State Track Meet Boys 100m and 200m Preview: History on the Line
Freshman Brings Top District Sprint Times to Burke— is Jake Paulsen for Real?
The 2011 State Track and Field Meet has the potential to produce one of several combinations of historic feats that will all hinge on the outcomes of the boys 100m and 200m finals. Remarkably, all of the possible lofty scenarios at stake will center around two highly talented freshmen boys—Jake Paulsen and Kenzo Cotton. I’m fairly confident about Cotton’s abilities and limitations but I can’t say the same about Paulsen’s.
| Kenzo Cotton Part of talented freshmen duo looking to make history | Athlete (School) Storyline—Events Chances of Winning Event: (F) = Fair; (G) = Good; (S) = Strong. |
 | 1. Ted Lampkin (Omaha Central) Wins 4 All-Class Gold Medals—needs to win the 100m (S): long Jump (G): triple (S): 400m relay (S). 2. Nehemiah Wilkins (Boys Town) Wins 4 All-Class Gold Medals—needs to win the 100m (S); 110m HH (S): 300m IMH (S): 400 Meter Relay (F). Or First To Win 110 HH, 300m IMH and 100m All-Cass in Same Year. 3. Levi Gipson (Lincoln Christian) Sweeps Boys All-Class Sprints and Wins Long Jump—needs to win 100m (F); 200m (G); 400m (G) and long jump (G). 4. Jake Paulsen (Cozad) First Feshman Boy to Win All-Class: 100m (S) and/or 200m (S). 5. Kenzo Cotton (Papillion-La Vista) First Freshman Boy to Win All-Class: 100m (F) and/or 200m (S). Class sprint records could also be set in the 100m and/or 200m. |
Jake Paulsen: The Truth Shall Soon Be Known
Paulsen enters the 2011 state meet having posted the top district meet times in the 100m (10.6) and 200m (21.5). If his district times are legitimate, the most likely storyline to come out of the boys side of the meet will be: Freshman Jake “The Cozad Cobra” Paulsen Strikes Quickly to Grab Two All-Class Gold Medals.
That would be quite the accomplishment for the young lad because, according to the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) records, no freshman boy has won a 100m, 200m or 400m all-class gold medal since 1980, when they first began running meters instead of yards. Jake Paulsen could be the first. But not so fast Cozad Cobra! I’ve’ seen the hype before—and quite recently too.
Cases in Point:
- On April 29th, Lincoln Christians’ Levi Gipson posted a season’s best 10.50 100m at the Columbus Lakeview Invitational. A week later, at the May 6th Centennial Conference Meet, Gipson’s 10.90 was second to Boys Town’s Nehemiah Wilkins’s first place time of 10.70.
- Last year, Tim Thompson of Boys Town reportedly ran Nebraska’s No.1 ranked all-time chart 100m—10.20! Yet at the state meet his second place Class B time was 10.74. He lost to Beatrice’s Daniel Davie, another sprinter that posted an all-time chart 10.40 100m during the regular season. But at the state meet Davie won all-class gold with a time of 10.73.
So forgive me if I’m not quite ready to buy into the Cozad Cobra’s amazing times.
| Boys 100 Meter All-Class Gold Winners & Times Since 2000 | Boys 200 Meter All-Class Gold Winners & Times Since 2000 |
| 2010-Daniel Davie, Beatrice, 10.74 2009-Radell Nared, Omaha North, 10.84 2008-Kohlman Adema-Schulte, Millard West, 10.67 2007-Tirus Meaders, Boys Town, 10.69 2006-Wesley Williams, Papillion-LVS, 10.97 2005-Virgil Mitchell III, Omaha Central, 10.74 2004-Ryan Fisicaro, Omaha Creighton Prep, 10.75 2003-Andy Birkel, Lincoln Southeast, 10.75 2002-Shawn Swan, Ralston, 10.86 2001-Cole Biodrowski, Fort Calhoun, 10.66 2000-Dusty Stamer, Grand Island, 10.70 | 2010-Daniel Davie, Beatrice, 21.95 2009-Jacob Marousek, Omaha Burke, 21.96 2008-Kohlman Adema-Schulte, Millard West, 21.84 2007-Brijesh Lawrence, Omaha Northwest, 21.48 2006-Lukas Hulett, Bellevue East, 21.94 2005-Virgil Mitchell III, Omaha Central, 22.05 2004-Brent Richardson, Kearney, 22.04 2003-Andy Birkel, Lincoln Southeast, 21.60 2002-Shawn Swan, Ralston, 21.92 2001-Cole Biodrowski, Fort Calhoun, 21.85 2000-Garth Mins, Lexington, 22.34 |
| Average Winning Time = 10.76 | Average Winning Time = 21.91 |
Is Paulsen really all that? We will know the answer as early as the prelims on Friday or by late Saturday afternoon.
