NEBRASKA STATE MEET

Juan Gonzalez Shines In Nebraska With 4:08/8:56 Double; Stella Miner Runs US#8 800 Meters

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

It was a record-breaking week for Fremont’s Juan Gonzalez.

At the Nebraska State Track and Field Championships held May 15-18 at Burke Stadium in Omaha, Gonzalez broke the boys Class A state and meet record from 2017 in the 1,600, clocking 4:08.61. He also won the 3,200 in 8:56.34, breaking Seth Hirsch’s meet record of 8:57.2- set in 2017.  He was second in the 800. 

Bellevue West’s Asher Jenkins swept the sprints, winning the  100, 200 and 400.  

In the shot put, Omaha Central's Isaac Ackerman threw a US#21 mark of 63-4.

The Kearney boys won the team title with 78 points. 

In Class A girls Omaha Westside edged out defending champion Papillion-La Vista South by less than two points, finishing with 68. 

Stella Miner led the way with a state and meet record in the 800, clocking a US#8 time of 2:06.41. She also won the 1,600 (4:59.02), while teammate Claire White won the 3,200 in 10:37.62.

Ranked US#13, Millard North’s Katharine Beachler won the shot put with a throw of 46-7. She also claimed the discus crown (138-9). 

Class B

Riley Boonstra led Norris to a Class B title as he won the 3,200 in a state and meet record time of 9:08.10. He shattered the Class B state record of 9:12.90 that stood since 1983. Boonstra also won the 1,600 in a state and meet record, running 4:14.01. The meet record of 4:16.62 stood since 1981. Norris also claimed the 4x100 and 4x800 titles.

In the sprints, Blair’s Ethan Baessler won the 100 in a state and meet record time of 10.51 and the 200 in 21.82.

In the field, Elkhorn North’s Sam Thomas, ranked US#11 in the shot put, won the discus (181-9) and shot put — 64-5.50, a meet record. 

Class C and D - May 17-18

The Chase County boys repeated as Class C state champs with 65 points as Easton Fries set a state and meet record in the 300 hurdles, running 37.99 seconds. Fries was second in the 400 and was part of the state and meet record 4x400 relay that clocked 3:21.17, taking down the record from 2000. 

West Holt won the 4x100 in a meet and state record time of 42.85, breaking the previous record from 1993.

North Platte St. Patrick junior Jaxon Knisley won the 110 hurdles in 13.84. 

In Class C girls action, sophomore Hazel Haarberg led Kearney Catholic to a state title, winning the 100 in 11.73 Class C title, breaking the meet record of 12.01 from 1982. She added a victory in the 200 (24.36) and placed third in the long jump.

Teammate Alyssa Onnen claimed the triple jump crown (39-10) and won the pole vault (12-5). The team also won the 4x100 in a  meet record time of 48.38.

West Holt claimed the girls 4x400 in a state and meet record time of 4:00.79.

McCool Junction’s victory in the 4x400 — the last event of the meet — propelled the team to a tie for the Class D boys state title. McCool Junction clocked 3:30.96 to finish with 56 points and tie Axtell. 

Individually, Overton’s William Kulhanek was the star of the meet. The senior won the 100 (10.54), 200 (21.54), 400 (48.09) and long jump (22.03.50). His 400 was a state and meet record and 200 was a meet record. 

The Niobrara/Verdigre girls claimed the Class D title with 52 points.

Overton senior Adysen McCarter won the 100 in a state and meet record time of 12.36, claimed the triple jump title (37-5), was second in the 200 and fourth in the 400. 

Clara Spargo of Dundy County Stratton won the 400 in a state and meet record time of 56.74.

Team Champions 

Class A - Kearney boys 78 points, Omaha Westside girls 68 points - RESULTS

Class B - Norris boys 133.33 points, Waverly girls 66 points - RESULTS

Class C - Chase County boys 65 points, Kearney Catholic girls 86.50 points - RESULTS

Class D - McCool Junction and Axtell boys (tie) 56 points, Niobrara/Verdigre girls 52 points - RESULTS