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HARTINGTON — The home team delivered in a big way.
The Cedar Catholic boys ran away with their own invitational title March 31 at the Hartington Community Athletic Complex, while the Lady Trojans pushed Crofton to the limit before settling for a strong runner-up finish on a cool, windy afternoon.
“I thought the girls and boys teams performed very well for our first outdoor meet,” said Cedar Catholic coach Blair Kalin. “Now we have some outdoor marks and we can work to improve from there.”
The Trojans outlegged, outjumped and outthrew the field, piling up points across nearly every event to cruise to the boys title. Cedar Catholic nearly doubled up the nearest teams, finishing well ahead of Bloomfield and Crofton.
The tone was set early — and often — by relay dominance.
Cedar Catholic swept all three relays. The 400-meter team of Booker Hochstein, Cooper Hochstein, Mason Baller and Micah Cattau won in 45.44 seconds. The 1,600 relay of Baller, Cooper Hochstein, Hunter Kuchta and Kighter Wortmann followed with a victory in 3:39.46, and the 3,200 team of Kuchta, Joe Bowen, Landon Rutar and Wortmann added another gold in 9:01.84.
“We’re breaking in some new guys so I told them to just treat today like it was practice,” Kighter Wortmann said. “This wasn’t a great day as far as the weather, so you need to not worry about those things, just concentrate on running your own race.”
Wortmann backed that up with a win in the open 800 meters, crossing in 2:07.00.
“I like the individual race because it’s all up to me,” Wortmann said. “But I also like running with my teammates. If they get us the lead I’ll keep it, if they get me a little behind, I’ll try to get us back in the lead. We’re in it together.”
Individually, the Trojans continued to pile up points.
Cooper Hochstein led a 1-2 finish in the 400 meters, winning in 54.01 seconds just ahead of Kuchta. Nolan Heimes swept the hurdles, taking the 110 highs in 16.02 and the 300s in 45.26, while Blake Bensen added a fourth-place finish in the 110 hurdles.
In the field events, Cedar Catholic’s depth was just as evident.
Jared Rutar swept the throws, winning the shot put and discus. The Trojans went one-two-three in the discus, with Graham Potts and Sam Wiebelhaus joining Rutar atop the leaderboard, while Rylen Fischer added a sixth-place finish.
“I only get to do this so long in my life so I might as well enjoy it,” Rutar said. “I know I need to keep working on some things, keep grinding and see where I am at the end of the year.”
Rutar, who recently signed with Wayne State, is expected to throw the hammer at the collegiate level.
“That’s going to be a new thing to learn and who doesn’t like learning new things,” said Rutar. “It will be tough competition but that is what makes you better, I look forward to it.”
Elsewhere, Brady Hochstein won the long jump with a leap of 21-1.5 and added a sixth-place finish in the 200. Mason Baller took second in the 100, while Micah Cattau (second) and Keaton Kaiser (third) scored in the pole vault. Landon Rutar added a triple jump runner-up finish.
In the distance races, Brayden Fischer placed fifth in the 800 behind Wortmann, Joe Bowen was sixth, and Bowen added a fifth-place finish in the 1,600 with Jeffrey Heine taking sixth. Heine also placed fifth in the 3,200.
Cedar came up just short of the girls team title, finishing second with 117 points behind Crofton’s 123.
Still, the Lady Trojans turned in a standout performance with scoring depth throughout the lineup.
Anisten Wortmann led the way with three gold medals, winning the 100 hurdles (14.47), 300 hurdles (46.83) and 200 meters (25.15).
“I just need to keep focusing on my form and make sure I do all of the little things to improve,” said Anisten Wortmann. “I really kind of hate to lose, so I remember state last year and I will not let that happen again.”
Cedar Catholic also found success in the relays and field events.
The 1,600 relay team of Brynn Bernecker, Mara Bernecker, Evie Freeman and Madison Eickhoff captured gold in 4:32.94. The 400 relay team of Mara Bernecker, Freeman, Landry Heimes and Eickhoff took third.
Brynn Bernecker also turned in a strong individual day, placing second in the 400 and fifth in the 200 before leading off the winning relay.
