Girls state track capsules
CLASS A
TEAM RACE: With the duo of standout distance runner Emily Sisson and hurdler Kianna Elahi, Millard North has a solid base of quality points to build toward the team title. Throw in 2006 3,200 state champion Megan Oddo, and the scoring potential in the distance events gives the Mustangs a big advantage. The fact they scored 180 points at districts shows they have depth, as well. Lincoln Southeast can make a run behind hurdler KK Houser, sprinter Katie Birkel and a record-breaking 1,600 relay team. Defending state champion Grand Island has sprinter Alex Armes and hurdler/400 runner Suzanne Higgins as its headliners.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Emily Sisson, Millard North, is second on the all-time charts in both the 1,600 (4:51.42) and 3,200 (10:21.71) and eighth in the 800 (2:14.26). Only a sophomore, this is her final Nebraska state meet before her family moves to the Kansas City, Mo., area.
Kianna Elahi, Millard North, broke the state record in the 300 hurdles last season (43.03 seconds). Should also pick up points in the 100 hurdles and 400.
KK Houser, Lincoln Southeast, won the all-class gold in the 100 hurdles (:14.56, ninth all-time). Also owns the fastest time this spring in the 300s (:44.07).
Katie Birkel, Lincoln Southeast, is eighth all-time in the 400 with the :55.96 at state last year. Has the fastest time this spring at :56.46.
Tara Korshoj, Millard West, won three all-class golds in 2006 (long jump, triple jump and 400) but was injured last year. She’s third all-time in the triple jump (39-10¼).
LaQue Davis, Omaha Central, cracked the all-time top 10 in the 100 hurdles with a :14.57 this season. Freshman is also among the A leaders in the 200.
Alex Armes, Grand Island, took A gold in the 100 and 200 last year.
CLASS B
TEAM RACE: Bishop Neumann has gold-medal possibilities from Liz Mach in the jumps and 100 hurdles, McKenzie Fujan in the 300 hurdles and all three relay teams. Scottsbluff will make its run behind sprinter Hannah Morris, throwers Leeza Henry and Shelly Lienemann, and a 400 relay team that’s tied for the B state lead. Norfolk Catholic also figures in.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Nicole Brungardt, Norfolk Catholic, moved into a tie for fourth on the all-time 200 charts with a :24.4 at districts. Columbus Scotus freshman Amber Ewers was second in that race with a :24.5, tied for fifth all-time. Brungardt is the two-time defending gold medalist in the 200 and won the 100 in ’06.
Anne Martin, Waverly, won the long jump last season and the high jump in ’06. Currently leads the state in high jump at 5-8.
Liz Mach, Bishop Neumann, is a three-time state titlist — the triple jump in ’05 and last season, and the long jump in ’06. Also has B’s fastest 100 hurdle time.
Hannah Morris, Scottsbluff, broke the tape in the B 100 in ’05 and ’07. Also a threat to win the 200.
Katie White, Broken Bow, took first in the 1,600 and 3,200 in ’05 and ’06, but surrendered both titles to Eliza Kolbo of Omaha Gross last season. White also won 800 in ’06.
CLASS C
TEAM RACE: Amber Hegge led Crofton to four straight titles, but even with Hegge now competing at the University of South Dakota, Crofton is still a contender behind discus thrower Morgan Wilken and a bevy of distance runners. Laurel-Concord finished 10 points behind Crofton at districts, but the Bears have quality state points in sophomore sprinter Bethany DeLong.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Bethany DeLong, Laurel-Concord, has C’s fastest times in the 100 (:11.9) and 200 (:24.9).
Cami Hasenohr, Wilber-Clatonia, beat DeLong in the 100 last year at state.
Erica Hamik, Kearney Catholic, won the 1,600 the last two years. This season, she has the fastest C times in the 400 and 800.
Morgan Wilken, Crofton, leads the state at 150-8 in the discus. She won that event in ’06.
CLASS D
TEAM RACE: Humphrey St. Francis’ depth in the sprints will be difficult to contend with. The Flyers have two qualifiers each in the 100, 200 and 400, and had the top district times in both the 400 and 1,600 relays. Bertrand has the potential to score with hurdler Taylor Tacha and pole vaulter Jennifer Dannehl, both returning state champions.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Taylor Tacha, Bertrand, moved into a tie for sixth in the 100 hurdle all-time charts with the :14.5 she ran at districts. She’s the two-time defending D champion.
Skylar Rohde, Ansley, is the two-time defending D champion in the 100 and 200.
Jennifer Dannehl, Bertrand, leads the D charts this spring in the pole vault and has won gold the last two years in that event.
Paige Frauendorfer, Humphrey, won the long jump last season and has the best marks in D this season in both the long jump and high jump.
