Bison ready to rumble with Class B's fastest and best

OMAHA, Neb. — McCook’s first trip to Burke Stadium in two years should be a profitable one for both Bison track/field teams this weekend.

The Bison are among Class B’s best in several events with competition starting at 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Sophomore Shawna Wilkinson’s now setting the pace at No. 1 among 400-meter girls runners, according to maxpreps.com.

Wilkinson hit her new career-best 57.92 seconds at last week’s B-6 district race in Ogallala.

She’s still aiming to get into that 56-second race where legends like Bison all-class state champ Molly Sughroue reside.

Yet entering Burke, Wilkinson has ran a faster best than Northwest’s Rebecca Mader (58.4), Cozad district foe Makaia Baker (58.87) or top contender Mikwena Lierman from the Fairbury Jeffs (58.93).

McCook’s 3200-meter relay owns a top five position where sophomore Samantha Rodewald, Leah Spencer and two freshmen — Izzy Renner, Sienna Dutton — ran a fastest 10:05.52 at B-6.

Elkhorn will be tough to catch at 9:55.23, but who knows once they all converge at Burke on Friday.

Junior Sierra Kotschwar’s entrenched among the top five throwers after winning B-6 shot put and district titles.

She enters Omaha fourth in discus (128’1”) along with fifth (41’3”) for shot put.

The Bison boys bring two top five high-flying pole vaulters (junior Branson McDonald, senior Talyn Campbell) along with several athletes who are clearly medal contenders.