| Name, Year, School | Class-District | Best 100 Time | Best 200 Time | District 100 Time * = won District | District 200 Time *= won District |
| Levi Gipson, 11, Lincoln Christian | C-2 | 10.50 | 22.10 | 11.00* | 22.10* |
| Jake Paulsen, 09, Cozad | B-6 | 10.60 | 21.50 | 10.60* | 21.50* |
| Nehemiah Wilkins, 12, Boys Town | B-1 | 10.60 | NA | 10.70* | NA |
| Tannor Mroczek, 12, Gothenburg | B-6 | 10.60 | 22.00 | 10.60 | 22.00 |
| Ted Lampkin, 12, Omaha Central | A-1 | 10.69 | NA | 10.97* | NA |
| Cody Rush, 11, GI Northwest | B-5 | NA | 21.50 | NA | 21.70″ |
| Michael Wickham, 11, Bennington | B-1 | 10.70 | 21.80 | 10.90 | 21.80 |
| Ashton LeBar, 11, Adams Central | B-5 | 10.70 | NA | 10.70* | NA |
| Kenzo Cotton, 09, Papillion-La Vista | A-2 | 10.80 | 21.80 | 10.91* | 21.90* |
| Blake Micek, 12, Hastings St. Cecilia | C-7 | 10.80 | 22.30 | 10.80* | 22.30* |
| Ricky Hulse, 11, York | B-5 | 10.80 | 22.50 | 10.90 | 22.50 |
| Garrett Teel, 10, Lincoln Pius X | A-2 | NA | 22.00 | NA | 22.42 |
| Dominique Hawkins, 12, Bellevue West | A-4 | 10.84 | 22.10 | 10.85* | 22.04* |
| Devin Barfield, 10, Omaha Central | A-1 | 11.01 | 22.16 | 11.25 | 22.45* |
| Bo Liekhus, 11, Bellevue West | A-4 | NA | 22.16 | NA | 22.16 |
| Talon Matzner, 12, Tri County | C-3 | 10.80 | 22.30 | 10.80* | 23.20 |
| Sam Burtch, 12, Elmwood-Murdock | C-2 | NA | 22.60 | NA | 23.30 |
Breaking Down Likely Class Battles in the 100m and 200m Finals:
100 Meter
Class A—Ted Lampkin, Kenzo Cotton, and Dominique Hawkins
These three battled to a 1,2,3 finish at Metro exactly the way their names appear above—with Lampkin having room to spare. Outside of Teddy having a mishap or injury, Cotton will have to improve his start and transition phase (get to his top speed sooner) to have a shot at a victory here.
Class B—Jake Paulsen, Nehemiah Wilkins, Tannor Mroczek, Ashton LeBar and Michal Wickham
This is the marquee 100m race of the day!
Can the Cobra hold off Mroczek again? The two battled to 10.60 finishes at the B-6 District—the Cobra got the nod at the tape. However, the more difficult task for the freshman is trying to outduel senior Nehemiah Wilkins at a big race in his backyard. Look out for Wickham and Ashton. If they run the perfect race either one could pull the upset? A lot is riding on this one!
