Top Returning Girl Track and Field Stars: Review and Outlook
This is Part 2 of 3: Nebraska HS Track and Field State Meet Championships Notes
Part 1: Farewell to Three of the Best Ever
Part 3: Top Returning Boy Track and Field Stars: Review and Outlook
Part 1: Farewell to Three of the Best Ever
Part 3: Top Returning Boy Track and Field Stars: Review and Outlook
 Girls State Meet Gold MedalistPictured at left: Feeling the heat of 100m state record holder Bre’unna McCarty (left), Clara Nichols finds another gear during the 200m finals at the 2011 Nebraska HS Track and Field State Meet. Clara Nichols, Jr, Millard South: as a freshman she captured all-class gold in the 400m; this year the junior not only won the 400m ACG, she ran it faster than any Nebraska high school girl in history. Her 55.05 winning time smashed the previous 18-year-old record of Bellevue West’s Angee Henry by over 3 tenths of a second. Nichols also claimed the 200m state title, hitting the finish line at 24.80—just a tenth of a second off the all-time chart. She took home a third gold medal by anchoring the Patriot’s 1600m relay team (3:58.28) and had a PR second place finish in the Class A 100m (12.15). Outlook Former 400m state record holder Angee Henry was quoted in an Omaha World-Herald article as saying she believes Nichols can run into the “53’s” by the end of her high school career. Registering times like those would elevate Clara Nichols to a very small group of the nation’s elite high school 400m sprinters. I finally saw Nichols reach for 5th gear at the state meet—but it wasn’t in the 400m. It happened during the 200m finals, about 70 meters away from the finish line. Result: she dropped over 2 tenths of a second off her PR. Now that Clara knows she has another gear — all she needs to do is make up her mind to reach for it and lock it in place during every race. Hopefully, a healthy and focused Clara Nichols will consistently strive to run a: sub-12 100m, mid-24 200m and mid-to-low-54 400m, before heading into next year’s state meet. A healthy and focused season in 2012 could see her sweep the state meet sprints and set all-class records in each. To realize this lofty scenario Nichols will need to devote quality time on improving her start to reach the kind of times that she is capable of achieving in the 100m and 200m. As for the 400—”just reach for that 5th gear and you will be among the nation’s elite.” Note to Clara: Just when you thought the pressure was off, LOL. Kayln Brannagan, So, Shelton: as a freshman this Class C athlete shocked Nebraska by claiming all-class gold in the 300 LH, a feat that prevented LaQue Moen-Davis from becoming what would have been the first athlete to ever win four individual gold medals at the state meet. This year the sophomore became a back-to-back all-class gold medalist in the event and established a new PR (44.79) in the process. She is now less than 7 tenths of a second away from entering the all-time chart. And with two seasons left in her career — she has plenty of time left to run down the all-time chart best 43.01, set in 2007 by Millard North’s Kianna Elahi. She should at least make a good run into the charts during her junior season. Outlook Brannagan has taken well over a full second off her PR from last year. If she continues to improve at this pace the record is hers. She has the ability, form and—most importantly—the heart and to do it. She also won the Class C 100 HH (14.88) and 100m (12.64). Brianna McGhee, Jr, Omaha North: captured all class gold in the 200m as a sophomore in 2010; this year was not so kind. The junior pulled up at state in the 200 the same way she did at the Metro meet. But all wasn’t lost. She posted a No. 2 all-time chart PR of 14.23 in the 100m HH to place second in Class A and took home all-class gold as a member the Vikings 400 relay and had a nice PR of 18-6.25 to place second in the long jump. Outlook Brianna is very good athlete who can legitimately challenge Moen-Davis’s state record in the 100 HH and rebound to re-claim her 200m crown. She is also very much in the hunt to bring home the long jump title in 2012. In order to make it so, Brianna will need to re-dedicate herself to the possibilities that lay before her. She has the talent and the form to run a sub 14 100 HH and a mid to low 24 200m. Yet both will take extreme focus and dedication to achieve. Michelle Wallerstedt, Jr, Omaha Burke: in 2010 she won all-class gold in the discus as a sophomore; this year, battling the rain and wetness, the season’s best thrower (155-4) couldn’t get off a toss better than 125-10. She finished second in Class A. Outlook Her senior year should see her finally entering the all-time chart and reclaiming all-class gold in the discus. Morgan Woitzel, Jr, Millard South: a stellar freshman season saw her tie the Class A state meet record in the 400 (55.76) and enter the all-time chart was followed up by a sophomore campaign where she became the Class A 800m champion. Unfortunately, this year the sky fell: an early season hip injury took her out of action for most of 2011. Fortunately, she was able to recover in time to help her 1600 relay team win all-class gold in 2011. Outlook If Morgan fully recovers, keeps her focus and stays healthy—nobody beats her in the 800m. She will not only enter the all-time chart in the event—she will make a steep climb up into it. She has the speed and power to run under 2:10. It’s all about her health, conditioning and will at this point. She also remains a dangerous foe in the 400m too. Note to Morgan: Look at your tapes when you ran those 55 400m—there was little if any upper body twisting or across-the-body action going on like I saw this year. I’m sure it had to do with the hip injury. Even though — get rid of it! Ones To Watch Sidney Hirsch, So, Millard West: the long tall distance runner won Class A 3200 (11:05.54) and took second in 1600 (5:11.69). Hirsch has the ability to become Nebraska’s next best thing in girls high school distance running—if she only believed. I say that only because, so far—even as good as she is—she doesn’t project the aurora that she wants to be the best. Run for the charts: You have it in you! Tess Merrill, Jr, Grand Island Northwest: she is an all-time chart member in the pole vault at 11-8 (No. 9). Merrill finished second in Class B at state with a vault of 11-4. Tierra Williams, So, Auburn: this season she posted a No. 9 all-time chart mark of 19-2.5 in the long jump. However, she had her worst meet of the season at state, but she still won Class B gold with a leap of 18-1.75. Hey, lesson learned: champions rise to the occasion in big meets. Chelsa Baker, So, Omaha Central: she was within one hundredth of a second of beating Nichols for second place in the Class A 100m, registering a very good time (12.16). Baker is a short explosive athlete with a very good start that continued to improve as the season progressed. She just needs to keep working towards perfection—very capable or running a sub-12. Sharolyn Johnson, Jr, Bellevue West—she won the Class A shot put with a throw of 43-2. She is on the short list to win all-class gold next year. Allexis Menghini, So, North Platte: won Class A pole Vault 11-4. PR is 11-6. Keanna Moody, Jr, Lincoln North Star: she showed potential in running a 57.05 400m to take second place in Class A. Danielle Jones, Jr. Omaha North: took third in Class A at state in triple jump and has been hanging around the 37 foot mark all year. Now that Moen-Davis is gone she will need to take her game to the next level. Maggie Malone , Jr, Fillmore Central: won Class B triple 36-6.5 and second in long jump 18-.75. Aaliyah Pete, So, Elkhorn South: threw the shot put 43-4.75 to take second in class B. Haley Harsin, Fr, Syracuse: took 2nd place Class B 800m (2:19.63). Shelbi Bittinger, Jr, Milford: High jumped 5-5 for first place in class B. Hanah Barnard, So, Beatrice: took first place class B 100m (12.35). Amber Linnenbrink, Jr, Fort Calhoun: Class B first place 300 LH 45.92. Kayla Haneline, Jr, Lourdes Central Catholic: Class C champion High jump 5-5. Alyssa Frauendorfer, So, Humphrey: Class D Champion Triple jump 36-9.5. |
