CHADRON INDOOR HIGH SCHOOL TRACK MEET: Red Raider teams shine in 2015 opener

CHADRON – If you want to find a quick way to go a short distance, you may want to hitch your wagon to Sidney's' Von Seggern sisters, Sara and Kelly.

If a longer distance is your goal, maybe a ride with the Red Raiders' 4x800-relay team of Jachob Wiedeburg, Hayden Lienemann, Brody McKnight and Logan Uhlir will get you there on time.

While there were no team points tabulated, no medals awarded and no sun to bask in, the annual Chadron Indoor High School Track Meet gave 450 student athletes from 16 schools in three different classes an opportunity to stretch their legs in the opening track meet of the 2015 season.

The Raiders' girls won six of 15 events while the boys took the titles in three events. Among the Sidney individual girls winners were Kelly Von Seggern (55 meters), Sara Von Seggern (200 meters) and Jasmine Jallen (pole vault).

Genessa Schilz was part of three winning efforts, including her top finish in the individual 400. She also ran a leg in both of Sidney's winning relays, the 4x400 and 4x800. Schilz teamed up with Preslie Allen, Abby Heller and Savanna Rosenbaum in the 1,600 relay. Schilz was joined by Allen, Charlie Brockhaus and Kara Birner in the 3,200 relay. Brockhaus and Birner are freshmen.

On the boys' side, junior Jake Heeren picked up where he left off last year in the shot put as he easily won the event that he earned him a bronze medal at state in 2014. Wiedeburg and Brenner Keane took the top two places in the 1,600 meters. Additionally, the 4x800 team that took sixth at state last year, was strong in its return to the track.

As for the girls, Sidney looked particularly strong in the sprints. Freshman Kelly Von Seggern (7.78) edged the field in a tight race in the 55 meters. Among those close behind was senior Sara Von Seggern, who finished fourth just .07 behind her younger sister. The elder Von Seggern still managed to taste victory, however, with a clear win in the 200. Teammate Kate Brosnan took sixth in that event.

"It was a close race and I knew there was a chance Kelly could beat me," said Sara Von Seggern of the 55 meters. "I think it will be close between us all year. I would like to go faster, but it's so early in the season. It's a little hard to know exactly where we are right now."

In the middle and long-distance races, Birner finished a solid third in the 800 with another freshman, Chantal Riggs, just one place behind in fourth. Erin Lindeman was sixth in the mile and Mia Hernandez was runner-up in the two mile.

In the field events, Jallen took the Lady Raiders lone event victory as she was the only one to clear the bar at 7 feet, 8 inches.

"For this early in the season, I'm happy with the height but I would have been happier if I had shown better form," said Jallen, whose personal best is 8-7. "This meet is really just a big practice and I think I've learned what I can do to improve from here."

Rosenbaum had a productive opening to her high jump season with a leap of 4-10, which placed her in fourth. Rosenbaum, a senior, has qualified for state in the high jump in each of the three previous seasons.

"My goal today was to get off to a good start to the season and figure out the things I need to work on for next week," said Rosenbaum, who has already signed a letter of intent to jump at Hastings College. "A lot of this is just conditioning right now. Playing basketball all winter helps some (with conditioning) but you're using such different muscle groups, it definitely takes time to get in shape for a different sport."

On the boys' side, Heeren and Alex Linneman have had only a week of practice after going to state with the basketball team. Both, however, were satisfied with their performances considering their lack of practice.

"I came into today thinking I wanted to keep going with what me and Logan (Lewis) had going last year," said Heeren, who threw a personal best shot put of 55-1 at districts last season. "Honestly, I didn't think I would throw over 50 today, so I'll accept this for the first meet of the year."

Linneman finished third in the 55 meters, three spots ahead of teammate John Bramer. In the triple jump, an event he excelled in last season, he scratched on all three of his attempts.

"Maybe I had too much adrenaline going today," Linneman said. "I need some improvement and I think with some more practice time I'll get my mark down better."

In the 200 meters, Michael Muggli was the top Raiders finisher with a third-place finish (25.20). Bremer (25.35) and Derek Robb (25.41) finished close behind in fifth and sixth respectively. Meanwhile, Ryan Aurich was a close second in the 3,200 meters.

In the field events, Josh Schaub finished in a tie for second in the high jump with a leap of 5-8. Robb's fifth place in the pole vault was also a positive start to his high school track career.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

BASEBALL

Tuesday, March 24

Caliche at Peetz, 2 p.m.

Thursday, March 26

Prairie at Peetz (DH), 1 p.m.

GOLF

Friday, March 27

Sidney at North Platte, 8 a.m. MDT

TRACK & FIELD

Saturday, March 28

Creek Valley, Leyton, Sidney at Sidney Invite, 9:30 a.m.

Potter-Dix at Kimball Invitational, 9 a.m.

Peetz at Holyoke, 1 p.m.