Athletes take aim at Class D titles

OMAHA, Neb. – The 2015 NSAA State Track & Field Championships are set to begin at Burke Stadium in Omaha this weekend.

Dozens of local student athletes have qualified for one of the NSAA's most spectacular showcases. The meet is scheduled to start Friday and conclude with championships the next day.

Three local Class D high schools – Creek Valley, Leyton and Potter-Dix – qualified a total of 23 student-athletes for the big show with several others making the trip as relay alternates.

Creek Valley Storm

The Creek Valley Storm send sophomore Jessie Straber and freshman Payje Misegadis to state. Straber, who made the field in the high jump in 2014, returns to compete in the same event this season. She also adds the triple jump to her schedule.

Misegadis, who tied for second at districts in the pole vault, makes her first appearance on the grand stage. Misegadis cleared 7-06 in the vault at districts. Though she will likely need to add a foot or more to her personal best to medal, she is a good athlete with a high ceiling for improvement.

With the experience of going to state in her freshman year, Straber should be that much more prepared for the bright lights. She is among a large group of high jumpers capable of clearing 5-0. A personal best would put her in a strong position for a medal in a deep field. A personal best may also be needed in the triple jump to gain a medal.

Leyton Warriors

The Leyton Warriors send nine athletes to Omaha, including senior state veterans Kaitlyn Berner and Shaela Jenkins. Dani McKay, also a senior that qualified in discus as a sophomore, helped secure the victory in the 1,600-meter relay at districts. However, she will be replaced by junior Kristine Barnett at state. McKay left Tuesday for Germany on a family trip.

"Kristine has actually run the race in place of Jessica before so she's familiar with the event and I'm very comfortable with her there," said Lady Warriors' head coach Jodi Craig.

Also representing the Lady Warriors at state are Jessica Houk and Cheyenne Nickel who will join forces with Berner and Barnett in the 4x400-meter relay. Abbe Draper, who missed qualifying in the 100 hurdles by 0.04 seconds, will go as an alternate in the relay. In the boys' competition, Jake Ernest (shot put) and Rhett Dye (3,200) head to Omaha as district champions.

Berner is going back to state for the fourth consecutive year. This season she qualified in both the 800 and triple jump. Berner is in the running for gold in the 800 after she qualified for state in the fastest time among the 11 district meets held around the state. Her season best (2:27.8) is a close second to the best run all year in Class D. The battle will be close, however, as the top five qualifiers have run times within 2.2 seconds of each other.

Berner also stands in good stead among the state's best triple jumpers. She is ranked third in Class D by Athletic.net.

As Jenkins goes back to state in the 100-meter hurdles, she goes in as the two-time defending district champion in the event. She also went to state in the hurdles as a sophomore when she qualified based on time.

"Going in now as a two-time district champion is a little different than when Shaela went in on time as a sophomore," Craig said. "She knows the routine and the track now, so she won't be taken off her game by the big stage."

Juniors Ernest and Dye will likely need a personal best to medal at state. Both, however, turned in their best-ever performances at districts and are in peak form. Ernest put the shot 47 feet, 7 inches in Morrill which lands him somewhere in the middle of the pack. Dye shaved two seconds off his P.R. at districts with a time of 11:07.4. Dye's performance also lands him somewhere in the middle of the pack among the state qualifiers.

Potter-Dix Coyotes

Potter-Dix qualified 14 for the field at state, including several with a chance to become state champions. Head coach Bob Hilpert will also bring three additional athletes to serve as alternates on the relay teams.

Senior Jake Johnson leads the boys into Omaha for his fourth trip to Burke Stadium. He qualified in four events including the 800 meters, 1,600, 1,600 relay and the 3,200 relay. Johnson will partner with Cooper Hicks, Cameron Purcell and Sam Bogert in both relay's. Junior Kelsey Rozelle made the grade in four events too. He will do battle in the high jump, long jump, 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Hicks will add the 300-meter hurdles and 400 meters to his relays giving him a four-event state meet as well. Younger brother Coby Hicks, a junior, takes on the pole vault and 110-meter high hurdles.

