Jeffs Sending Magnificent Seven To State

It is that time of year again, when student athletes from all over the state prepare to head to Omaha for the biggest track invite of the season.Crete hosted the district championship on May 13 and Fairbury had several individuals punch their ticket to the state track meet. As a team, FHS girls finished ninth (17 team points) and the boys were eighth (27).For the Jeffs, Nic Smith (triple jump), Dalton Vanlaningham (pole vault), Gavin Gerths (110m hurdles) and Rene Monterroso (shot put) all qualified to head to Omaha.“ As a coach you always have to be so happy for the athletes that are able to punch their ticket to the state track and field meet! This year we were able to get four boy state qualifiers! Being in Class B makes it really difficult to qualify for state! These athletes truly earned their way to state! We are looking forward to next week state meet and can’t wait to see how they compete! It truly is a great day to be a Jeff!,” Derek Garfield, boys track coach, said. Gerths finished third in the 110m hurdles (:15.72) behind Isaac Roth (:15.45) of Milford and Tresten Hass of Seward (:15.2).Smith was second in the triple jump (43’ 11.5”), just behind Kade Foust of Norris (44’8.25”).Vanlaningham finished third in the pole vault (13’6”) behind Cash Martin of Milford (14’6”) and Edison Knott of Seward (14’).Monterroso was sixth in the shot put (48’8.5”) and sixth in the discus (141’6”). In other results, the FHS 4x800m relay team (Jayden James, Korey Nippert, Aiden Novotny, Jerik Johnson) were sixth (9:40.59). Jerik Mans was eighth in the long jump (19’11.5”).For the girls, Autumn L’Ecuyer, Sam Starr and Micah Friesen are all headed to state. L’Ecuyer, the runner-up last year in the shot put, continued to dominate in that category, winning with a toss of 41’. Ariana Heusinkvelt of Crete was second (40’7”).Sam Starr was sixth in the 800m (2:23.09) while Micah Friesen was seventh (2:23.80). Starr and Friesen have now qualified for state three times.The 4x800m relay team for FHS (Friesen, Jaycee Prellwitz, Starr and Jordin Gill) were fourth (10:10.27).Evelyn Timmons was seventh in the long jump (15’4”) and Regan Kapke finished seventh in the triple jump (32’4”). Izzy Ohlde was eighth in the pole vault (8’2”).“ Yesterday is always a whirlwind of emotion, as you see heartbreak and excitement several times throughout the day! Qualifying for the state track meet in Class B is an accomplishment in itself. We have a great chance to bring home some hardware next week,” Matt Edson, girls track coach, said.

Adam Roelfs

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