— Ron Powell
TEAM RACE: With the duo of standout distance runner Emily Sisson and hurdler Kianna Elahi, Millard North has a solid base of quality points to build toward the team title. Throw in 2006 3,200 state champion Megan Oddo, and the scoring potential in the distance events gives the Mustangs a big advantage. The fact they scored 180 points at districts shows they have depth, as well. Lincoln Southeast can make a run behind hurdler KK Houser, sprinter Katie Birkel and a record-breaking 1,600 relay team. Defending state champion Grand Island has sprinter Alex Armes and hurdler/400 runner Suzanne Higgins as its headliners.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Emily Sisson, Millard North, is second on the all-time charts in both the 1,600 (4:51.42) and 3,200 (10:21.71) and eighth in the 800 (2:14.26). Only a sophomore, this is her final Nebraska state meet before her family moves to the Kansas City, Mo., area.
Kianna Elahi, Millard North, broke the state record in the 300 hurdles last season (43.03 seconds). Should also pick up points in the 100 hurdles and 400.
KK Houser, Lincoln Southeast, won the all-class gold in the 100 hurdles (:14.56, ninth all-time). Also owns the fastest time this spring in the 300s (:44.07).
Katie Birkel, Lincoln Southeast, is eighth all-time in the 400 with the :55.96 at state last year. Has the fastest time this spring at :56.46.
Tara Korshoj, Millard West, won three all-class golds in 2006 (long jump, triple jump and 400) but was injured last year. She’s third all-time in the triple jump (39-10¼).
LaQue Davis, Omaha Central, cracked the all-time top 10 in the 100 hurdles with a :14.57 this season. Freshman is also among the A leaders in the 200.
Alex Armes, Grand Island, took A gold in the 100 and 200 last year.
CLASS B
TEAM RACE: Bishop Neumann has gold-medal possibilities from Liz Mach in the jumps and 100 hurdles, McKenzie Fujan in the 300 hurdles and all three relay teams. Scottsbluff will make its run behind sprinter Hannah Morris, throwers Leeza Henry and Shelly Lienemann, and a 400 relay team that’s tied for the B state lead. Norfolk Catholic also figures in.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Nicole Brungardt, Norfolk Catholic, moved into a tie for fourth on the all-time 200 charts with a :24.4 at districts. Columbus Scotus freshman Amber Ewers was second in that race with a :24.5, tied for fifth all-time. Brungardt is the two-time defending gold medalist in the 200 and won the 100 in ’06.
Anne Martin, Waverly, won the long jump last season and the high jump in ’06. Currently leads the state in high jump at 5-8.
Liz Mach, Bishop Neumann, is a three-time state titlist — the triple jump in ’05 and last season, and the long jump in ’06. Also has B’s fastest 100 hurdle time.
Hannah Morris, Scottsbluff, broke the tape in the B 100 in ’05 and ’07. Also a threat to win the 200.
Katie White, Broken Bow, took first in the 1,600 and 3,200 in ’05 and ’06, but surrendered both titles to Eliza Kolbo of Omaha Gross last season. White also won 800 in ’06.
CLASS C
TEAM RACE: Amber Hegge led Crofton to four straight titles, but even with Hegge now competing at the University of South Dakota, Crofton is still a contender behind discus thrower Morgan Wilken and a bevy of distance runners. Laurel-Concord finished 10 points behind Crofton at districts, but the Bears have quality state points in sophomore sprinter Bethany DeLong.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Bethany DeLong, Laurel-Concord, has C’s fastest times in the 100 (:11.9) and 200 (:24.9).
Cami Hasenohr, Wilber-Clatonia, beat DeLong in the 100 last year at state.
Erica Hamik, Kearney Catholic, won the 1,600 the last two years. This season, she has the fastest C times in the 400 and 800.
Morgan Wilken, Crofton, leads the state at 150-8 in the discus. She won that event in ’06.
CLASS D
TEAM RACE: Humphrey St. Francis’ depth in the sprints will be difficult to contend with. The Flyers have two qualifiers each in the 100, 200 and 400, and had the top district times in both the 400 and 1,600 relays. Bertrand has the potential to score with hurdler Taylor Tacha and pole vaulter Jennifer Dannehl, both returning state champions.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Taylor Tacha, Bertrand, moved into a tie for sixth in the 100 hurdle all-time charts with the :14.5 she ran at districts. She’s the two-time defending D champion.
Skylar Rohde, Ansley, is the two-time defending D champion in the 100 and 200.
Jennifer Dannehl, Bertrand, leads the D charts this spring in the pole vault and has won gold the last two years in that event.
Paige Frauendorfer, Humphrey, won the long jump last season and has the best marks in D this season in both the long jump and high jump.
— Ron Powell
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