In the field events, Calley Stewart won the triple jump (33-6.5), leading a 1-3-4 finish for the Trojans with Shayla Heine and Adelyn Reifenrath placing third and fourth. Reifenrath also finished second in the long jump (15-9.5), while Stewart added a thirdplace finish in the high jump.
Madison Eickhoff placed third in the 800 and fourth in the 1,600, while Isabel Rolfes finished fifth in the 1,600 and fourth in the high jump.
Kinleigh Kramer (third) and Danielle Eickhoff (fourth) scored in the pole vault, and Freeman added a sixth-place finish in the discus. Kendra Schmit placed sixth in the 400.
Across both meets, Cedar Catholic’s depth stood out. The boys piled up points in nearly every event to run away with the title, while the girls stayed in contention until the final events with a balanced mix of champions and place-winners.
CEDAR CATHOLIC TRACK & FIELD INVITATIONAL
Girls Team Results 1. Crofton 123; 2. Cedar Catholic 117; 3. Tri County Northeast 94; 4. Bloomfield 91; 5. Niobrara/Verdigre 31; 6. St. Mary’s 30; 7. Crofton JV 13; 8. Wynot 10.
Individual Results
(1st Place, Cedar Catholic/Wynot performances): 100-Meter Dash: 1. Kiya Tornez (TCNE) 13.28; 5. Tiara Sudbeck (WYN) 13.75; 8. Adelyn Reifenrath (CC) 14.34; 15. Danielle Eickhoff (CC) 15.21.
200-Meter Dash: 1. Anisten Wortmann (CC) 25.15; 5. Brynn Bernecker (CC) 28.93; 7. Tiara Sudbeck (WYN) 29.19; 10. Mara Bernecker (CC) 30.45.
400-Meter Dash: 1. Taylen Stark (N/V) 1:02.83; 2. Brynn Bernecker (CC) 1:05.13; 5. Addison Sharpe (WYN) 1:09.84; 6. Kendra Schmit (CC) 1:10.82.
800-Meter Run: 1. Avery Arens (CRO) 2:26.54; 3. Madison Eickhoff (CC) 2:46.17; 9. Jacy Nelson (WYN) 3:05.18; 13. Addison Sharpe (WYN) 3:12.57.
1,600-Meter Run: 1. Avery Arens (CRO) 5:05.58; 4. Madison Eickhoff (CC) 6:17.50; 5. Isabel Rolfes (CC) 6:37.45.
3,200-Meter Run: 1. Avery Arens (CRO) 11:10.67.
100-Meter Hurdles: 1. Anisten Wortmann (CC) 14.47; 6. Landry Heimes (CC) 20.46.
300-Meter Hurdles: 1. Anisten Wortmann (CC) 46.83.
400-Relay: 1. Tri County NE 54.00; 3. Cedar (Mara Bernecker, Evie Freeman, Landry Heimes, Shayla Heine) 55.64.
1,600-Relay: 1. Cedar (Brynn Bernecker, Mara Bernecker, Evie Freeman, Madison Eickhoff) 4:32.94.
High Jump: 1. Joslyn Mackling (TCNE) 5-01; 3. Calley Stewart (CC) J4-10; 4. Isabel Rolfes (CC) 4-02; 7. Landry Heimes (CC) J4-02.
Pole Vault: 1. Addyson Ostermeyer (CRO) 9-06; 3. Kinleigh Kramer (CC) 7-06; 4. Danielle Eickhoff (CC) 6-06.
Long Jump: 1. Kiya Tornez (TCNE) 1608.50; 2. Adelyn Reifenrath (CC) 15-09.50; 3. Tiara Sudbeck (WYN) 15-07.
Triple Jump: 1. Calley Stewart (CC) 3306.50; 3. Shayla Heine (CC) 33-00; 4. Adelyn Reifenrath (CC) 32-05.50.
Shot Put: 1. Seanna Pinkelman (CRO) 3509; 8. Elsie Haahr (CC) 26-05.
Discus: 1. L. Rahn (BLM) 91-11; 6. Evie Freeman (CC) 72-02; 15. Elsie Haahr (CC) J54-09.
