Can McCook girls 'break the bubble', make state today?

ALLIANCE, Neb. — McCook coach Tara Peterman believes many Bison girls are oh-so-close to Class B state spots as they compete at today’s B-6 district.

Some comments from coach entering today’s huge meet at Bulldog Stadium in Alliance.

“We have a very tough district as usual but we have a bunch of girls that love a good challenge and will do their best to compete so we are excited to see what they do at districts.

(Senior) Emma Cappel is leading the district with her 800 time at 2:23 and sitting third with her mile time.

(Junior) Halleigha Beavers has jumped over the automatic qualifying height of 5’2 all year, so we have high hopes for her going down to the state meet to compete in that.

We have a lot of girls right on the bubble according to entries for the meet, so we are praying for a nice day and that some things swing their way when it really counts.

They have all been working hard since March and we would love to see them all have success on district day.”

Cappel, Beavers, seniors Brecken Gale, Jaylea Walgren and junior Cali Crawford are of four McCook’s returning Class B state qualifiers.

A glance at how Bison girls ranked entering various B-6 events today, according to athletic.net.

— Sophomore Hailey Smalley enters No. 3 among 200-meter dashers with her 26.87 time at the Hitchcock County Invitational on April 22.

Smalley trails only Chadron sophomore Addisyn Gruver’s 25.84 and barely behind Cozad soph Whitney Regelin at 26.79.

— Gale holds the fourth fastest 3200-meter run time of 12:49.22 with Gothenburg speedster Scout Bell setting the pace at 11:59.76. Those other two fastest times are between 12:28 and 12:29.

— Senior Jaylea Walgren has earned the No. 4 spot for hurdlers in both 100 meter highs (16.52) and 300 intermediates (48.94).

Gering senior Rylee Luce leads both thanks to her 15.11 at Western Conference following 45.63 during Best of the West — both during these past two weeks.

— McCook’s 400-meter relay is No. 3 as Walgren, Gale, Cappel and sophomore Karagynn Brown ran their 4:17.13 in that April 16 Dutch Zorn Invite at Gothenburg.

Those Swedes are leading B-6 at 4:09.51 while Sidney has ran second fastest at 4:11.85.

— Beavers’ 5’4” would automatically qualify for state today as she reached Omaha Burke Stadium last May.

Her 5’4” best is just one inch lower than B-6 leader Addison Bowlin from Scottsbluff entering today’s B-6.

— Cappel ran her 2:23.34 during Southwest Conference where she won the championship on Saturday at Cozad. Her top challengers appear to Bow senior Halle Quinn (2:25.48) along with Sidney junior Jordynn Schnell (2:25.69)/

Top placers today will advance into Class B state competition on Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21.