The NSAA state track and field championships continued on Thursday at Burke Stadium in Omaha. It was the final day of competition for Classes A and B.
Broken Bow’s Gunner Baltz and Drew Ellis each competed in the Class B boys discus on Thursday. It was a great day for both as each threw a personal best at the state championships. Baltz was in the opening flight of thrower’s and went 160′ 8″, a personal best, on his second attempt which was good enough to get him into the finals and receive three additional throws. Ellis was in the second flight of thrower’s and went a personal best 161′ 2″ on his third attempt which sent him to the finals for three additional throws. Entering the finals, Ellis was eighth and Baltz was ninth. In the finals, Baltz moved up in the standings by bettering his personal best with an effort of 163′ 9″ on his second throw of the finals which would put him on the medal podium in 8th place. Ellis finished 9th overall at the state tournament. The Class B boys discus was won by Andrew Shada of Elkhorn North with a winning effort of 187′ 4″.
In other area notes from Thursday, Bryson Neels of Gothenburg was the Class B state champion in the boys 800 with a winning time of 1:53.01. Gothenburg’s Jax Rickertson was the state champion in the Class B boys pole vault with a winning height of 15′ 4″. Braiton Snider of Cozad was the state runner-up in the boys pole vault clearing 14′ 6″. Cozad’s Chayden Hoffmaster was the Class B state runner-up in the boys long jump with an effort of 23′ 2″. Lily Fritton of Gothenburg placed third in the Class B girls high jump clearing 5′ 4″ and Halsey Thomalla of Gothenburg was the 7th place medalist in the Class B girls shot put with an effort of 39′ 5.25″. Bryson Snider of Cozad was the 6th place medalist in the Class B boys 100 with a time of 11.09 seconds. Evan Johnson of Gothenburg was the 8th place medalist in the Class B boys 110 meter hurdles with a time of 15.77. Tyler Hetz of Gothenbug placed sixth in the boys 1600 (4:21.68) and Gothenburg was fourth in the boys 4×400 meter relay.
Gothenburg finished third in the Class B boys team standings with 37.5 points. Waverly was the Class B boys team champion and Lincoln Pius X was second. Bennington won the Class B girls team champion and Elkhorn North was runner-up. Lincoln North Star won the Class A boys team championship and Papillion LaVista South claimed the Class A girls team title.
