Opinion

Area athletes keep tradition of track and field excellence

Monday, May 20, 2002

Present and past glory blended at the 2002 Nebraska State Track and Field Meet in Omaha.

It started Friday when Ben Eisenhart, a Culbertson junior, leaped to his all-time best long jump distance of 23 feet, 1 1/4 inches. Competing in the smallest school division, Class D, Ben prevailed as the Gold Medal winner in all classes, edging Shawn Swan of Class A Ralston by one inch.

By winning, Ben brought back memories of 1941 when his grandfather, Russ Eisenhart, Sr., won the state Class C track championship all by himself by capturing two firsts and a second for Culbertson in the long jump, shot put and discus.

Meanwhile, Tayler McMinamen of McCook rekindled memories of the Bison girls' long jump supremacy by capturing first in Class B with a leap of 18 feet, 3/4 inches.

Her feat was a reminder of Bison dominance in the long jump from 1986 through 1989. During those years, Carrie Hoehner (1986) and Val Owen (1987, 1988 and 1989) won the long jump title every year. Carrie Hoehner Goltl, who lives in McCook, and Val Owen Parker, from Amarillo, Texas, both topped 19 feet in the long jump during their spectacular careers. Tayler, a petite but fierce competitor, beat the second place finisher in Class B by a quarter of an inch and the third place athlete by a half-inch. Overall, Tayler placed second in the Gold Medal standings.

During the course of her high school career, Tayler has won 15 medals at state. She will go on to college at the University of Nebraska-Kearney on a track and field scholarship.

McCook's other scholarship jumper, Aaron Plas, was second in the Gold Medal standings with a high jump of 6 feet, 8 inches. Still, he was disappointed, falling short of his all-time Nebraska high school record of 7 feet, 2 inches. "It just wasn't one of his better days," Coach John Gumb said.

The Gold Medal winner in the high jump was an Imperial Chase County athlete, Ed Kaiser. Also a Class B competitor, Kaiser said his winning effort was inspired by the large crowd, many from McCook, who gathered for the high jump competition.

Another standout performer from Southwest Nebraska was Lance Pfieffer of Eustis-Farnam, who won the Class D shot put and placed second in the all-class Gold Medal standings with a heave of 59 feet, 10 1/2 inches.

For area athletes, the 2002 state track meet was packed with thrills and disappointments. But, overall it was a good weekend, with more than 30 track and field performers from Southwest Nebraska earning places.

Once again, the present brought back memories of the past, as area athletes continued many years of track and field success.

And, thanks to Ben, Tayler, Ed and Lance, it was another golden year for the Golden Plains.

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