Red Raiders Take Eight Golds at John Ganser Invite

Mike Motz, Sidney Sun-Telegraph

It was a smart choice, moving the John Ganser Invite from Saturday, March 25 to Friday March 24, as the weather on Saturday would only be suitable for a hockey game or dog sled race. Nevertheless, the change in date did not effect the Sidney Red Raider Track & Filed team in their first meet of the season, as they took home eight gold medals and runner-up team honors behind first place Gering.

Juniors Luke Holly and Isak Doty finished first and second in the 100 meters and freshman Lance Holly took fourth place. Luke Holly and Isak Doty also finished first and second in the 200 meters, and Lance Holly also had a fourth place finish.

Sophomore Noah Canas finished second in the 800 meters and 1600 meters, and the Sidney 4x100 meter relay team (Lance Holly, Isak Doty, Landon Riddle, Luke Holly) took first place.

Senior Jacob Dowse won the High Jump and senior Cam Leeling won the Long Jump.

For the girls, junior Payton Schrotberger placed third in the 100 meters and fifth in the 200 meters, junior Talissa Tanquary won the 400 meters and 800 meters. Junior Chloe Ahrens won the 100 Meter Hurdles and 300 Meter Hurdles, and Sidney's 4x400 Meter Relay team (Chloe Ahrens, Talissa Tanquary, Gabrielle Fortner and Katie Dowse) won their event. Sophomore Jordan DeNovellis placed fourth in the Discus and junior Karsyn Leeling won the High Jump, Long Jump and Triple Jump. Her Triple Jump distance of 34' 6.5" was a Personal Record.

Creek Valley sent their team to compete in the Division II events, and were led by senior Elizabeth Whiting who placed first in the 200 Meters and second in the 100 Meters. Senior Ella Ningen placed fifth in the 400 Meters and eighth in the 800 Meters. Freshman Rebecca Lutz placed ninth in the 800 Meters and ninth in the 1600 Meters, and freshman Kyndi Martinez placed second in the 300 meter Hurdles.

For the Creek Valley boys, freshman Mason Timm placed sixth in the 800 meters and seventh in the 1600 Meters. Freshman Zander Polk placed fifth in the 1600 Meters, and freshman Michael Prince-Dugan placed seventeenth in the 100 Meters, and freshman Feenix Higginbotham placed twenty-seventh in the 100 Meters and twenty-third in the 200 Meters.