51.43.
1,600 relay: 3, BHS (Jordan McGill, Wickwire, Keeling, Ewoldt), 4:14.38.
3,200 relay: 1, BHS (Czapla, Kate Wulf, Lainey Bilau, Ewoldt), 9:55.24.
300 hurdles: 5, Haylie Jensen, 50.12.
Long jump: 4, Emma Ammon, 15 feet, 8.75 inches.
High jump: 2, Ammon, 5-1. 5, Hailey Roewert, 5-1.
Pole vault: 1, Greta Galbraith, 11-6.25.