Class C—Levi Gipson, Blake Micek and Talon Matzner
Levi Gipson ran the fastest 100m of the season (10.5), but I already explained what happened when he faced Nehemiah Wilkins. It brings to light that it’s all about the best running against the best that determines who really is the fastest. The state meet has its way of resolving any doubt. Micek is the reigning Class C 100m champion—the Hastings St. Cecilia junior will be hard to beat.
200 Meter
Class A—Kenzo Cotton, Devin Barfield and Garrett Teel
Kenzo Cotton bested Barfield in a competitive contest at Metro. He is too good not to pull it off again. However, the freshman will have to run for time if he wants all-class gold. Remember—Cody Rush and the Cobra have posted 21.50 200s. Cotton’s best time is 21.80. He posted an electronically-timed 22.00 at Metro on the state meet track and shows the ability to run even faster.
Class B—Jake Paulsen, Cody Rush and Michael Wickham
Like the 100m, Class B will also have the marquee race in the 200m.
Rush and Paulsen are tied for the season’s best time in the event, but they had better not overlook big Michael Wickham. I’m giving the edge here to Paulsen—only because of the hype.
Class C—Levi Gipson vs. Blake Micek
Not a lot of competition for Class C in this one, but the 200m all-class gold could be in play for Gipson—he should win this battle.
Conclusion
This marks the 4th state track and field meet that I’ve followed through MHN: it’s the most intriguing of the bunch and the hardest one to predict the eventual all-class sprint winners. But here goes my best shot:
100 Meter Prediction
Gipson, entering with the season’s best time, has already been beaten by Wilkins. Lampkin has already beaten Cotton—even in the 200m earlier in the season. Lampkin and Wilkins are proven, top-notch, seasoned competitors, but what about this freshman Jake Paulsen? Are his 10.60 times to be taken like Gipson’s 10.50? Or I’m I to believe that a freshman can come into Burke Stadium—stomping grounds of Lampkin and Wilkins—and outrun them?
Answer: No!
So that leaves Lampkin and Wilkins—it’s too close to call.
200 Meter Prediction
I have seen Kenzo Cotton run and I like what I see. I can also trust his 22.00 time because it was done on the state meet track. However, a 22.00 is nowhere close to Paulsen’s 21.50. But—again— is it legit? Even so, I’m going out on a limb here and predict something that I never thought would cross my mind—A freshman will win the all-class 200m. I’m just not certain of which one, but I’m leaning towards Cotton.
Event: 2011 State Track and Field Meet Boys 100 & 200 Meter Finals
Location: Harry A. Burke High School 12200 Burke Blvd Omaha, NE
Date & Time: Saturday, May 21—100m and 200m Finals tentatively scheduled for 12:30 P.M. and 3:40 P.M. respectively.
Extended Weather Forecast: 76 HI, 56 Low, cloudy, 40% chance of T-Storms
Location: Harry A. Burke High School 12200 Burke Blvd Omaha, NE
Date & Time: Saturday, May 21—100m and 200m Finals tentatively scheduled for 12:30 P.M. and 3:40 P.M. respectively.
Extended Weather Forecast: 76 HI, 56 Low, cloudy, 40% chance of T-Storms
May 18, 2011 @ 7:13 pm
Jake Paulsen is going to surprise a lot of people and he will definitely win Class B 100 and 200. I wish he could run against lampkin to cause I think he would blow him out. You can keep teasing him if you want but he will get the last laugh.
May 19, 2011 @ 10:30 am
C’mon now Cozad Cobra ha, ha. Look at what I’m saying as more of prepping Paulsen and challenging him rather than a tease. I simply love fine young athletes and great competition. The better the comp the more people become interested and the more other young kids and their parents will want to get involved in the sport.
I don’t know how good the kid is because I have not seen him run, but I’m hoping that he is as good as advertised, for the reasons stated above. May the best boy win!
May 18, 2011 @ 9:26 pm
To Cozad Cobra ha, ha. Put down that drank, put out the blunt and call it a day because it ain’t going to happen that way.