Clara Nichols Earns 4 Golds and Millard South Invite Meet Record
Central’s Ted Lampkin has Big Day for Boys, while Fremont’s Distance Runner Danny Aldaba proves to be a Monster in the Making.
OK. I’m going to say it: When I first saw Nichols run in this meet as a freshman, I wrote the following in an article titled Clara Nichols is One to Watch in ’09-Freshman Scores- Triple Gold At-Millard South Invite: “Along with her form, Nichols has the type of God-given frame that can mature and allow her to become one of Nebraska’s best girl sprinters ever.”
A noticeably leaner and more toned Nichols has obviously been working to make the best of what God gave her. She has gradually improved her speed and strength each year, and as a result she now possess the kind of foot snap and leg kick that can take her to some girl times seldom seen in Nebraska high school track. In my opinion, the upside for Nichols is high because she has such smooth mechanics, which is something that is very hard to train. But if a sprinter is blessed enough to have it all they need to do is refine it while they work hard to gain more power. More power means that a sprinter is capable of covering more distance with each snap of the foot when it contacts the ground; therefore, he or she is able to post faster times.
How fast can Clara Nichols go?
Will she break the 400 state meet record or even the all-time record this year?
All I can say with confidence is that if she stays healthy and keeps her focus she is more than capable of running a low 54 second 400 meter before her high school days are over. She could even challenge the 200 meter mark and don’t count her out of making some historic noise in the 100. Because she will get stronger and more powerful—scary!
The meet record she broke was set by Omaha Central’s Jasmine Johnson, an athlete I followed and worked around since the time she was in the 7th grade. Nichols beat her record by almost half a second. Johnson had plenty of power but came up a little shy on form. That’s why I know we haven’t seen the best of Nichols yet!
Ted Lampkin showed nice form in breezing to easy victories in the 100 and 200 and he also added a few more inches to his season’s best triple jump (46′ 10 and 3/4). His jump was just 1/4 inch shy of a meet record. The Iowa State bound Lampkin finished the day anchoring the Eagles’ meet record setting 4X100 team (42.52). He will have a tough decision to make come state time. What event will he drop?
- Danny Aldaba: The Fremont sophomore makes it look easy. He will post top 10 times in the 3200 before his career is over.
Fremont sophomore Danny Aldaba blew away reinging state 3200 meter champion Marshall Anderson, posting a season’s best time in the event of 9:29.34. This kid can run. He can really run! Look for some big things from him in the future.
Elijah Tostenson, a senior from Millard South, looked exceptionally strong in posting a season’s best 1:59.34 800 meter. He almost missed out on the feat when he was tripped towards the end of the first lap and almost fell, before regaining his balance to win the race going away (see video below).
Millard West sophomore Sidney Hirsch lopped a bunch 0f seconds off her season’s best 3200 when she won the event in 11:21.24.
Burke junior, Michell Walerstadt tossed the disc 152 feet 1 inch to lead all throwers in the state and break her own meet record by nearly 9 feet.
This season is really looking good.
Millard South High School Track and Field Invite 2011 Highlight Video. Featuring Clara Nichols, Ted Lampkin and Elijah Tostenson.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEbQQD8mIkM
April 11, 2011 @ 4:51 pm
Do you think Clara Nichols can beat Brianna McGhee in the 200 at state this year? And what about Woitzel she has faster times than Nichols in the 400 but she seems to have lost her way.
Teddy Lampkin looks good this year in the sprints, but is Daniel Davie running this year or what? I think that the Huskers will end up regretting they didn’t offer Teddy. He will be more productive in college than Davie IMO.
April 11, 2011 @ 6:34 pm
McGhee and Nichols will be fun to watch. McGhee has gone under 25 before and that is what it will take to win in that showdown. Saying Woitzel has lost her way is off base as her 58.1 for the first time out this year is fast and there is a long season left, plus we haven’t seen an 800 yet, however Nichols early 56.5 has set the bar very high. Lampkin is a fantastic athlete, only time will tell as he and Davies mature in terms of college football potential.
April 11, 2011 @ 7:37 pm
Bulldogs: You beat me to it but pretty much the same:
Anonymous Good Stuff: Brianna McGhee vs. Clara Nichols—I have not seen Brianna run this year, but if she is at least as good as last year she will be hard to beat in the 200. Assuming that she is as good or even better, Nichols’ only chance will be to have a great start and attack the first curve. She needs to be no more than 1 stride behind McGhee coming out of the last turn to have a chance. She can win if she does because she is a stronger finisher. Nichols had a horrible start last year at state (see the video: que at 6:06.) The race was over for Nichols before she even made it into the first turn. On the other hand, McGhee had a great start; she nearly had a three stride lead on Nichols coming out of the last turn. That’s way too much for even Nichols to make up. McGhee even gave up a stride by taking the last curve way too wide and she still ran a 24.8. So the things McGhee needs to focus on is her last turn and finish. I think both girls can run legitimate low 24s. In fact: that should be their minimum expectations every time out.
Morgan Woitzel: pick your poison: She could be working through an injury, but her form is way off—she is not relaxed and she is fighting her upper body—too much twisting across the body going on there. That could be due to lack of conditioning and or focus or it could be an injury. Don’t know. But as a freshman she ran a legitimate 55.67 400 at state (tied for 5th best all-time) so there is still hope.
Daniel Davie vs. Ted Lampkin. Lampkin looks like his form has improved over last year, but like Brianna in the 200, if Davie is at least as good as last year he will be hard to beat. Based on what I saw last year It, would be easier for one to beat him in the 100 than the 200, But like you, I’ve no word yet if he will even be running. As for college performances between the two—times will tell.
it’s a little too early in the season to make any predictions on the boys 100, 200 or 400. I see some interesting things developing there.