Throwers powered the Bison team victory at Aurora

AURORA, Neb. — The final four standing were all wearing one awesome champion uniform when Friday’s discus throw was finished.

McCook senior Sierra Kotschwar led a 1-2-3-4 performance which showed just how McCook dominated this first big outdoor track-field meet in 2022.

The Bison scored 180.5 points on another chilly, breezy day to outscore Class B heavyweight Grand Island Northwest (179) and four other quality opponents.

“We were lulled into the belief that Aurora was going to be a nice day, but it never really warmed up,” Bison coach Brent May declared during a Saturday morning radio interview. “But our girls rose above and competed the best they could compete.”

“Our throws were consistently a bright spot,” he added.

Junior Brittin Kinne powered 10 feet beyond her previous discus best to place second behind only returning Class B state medalist Kotschwar.

Junior Lainey Schmidt placed third and classmate Gracie Wiemers finished fourth.

Kotschwar, Kinne and sophomore Kori Rippen also went 1-2-4 during the shot put throw.

“It was awesome to see Kori Rippen throw a personal best,” May said. Of course, there were many other Bison highlights like pole vaulters Chayse Friehe and Hannah Crow claiming two of those top three spots.

Crow earned a Class B state medal to cap her freshman year,

Yet freshman teammate Leni Henderson added her career-best (7’6”) for seventh overall.

Freshman Briley Morgan “came through” with fourth among triple jumpers, May mentioned and praised Grace Wilhelmson’s sixth place considering “she had never triple jumped before.”

Returning state champ Shawna Wilkinson won both the 400 and 800 meters.

Junior distance force Sammy Rodewald reached first in the 3200 along with that 3200-meter relay.

AURORA, Neb. — All top six McCook placers and Bison career bests from Aurora on Friday:

GIRLS

Teams: 1. McCook 180.5, 2. Grand Island Northwest 179, 3. Broken Bow 94, 4. Kearney Catholic 61, 5. Wood River 48.5, 6. Aurora 41.

100 meters: 1. S. Roby, GINW, 12.92. 13. Kennedy Walter, MC, 14.27 (PR). 100-hurdles: 1. A. Krafka, GINW, 16.25; 2. Emma Dutton, MC, 17.13; 4. Ainsley Taylor, MC, 18.47; 7. Lacyn Keller, MC, 21.01 (PB); 11. Ruby Stone, MC, 22.89 (PB); 12. Megan Miller, MC, 26.5 (PB). 300-hurdles: 1. Krafka, GINW, 50.8; 5. Lacyn Keller, MC, 54.21 (PB): 6. Ainsley Taylor, MC, 54.26; 14. Megan Miller, MC, 1:06.78 (PB); 15. Ruby Stone, MC, 1:09.25 (PB). 400 meters: 1. Shawna Wilkinson, MC, 1:00.79; 14. Danika Havlicek, MC, 1:13.3 (PB); 17. Zoey Patras, MC, 1:21.46 (PB); 20. Clara Henning, MC, 1;30.53 (PB). 800: 1. Shawna Wilkinson, MC, 2:36.39 (PB); 2. Leah Spencer, MC, 2:38.37; 5. Izzy Renner, MC, 2:27.39. 1600: 1. G. Staples, Bow, 6:14.39. 3200: 1. Sammy Rodewald, MC, 12:38.07.

400-relay: 1. Wood River 52.22; 2. McCook 52.72 (Walter-Dutton-Taylor-Wilkinson); 4. McCook 54.55 (Abigail Boner-Paige Bortner-Keller-Sienna Dutton). 1600-relay: GI Northwest 4:21.58; 4. McCook 4:28.58 (Havlicek-Briley Morgan-Madison Tarencz-Rasmusen-Xyzanthia Bair). 3200-relay: 1. McCook 10:33.48 (Sammy Rodewald-Izzy Renner-Leah Spencer-Sienna Dutton).

Shot put: 1. Sierra Kotschwar, MC, 39’2 1/2”; 2. Brittni Kinne, MC, 34’4 1/2”; 4. Kori Rippen, MC, 32’11” (PR); 6. Lainey Schmidt, MC, 30’8”; 12. Kendall Miller, MC, 28’2” (PB); 20. Gwyneth Davis, MC, 27’2” (PB). Discus: 1. Sierra Kotschwar, MC, 114’4”; 2. Brittni Kinne, MC, 108’ (PB); 3. Lainey Schmidt, MC, 103’8”; 4. Gracie Wiemers, MC, 101’2”.

High jump: 1. M. Haarberg, KC, 5’2”; 6. Gracie Wiemers, MC, 4’8” (PB); 7. Gwyneth Davis, MC, 4’4” (PB). Pole vault: 1. M. Kenny, GINW, 9’6”; 2. Chayse Friehe, MC, 9’6”; 2. Hannah Crow, MC, 9’6”; 7. Leni Henderson, MC, 7’6” (PB); 10. Maryann Kassner-Macfee, MC, 7’ (PB). Long jump: 1. Roby, GINW, 16’8”; 6. Xyzanthia Bair, MC, 14’9 1/2”; 12. Sydney Hodgson, MC, 14’1 1/2” (PB); 15. Briley Morgan, MC, 12’9” (PB). Triple jump: 1. R. Roggasch, KC, 34’6”; 4. Briley Morgan, MC, 30’ 1/2” (PB); 6. Grace Wilhelmson, MC, 28’5” (PB).