Wildcats finish track season in style
OMAHA — Don’t be mistaken.
Even if the Hartington-Newcastle track and field team brought in a combined five points from the Class D state track meet, the Wildcats finished the season with plenty of style.
The highlight for the overall, young program was the boys 4x400 relay team of Bennet Sievers, Jake Peitz, Kobe Heitman and Mayson McIntosh that finished the season as the fifth best in the state, running a time of 3:34.13.
The girls were highlighted by junior Jessica Opfer’s time of 13:13.76, good enough for a 12th-place finish in the 3,200-meter run.
“Our 1,600 relay ran really well cutting off three seconds,” HNS boys coach Blair Kalin said. “Our team really improved during this season which is exciting to see for the future.
“We lose one senior, Kobe, and he had a real good track career. He scored a lot of points for us. We had some kids that wanted to perform better down there, but I was proud of our accomplishments on the season. We have a chance to be pretty good next year bringing in a good group of eighth graders to go with the returning athletes we have. With hard work in the off season, I am excited to see what next year will bring.”
Lady Wildcats coach Laura Noecker noted the season wrapping up with two personal records despite sending only two girls to the state meet – the other being freshman pole vaulter Mani Lange.
“We were not disappointed in our team, only disappointed in the rain,” Noecker said. “Mani is a good vaulter and deserved better vaulting conditions. She attempted her best to vault on a wet pole but it was not conducive to what we were hoping for. She’s one tough kid so there is more to come from her and the team.”
Opfer’s run in the 1,600 (6:01.46) was a PR as she took 19th.
“Jesse’s last words to me after running off the infield were, ‘I just can’t wait until cross country,’” Noecker said. “Jesse placed fourth in both of races at our district meet which shows how very stacked our distance races were. This was the first time in over 30 years that we had a girl qualify in both those races.
“We are really looking forward to next season. Our current junior numbers are good as well as their performances from this spring.”
Opfer herself was overall pleased with her state performances and believes that the results speak for themselves.
“I just started doing long distance this year – I used to do sprints my freshman year – so my goal was to just stay in shape for cross country since that’s my main focus,” Opfer said. “I never would have thought I would have made it to state this year. It was a great opportunity. I kept pushing myself and I am proud of how I finished because I can compete with these guys and happy with how I progressed.”
Her goal is to break six and 13 minutes in the mile and two-mile runs next year.
“I would definitely try to get out and run more during the winter months,” Opfer said. “I am not for sure and haven’t come up with a workout. I still need to do more cardio and endurance type of stuff.”
Opfer also feels optimistic about the future of the program.
“For long distance, not a lot of kids like to do it, and we have some freshmen in and they really like it,” she said. “They will probably continue that in track and cross country and that will help carry both of them on. They are great to be around
“The boys too are a great group. I can definitely see them encouraging the incoming freshmen to come out for track.”
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