Can Kohlman Adema-Schulte Improve upon Last Year’s Stellar Performance?
He will need to with this tough group of contenders!

Newsman gears up for his favorite time of the year : Track Season.

By Will Cummings
myHitNews.com

   It’s here! Track season that is. However, with Nebraska’s spring weather being like it is, attending a track meet is like Forest Gump’s box of chocolates—you never know what you’re going to get when you wake up in the morning: It could be a beautiful sunny spring day or a miserable, cold, windy and wet one. Of course, all this unpredictable weather wrecks havoc on athletes and their coaches as they prepare to qualify for state. But the good news is that everybody is in the same boat. Even better, if you like speed--you won’t want to miss seeing this year’s crop of Nebraska sprinters!

Pot of Gold

The 2009 leader of the pack in Nebraska Boys Track Sprint Rankings is Millard West’s reigning All-Class Gold 100 and 200 meter Champ, and soon to be Northwest Missouri State football player Kohlmam Adema-Schulte.

The first time I saw the Adema-Schulte kid run last season at the Thunderbird Invite—I was so  impressed with his performance, the next day I did a piece about him (see article and video here.)

After capping off the ’08 season with his All-Class Gold time of 10.67 in the 100 meter, I stated that Adema-Schulte is capable of breaking the state meet 100 meter record of 10.60 next year: That would be this year, folks.  Will he break the record?  Well, if the rumors that Adema-Schulte suffered an injury are exaggerated or nonexistent, he most certainly can—if the weather is right, of course.  And with the talented group of sprinters that will be working to snatch that crown fom atop his head, Adema-Schulte will have to run faster to hold on to the title of Nebraska’s Fastest Boy.

Top Sprint Contenders for Title of Nebraska’s Fastest Boy

Right now, my top all-class gold 100, 200 and 400 contenders are (and it’s a long list):
Omaha Burke’s Jake Marousek, who placed third, last year, in the Class A 200 meter, but missed qualifying for state in the 100 meter due to a false start at districts. Marousek will be playing football next season for the University of South Dakota. But right now he looks to be in good track form early on in the season.

Omaha Northwest junior Antaries “AD” Daniels comes out swinging this year too. AD recently broke a record in the 55 meter dash held at the Nebraska Wesleyan College High School Invite. Daniels ran a 6.20 to break the record of 6.29 by nearly a tenth of a second. Two different events the 100 and 55—but I’m just saying “Watch out for AD!”

Seniors Vince Molina and Josh Mead of Kearney will also bring heat. In Class A they finished 2nd and 3rd  respectively at last year’s state meet.

Erskin Williams of Class B Boys Town looks to claim all-class 100 meter gold, He was last year’s Class B 100 meter runner-up.

University of South Dakota bound, Michael Burrus is just a little running form improvement away form being able to trump the field—has he improved? Last year, he finished a disappointing 5^th in the 100 meter and 4^th in the 200 meter at state.

Omaha Burke senior Kelvin Johnson looks to figure into the mix too. The big 6-1, 215 pound running back ran one of the best 100 meter times of the season last year. Many may not realize it but Ohio University head football coach Frank Solich was in need of a big fast back, and he was prepared to offer Johnson a scholarship if not for Johnson’s  freshman year grades that proved too difficult to overcome.. Several college recruiters I’ve spoken too stated that Johnson was the best RB prospect in the state last year. This fall, Johnson will be attending Iowa Western Community College—if he clamps down on the books at IWCC, in a couple of years, look to see Johnson’s name emerge as a strong D-1 junior college prospect.

Omaha North juniors Radell Nared and Thomas Hodges will also be in on the hunt. Nared was injured most of last season, while Hodges qualified for state as a sophomore in both the 100 and 200—he was the only sophomore to make it into the state finals in both events. Barring injury, look for both to at least be in medal contention at state.

Millard South’s Pal Deng qualified in ’08 for state as a sophomore in the 200, and he looks exceptionally strong early this season. Also don’t count out his teammate Jordan Hale in the 400. The All-Nebraska football player is headed to UNO in the fall.

Last year, Ryan Hernandez, out of South Sioux City, finished 6^th in the Class A 100 meter and the senior is back to improve upon things. In addition, be on the look out for Bellevue West’s talented Dominque Hawkins, the only freshman to qualify for state in the 100 meter last year--how much has he improved?

What about Burke junior Stephon Washington? Heck, he has to get by his own teammates Jake Marousek and Kelvin Johnson first to have a chance in the 100 or 200. But look for Washington to hold on to his 300 crown for certain and to have a legit shot at the 400 meter. Washington will have his hands full in the 400--he will have to hawk down: Class A 400 meter runner-up Zachary Vickers, of Millard South; former Burke teammate and current Westside sprinter Brandon White, who  placed 5th last year in the Class A 400 meter as a sophomore and Lincoln High’s state 400 finalist Paul Pape. 

You can also look for Class B’s Brock Ingersol, Scottsbluff,  and Garrett Shaal, Gordon-Rushville, to provide strong competition for the 400 all-class gold.

Please, someone tell me what’s up with Omaha Central’s boys sprinters?  Last year they were shut out of the finals in the 100, 200 and 400 meter sprints. Say what? Yep, it’s true. Will they be shut out this year too? 

 I never thought I’d ask this but “Where’s the speed at Central?”

Will Anyone “Shock the World” In ’09?

Who will be this year’s Nic Johnson, the colorful Omaha North sprinter who seemingly came out of nowhere to eventually capture the 400 all-class gold and silver all-class in the 200 and 4^th in the 100 meter?

It seems to happen almost every year—somebody just comes out of left field to shake things up. Within the next two weeks we should have a clue if that somebody is out there this year.

In the mean time and in-between time, get out to see some big name and big game sprinters perform at at a track near you.

Below watch last year’s state sprint finals featuring: Adema-Schulte, Molina, Mead, Marousek, Burrus, Hodges and more. Go to http://www.youtube.com/hitblog to check out the rest of our archived videos of last year’s track meet

Email myhitnews@yahoo.com for corrections, omissions, questions, suggestions or comments.

 My goodness! There are a bunch of sprinters out there capable of having the gold draped around their neck, come late May.”