Barth tops conference shot put for Centennial

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Tanner Barth was the lone champion from Centennial at the Southern Nebraska Conference track meet May 2.

Barth won the shot put with a throw of 52-0.5, a personal best, on his final attempt, Coach Rob Johansen said.

Kyle Gierhan and Stephen Yamber were runners-up in the pole vault and high jump. Gierhan cleared 13-0 in the pole vault, and Yamber made 6-0 in the high jump.

The 4x100-meter relay team of Gierhan, Conner Luettel, Yamber and Caden Eberspacher raced to third in 45.92 seconds. Kain Songster added a sixth-place finish in the 3,200-meter run in 11:21.26.

“Kain has worked really hard this season learning to run the 3,200 and has greatly improved,” Johansen said.

The surprise of the meet came in the 110-meter hurdles where Luettel and Bryson Jirovsky finished fifth and sixth. Luettel’s time was 18.05 seconds, and Jirovsky finished in 18.08 seconds.

In the girls’ competition, Hannah Tomes led the way with second place in the pole vault (9-0).

“Hannah is getting over the 9-0 height fairly consistent now and needs to get that next height,” Johansen said.

Cacey Vavra reached 4-8 in the high jump for third place, and all three relay teams placed with season-best times, Johansen said. The 4x400 team of Vavra, Mady Payne, Madison Mogee and Morgan Cradick was fifth in 4:44.19. The 4x100 (Tomes, Dominique Nisly, Payne and Vavra) and 4x800 (Cradick, Daegan Dey, Mogee and Kali Cuendet) teams were each sixth.

Centennial opened the week with a home quadrangular April 28. Gierhan turned in the top performance of the meet, Johansen said.

“Kyle was able to get on a new pole and clear 14-0.  He looked really good in his technique in the vault. It was the most comfortable he looked all year,” he said. 

Johansen said the Broncos used the quad as a tune-up for the conference meet and as a chance for the younger athletes to participate.

“Finding the right balance of hard work and rest can be the most difficult part of coaching track.  The end of the school year gets to be quite hectic with all of the banquets, concerts, and testing,” he said.

The Broncos will be at Fillmore Central Thursday, May 7 for their final meet before districts on Thursday, May 14.