The eight Lady Coyotes making the trip eastward are Payton Franklin (100 hurdles, pole vault), Regyn Hicks (high jump, 1,600 relay), Ryley Hicks (pole vault), Payge Hoffman (1,600 relay), Anna McLaughlin (high jump), Alexus Rozelle (discus, shot put), Savannah Shaw (1,600 relay) and Hope Shepard (1,600 relay).

Among the Coyotes that are a threat to mine gold, the boys' 4x800 relay team heads the list. Athletic.net has the Coyotes best 2015 race as the top in the state by nearly 10 seconds. The team from Chambers Public Schools, however, came within five seconds of the Coyotes best at their district meet.

"The times can be deceptive," said Coyotes head coach Bob Hilpert. "The teams with the next best times may not have run their four best guys at districts. Of course our team is very strong, but anyone on your district roster can run at state. You don't always know what you're up against."

Among the individuals, Alexus Rozelle had the second longest discus throw in Nebraska Class D at districts. Her throw of 121-06 was about 10 feet off the 131-09 tossed by Kersten Peters of Scribner-Snyder. She is also a threat to medal in the shot put.

"Her throws in the discus measure up very well against the field so a good day by Alexus could mean a high medal for her," Hilpert said.

Older brother, Kelsey Rozelle, looks to be a strong contender in both his field events. His best mark in the long jump is among the best in the state. A slight improvement in his P.R. in the high jump would put him in contention for a top-three medal. Rozelle's best chance for a high placing will come in his field events. He will have the added challenge of having to compete in the high jump shortly after he runs a preliminary heat in the 100.

Though Cooper Hicks was about a second off his best at districts in the 400, a return to his top performance could also threaten for a top-three placing. The 300 hurdles appear wide open for a high medal. In addition to the relay's, Johnson is a candidate to medal in both the 800 and 1,600. He ran his personal best in the mile at state as a sophomore when he medaled in sixth.

Among the girls, Regyn Hicks is one of the few in Class D to have jumped 5-2 or better in the high jump. Though Shayla Dockweiler of South Loup High School jumped 5-5.25 at districts, no one else has exceeded Hicks' season best.

CLASS D STATE TRACK & FIELD PARTICIPANTS

Here are the local high school athletes who will participate in this weekend's Class D State Track & Field Meet, with class rank in parentheses and events:

Leyton Warriors – Boys

Coach: Glen Lipska

Rhett Dye (11) 3,200 Meters

Jacob Ernest (11) Shot Put

Girls

Coach: Jodi Craig

Kaitlyn Berner (12) 800 Meters, Triple Jump, 1,600-Meter Relay

Jessica Houk (11) 1,600-Meter Relay

Shaela Jenkins (12) 100-Meter Hurdles

Kristine Barnett (12) 1,600-Meter Relay

Cheyenne Nickel (10) 1,600-Meter Relay

• • •

Potter-Dix Coyotes – Boys

Coach: Robert Hilpert

Sam Bogert (11) 3,200-Meter Relay, 1,600-Meter Relay

Coby Hicks (11) Pole Vault, 110-Meter Hurdle, 1,600-Meter Relays

Cooper Hicks (12) 300-Meter Hurdles, 400 Meters, 3,200-Meter Relay

Jake Johnson (12) 800 Meters, 1,600 Meters, 1,600-Meter Relay, 3,200-Meter Relay

Cameron Purcell (12) 800 Meters, 3,200-Meter Relay, 1,600-Meter Relay

Kelsey Rozelle (11) 100 Meters, 200 Meters, High Jump, Long Jump

Girls

Coach: Robert Hilpert

Payton Franklin (10) 100-Meter Hurdles, Pole Vault

Regyn Hicks (11) High Jump, 1,600-Meter Relay

Ryley Hicks (12) Pole Vault

Payge Hoffman (9) 1,600-Meter Relay

Anna McLaughlin (11) High Jump

Alexus Rozelle (10) Discus, Shot Put

Savanah Shaw (11) 1,600-Meter Relay

Hope Shepard (12) 1,600-Meter Relay

• • •

Creek Valley Storm – Girls

Coach: Bill Wilber

Payje Misegadis (9) Pole Vault

Jessie Straber (10) High Jump, Triple Jump