STATE TRACK MEET CAPSULES........A LOOK AT BOYS, CLASS BY CLASS

[Bobby Mills Jr. (1000 Yard Guy)]

photo courtesy of Journal-Star

FIRST OF A FOUR PART SERIES

Track is undoubtedly the toughest sport to predict, given all the variables that figure in. Kind of like Horse Racing. OK, I may be bold (or foolhardy), but I going to take a stab at prognosticating Team races, class by class. We'll begin with Class B today......no apparent reason, just like the this race best of all. I truly believe nobody in their right mind should try this because of the gazillion things that can occur in a Track Meet, but I never was considered anywhere near normal so.............

CLASS B

If you want to see the outcome of this baby, you’d better hang out and watch the 4x4 Relay……it’s going to come down to that. So what else is new? If you counted the times the whole shootin’ match boiled down to the final race of the day, it would take some serious time.

There are FOUR major players in this Class B team race, and TWO others that could make an impact. Grand Island Northwest, Scottsbluff, Lexington, and Boys Town are the biggies, and Gothenburg may have an impact on this balanced “B” field.
Scottsbluff probably would have to win the 1,600 Meter Relay, and Northwest will have to come out of the slow heat with most likely a 3rd place finish to earn the chance to maybe clinch the title by a point. Lexington looks like they will feel the least amount of pressure, but still will have to finish at least THIRD in the 4x4 Relay to get the hardware....and Boys Town...oh man, I wish I knew.
Here are my projected Final Team Standings (Top 6)
Lexington 54
Northwest 51
Scottsbluff 49
Boys Town 44 (Lots of unanswered ????? marks here!)
Gothenburg 44
Blair 38

NOW, this prognosis could get a little tricky if Boys Town’s Tim Thompson is: 1) able to run in that 100: 2) healthy enough to win it. It looks to me at this point the swift Thompson is not going to be able to go, which will cost the Cowboys a probable 10 points. Boys Town can still win the 4x1 without him in my opinion.

KEYS TO VICTORY:
LEXINGTON - If this crew had some field events point possibilities, it would make the path to a State Title a lot easier. Looks like the Sprinters and Hurdlers are going to have to carry the Minuteman to the promised land. Both the 400 and 1,600 Meter Relays are top 3 material, Kellen Schroeder looms huge both hurdles, Tyler Tinglehoff (great bloodlines) in the 300IH, and the fleet Justin Sheldon in the 100/200 will carry the load. Junior Zach Schmidt, a 5th place finisher in the 400 a year ago, will have to nab a top 3 finish in his event also, but looks very capable. Lex looks the best at this point.

NORTHWEST - It’s spelled FIELD EVENTS/Travis Englund. Another major player is Austan Pomajzl in the Pole Vault. If he wins the event, it could mean the the difference between a championship or 2nd place. Right now, he would have to win it, and the Vikings still could still come up a point short. Some places in the 4 or 8 by Jory Pflasterer and Ethan Stutzman would benefit greatly. Can the 3,200 Meter relay crew knock off Blair for that precious extra two points? A lofty 4x4 Relay place is essential, though….no worse than 3rd if things go as I have them figured. The usual ace sprint/hurdle corps is missing this year, but Dave Gee is as crafty a Track man as Kearney’s Roger Mathiesen, so look out.

SCOTTSBLUFF - ‘Cats are in the same “no field events points” boat as Lex, but will make up for it with a Hurdles/400 Ace named Brock Ingersoll. Ingersoll has clocked a :49.7 in the quarter and skipped to a :14.4 in the Highs and :39.42 in the 300IM this season. The fact that Ingersoll has that big a load on his shoulders may be a reason for worry. On Friday he will have to run the Highs at 5:00, the 400 at 6:15, and the 300IH around 7:35. Saturday’s Finals will put him in the HH at 12:25, the 400 an hour later, then thank goodness, BREAKTIME. The 300’s are around 3:35, and he is scheduled to anchor the 1,600 Meter Relay and hour later. He has very legit shot at winning all three individual events, and Bearcats are going to have to nab the 4x4 to have a shot. A top 3 finish by Brock Loseke in the 200 and 400 would help.

BOYS TOWN - Oh my, how different things could be IF Tim Thompson was healthy.
NOW, if he happens to GO and WIN the 100, things will change and the Cowboys will be right back contention for the Class B crown. Their Sprint Corp is unreal. During the season, FOUR athletes ran a sub :11 flat 100. It’s a wonder they lead the entire State in the 4x1 Relay. There are some variables that could carry BT to the Title anyway. Can Mike Matthews score in the Long Jump? Could Isiah pop a monster Triple Jump or score in the High Jump? Nehemiah Wilson needs a lofty place in the Highs, Horton has to contend for the win in the 100 and 200. BUT, can Dotson place in the century and/or the 200? Dontrell Harris in the 400? How good is the Cowboys 4x4? These are questions coaches from the rest of the “B” field are asking themselves ’bout right now. Boys Town is THAT scary. No doubt they have the firepower to explode and capture the hardware. They qualified somebody in nearly every event known to man this weekend.

GOTHENBURG - The Swedes can rack up some serious points with Pole Vaulter Cameron Bullock, Sophomore sprint whiz, Tannor Mroczek, 300 hurdler Mark Hilderbrand, and the 400 and 1600 Relays. The Swedes just look a little short to make a good run at the title, but should hit a top 5 finish.

Should be one competitive Class and one of the sweetest Sprint fields of all. It would be worth the price of admission just to see if Tyler Wullenwaber of Centennial can threaten the Long Jump record. He's my choice to grab the All Class Gold and oh baby, wait until you see how high he leaps before he hits the sand....reminds me of Mr. Sayers flying. The multi-talented Junior is also an ace sprinter and had "hops" enough to qualify in the High Jump at 6'4....some kinda kid! As I said earlier, if you are interested in who takes home the Team Trophy, better hang in there ‘till the “Lady” sings. Getting a little inside scoop on Tim Thompson's condition may not hurt either.