Boys Team Results
1. Cedar Catholic 165; 2. Bloomfield 83; 3. Crofton 81; 4. St. Mary’s 65; 5. Tri County NE 29; 6. Crofton JV 23; 7. Niobrara/Verdigre 22; 8. Wynot 17; 9. St. Mary’s JV 3; 9. Cedar JV 3.
(1st Place and Cedar Catholic/Wynot performances): 100-Meter Dash: 1. Brock Jeannoutot (BLM) 11.54; 2. Mason Baller (CC) 11.58; 8. Micah Cattau (CC) 11.94; 9. Booker Hochstein (CC) 12.00; 10. Braylon Hans (WYN) 12.09; 15. Hudson Whitmire (CCJV) 12.53; 16. Wyatt Nelson (WYN) 12.58.
200-Meter Dash: 1. Brock Jennoutot (BLM) 24.01; 5. Braylon Hans (WYN) 24.71; 6. Brady Hochstein (CC) 24.84; 12. Myles Baller (CC) 25.71; 13. Hudson Whitmire (CCJV) 27.11.
400-Meter Dash: 1. Cooper Hochstein (CC) 54.01; 2. Hunter Kuchta (CC) 55.34; 4. Myles Baller (CC) 57.59; 6. Lane Heimes (WYN) 1:00.52; 12. Trey Gowery (WYN) 1:10.21.
800-Meter Run: 1. Kighter Wortmann (CC) 2:07.00; 5. Brayden Fischer (CCJV) 2:22.48; 6. Joseph Bowen (CC) 2:24.11; 12. Donnie Schulte (CCJV) 2:40.59; 13. Trey Gowery (WYN) 2:45.35.
1,600-Meter Run: 1. Max Berg (SM) 4:59.32; 5. Joe Bowen (CC) 5:17.82; 6. Jeff Heine (CC) 5:23.88; 9. Bentley Guenther (WYN) 5:52.60; 12. Donnie Schulte (CCJV) 6:15.18.
3,200- Run: 1. Max Berg (SM) 10:56.02; 5. Jeff Heine (CC) 12:20.44.
110- Hurdles: 1. Nolan Heimes (CC) 16.02; 4. Blake Bensen (CC) 20.37.
300- Hurdles: 1. Nolan Heimes (CC) 45.26; 4. Wyatt Nelson (WYN) 48.76.
400- Relay: 1. Cedar (Booker Hochstein, Cooper Hochstein, Mason Baller, Micah Cattau) 45.44.
1,600-Relay: 1. Cedar Catholic (Mason Baller, Cooper Hochstein, Hunter Kuchta, Kighter Wortmann) 3:39.46.
3,200-Meter Relay: 1. Cedar Catholic (Hunter Kuchta, Joseph Bowen, Landon Rutar, Kighter Wortmann) 9:01.84.
High Jump: 1. Lane Heimes (WYN) 6-02; 10. Blake Bensen (CC) 5-00.
Pole Vault: 1. Trey Tramp (CROJV) 1200; 2. Micah Cattau (CC) 11-06; 3. Keaton Kaiser (CC) 10-00.
Long Jump: 1. Brady Hochstein (CC) 21-01.50; 7. Easton Hochstein (CC) 1906.50; 8. Braylon Hans (WYN) 19-03.50; 9. Bodie Hochstein (CC) 19-01.25; 10. Wyatt Nelson (WYN) 19-01.
Triple Jump: 1. Brady Thoene (CROJV) 42-05; 2. Landon Rutar (CC) 41-01.
Shot Put: 1. Jared Rutar (CC) 46-07.25; 2. Graham Potts (CC) 45-09.50; 7. Sam Wiebelhaus (CC) 39-09; 8. Rylen Fischer (CCJV) 38-07; 9. Will Steffen (CCJV) 38-05.50; 15. Nate Arens (CCJV) 33-01; 16. Marek Heimes (CCJV) 32-04.25; 22. Blake Klug (WYN) 27-11.
Discus: 1. Jared Rutar (CC) 149-02; 2. Sam Wiebelhaus (CC) 133-05.50; 3. Graham Potts (CC) 129-08; 6. Rylen Fischer (CCJV) 111-05.
