McCook girls handle B-6 pressure, qualify for state in many events

McCook juniors Lacyn Keller and Malia Hilker

Maryann Kassner/McCook Gazette

OGALLALA, Neb. — McCook High’s girls qualfied for Class B state in 11 events while placing second among nine teams at Tuesday’s B-6 district track-field meet.

The super-talented Sidney Red Raiders took first, but it didn’t diminish those Bison efforts with McCook barely missing on at least three other state spots.

Seniors Hannah Crow and Kori Rippen both reached state with their field events as Crow captured a B-6 pole vault title. Both girls have also reached Burke Stadium during every spring season of those Bison careers.

McCook sophomore Jaylea Walgren

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

On the track, freshman Cali Crawford set a great tone when she started McCook’s district champion 3200-meter relay.

Other great performances included another career-best long jump from Malia Hilker.

Classmate Briley Morgan made sure the Bison will be represented during Class B’s triple jump. She’s broke through to reach several career best or near-best marks.

Sophomore Jaylea Walgren reached state in both hurdles races which extends her strong 2023-24 year through three sports (volleyball, basketball, track).

Junior Lacyn Keller will blaze through two sprints on the Burke Stadium track. Other Bison state qualifiers include sophomores Brecken Gale and Emma Cappel.

Plus don’t forget junior Paige Bortner, who made state thanks to her No. 2 finish among 800-meter runners and ran those last 800 on that champion 3200 relay.

Team scores, all McCook top placers and champions from Thursday’s B-6 district meet with state qualifiers marked by “Q”s.

Teams: 1. Sidney 119, 2. McCook 85.5, 3. Gothenburg 80.5, 4. Gering 58, 5. Cozad 48, 6. Scottsbluff 45.5, 7, Ogallala 45, 8. Chadron 26.5, 9. Alliance 19.

BISON CHAMPS

3200-relay: 1. MC 9:57.67 (Q) (Cali Crawford-Brecken Gale-Emma Cappel-Paige Bortner); 2. SID 10:02.2 (Q); 3. SCOT 10:12.74 (Q).

Pole vault: 1. Hannah Crow, MC, 10’8” (Q); 2. K. Romero, COZ, 9’8” (Q); 3. T. Burge, GOTH, 9’2” (Q); 4. D. Hunter, SCOT, 9’2” (Q).

Other top

performers

Shot put: 1. T. O’Hare, GOTH, 40’4 1/4”; 2. Kori Rippen, MC, 38’4 3/4” (Q); 3. L. Caskey, OGA, 37’3 1/2” (Q); 4. J. John, GER, 37’ (Q); 5. S. Salcido, ALL, 35’10” (Q); 12. Kyla Patel, MC, 31’9 3/4”.

800 meters: 1. T. Tanquary, SID, 2:22.01 (Q); 2. Paige Bortner, MC, 2:22.34 (Q); 3. H. Rugroden, SCOT, 2:27.36 (Q).

100 meters: 1. M. Baker, COZ, 12.21 (Q); 2. B. Brennan, COZ, 12.55 (Q); 3. Lacyn Keller, MC, 12.6 (Q); 4. P. Schrotberger, SID, 12.66 (Q); 6. Malia Hilker, MC, 13.2.

300-hurdles: 1. C. Ahrens, SID, 45.37 (Q); 2. A. O’Hare, GOTH, 46.0 (Q); 3. Jaylea Walgren, MC, 46.58 (Q); 4. R. Luce, GER, 48.03 (Q); 5. L. Olvera, COZ, 48.42 (Q); 6. J. Sanders, ALL, 48.61 (Q).

Long jump: 1. K. Leeing, SID, 18’7 1/2” (Q); 2. A. Weyers, GOTH, 17’11” (Q); 3. Malia Hilker, MC, 16’7 3/4” (Q); 4. M. Laucomer, SCOT, SCOT, 16’3 3/4” (Q); 13. Morgan Griffin, MC, 14’5 1/2”.

Triple jump: 1. K. Leeling, SID, 36’6 1/2” (Q); 2. A. Weyers, GOTH, 35’4” (Q); 3. K. Kampfe, SID, 34’5” (Q)); 4. Briley Morgan, MC, 34’1 3/4” (Q); 5. J. Clarke, ALL, 34’ (Q); 6. A. Darnell, SCOT, 33’10” (Q); 12. Griffin, MC, 31’7 3/4”.

100-hurdles: 1. C. Ahrens, SID, 14.4 (Q); 2. A. O’Hare, GOTH, 14.86 (PR); 3. P. Horne, SCOT, 15.09 (Q); 4. A. Anderson, GER, 15.46 (Q); 5. Jaylea Walgren, MC, 16.17 (Q).

200 meters: 1. M. Baker, COZ, 25.37 (Q); 2. A. Morales, GER, 26.21 (Q); 3. Lacyn Keller, MC, 26.36 (Q); 4. K. Lambert, OGA, 26.43; 13. Saraie Barber, MC, 28.36.

1600 meters: 1. L. Henning, OGA, 5:36.68 (Q); 2. H. Rugroden, SCOT, 5:41.28 (Q); 3. Emma Cappel, MC, 5:44.67 (Q).

3200 meters: 1. L. Henning, OGA, 12:12.24; 2. K. Carnahan, CHAD, 12:16.15; 3. A. Bradford, GER, 12:24.21; 4. Brecken Gale, MC, 12:42.05.

400-relay: 1. GER 50.23 (Q); 2. SID 50.46 (Q); 4. MC 51.49 (Keller-Ambie Custard-Hilker-Bortner).

400-relay: 1. SID 4:06.2 (Q); 2. GER 4:07.4 (Q); 4. MC 4:10.2 (Briley Morgan-Walgren-Cappel-Bortner).

Discus: 1. M. Smith, GER, 152’2” (Q); 2. G. Cargill, COZ, 129’7” (Q); 3. R. Nesbitt, SID, 124’6z” (Q); 9. Alexis Hanson, MC, 99’6”; 13. Karstyn Porter, MC, 90’5”.

High jump: 1. K. Leeling, SID, 5’11” (Q): 2. S. Watson, CHAD, 5’3” (Q): 3. M. Gilligan, GOTH, 5’1” (Q); 6. Walgren, MC, 4’11”; 10. Halleigha Beavers, MC, 4’9”.

400 meters: 1. T. Tanquary, SID, 59.68 (Q); 2. A. O’Neil, OGA, 1:01.25 (Q); 3. K. Lambert, ALL, 1:02.19 (Q).