It’s been awhile since the Milford girls were at the top of the Southern Nebraska Conference in track.
Since 2003, in fact, when they were SNC champions.
While they weren’t champions in 2021, the Eagles were the runner-up in the girls’ competition, finishing 10 points behind Fairbury.
“That’s pretty awesome,” Coach Marty Hingst said. “I was pleased for them.”
Abbie McGuire won the only individual gold medal for the girls with a first-place in the 3,200-meter run in 13:18.49.
McGuire teamed with Kaitlin Kontor, Alayna Piening and Caitlin Adams to win the 4x800-meter relay in 10:40.2. She finished third in the 1,600-meter run, as well.
Centennial also had just one individual champion. Senior Daylee Dey won the 1,600-meter run in 5:55.32, continuing her unbeaten streak on the season.
Coach Rob Johansen was pleased with other performances from the May 1 meet, despite the strong south wind.
Savannah Horne finished fourth in the 100-meter dash, running in lane eight, and broke the Centennial school record with a time of 12.73 seconds. The old record was 12.74 seconds held by Karla Niewedde (1983) and Jessica Matzner (1990).
“Savannah has been working on her starts lately, and she got a great start and run on Saturday,” Johansen said.
Adams earned a pair of silver medals in the 400-meter dash and 800-meter run. Hingst said the 800 featured tough competition.
Madison Brandenburgh of Centennial won silver in the 3,200-meter run behind McGuire. The Bronco 4x100-meter relay (Lexus Prochaska, Kate Hirschfeld, Horne and Jillian Bailey) and 4x800-meter relay (Molly Prochaska, Lillian Butzke, Rylee Menze and Dey) both finished second, as well.
Sydney Stelling of Milford sprinted to third in the 200-meter dash in another tough field.
“She can be proud of how she competed against good competition,” Hingst said.
Sarah Spahr finished third in the high jump, despite strong winds that blew the jumpers into the bar, Hingst said. Mariah Richards won third in the shot put for Milford.
Hirschfeld earned third in the 400-meter dash and the triple jump for the Broncos.
Competition was tough for the boys, as well. Both Milford and Centennial had just one conference champion.
Milford’s Collin Piening continued to run well in the 110-meter hurdles, winning in 15.44 seconds. He also finished third in the 300-meter hurdles.
Carson Fehlhafer of Centennial unleashed his best throw, 167-8, on his first attempt in the discus and won the event.
“He has been out a few weeks with a sore back and returned just last week at our invite. That should put him at the top of Class C in the discus,” Johansen said.
Ryan Payne of Centennial won second in the 3,200-meter run behind Wilber-Clatonia’s Thomas Lokken. Unfortunately for Payne, a blister forced him to scratch the 1,600 later in the meet, Johansen said.
Ayden Shook sprinted to third in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the 200 against “a salty bunch of sprinters,” Hingst said.
Milford’s 4x100-meter relay team of Piening, Caden Nelson, Jeremiah Taylor and Shook finished third. Dane Kolb was the meet’s surprise with a third-place finish in the long jump, Hingst said.
For Centennial, Sam Tomes earned third in the pole vault with a season best 12-6.
The Milford boys finished third in the team standings, higher than Hingst would have predicted, he said.
“I’m really proud of them,” he said. “It was a super meet for them.”
The Eagles are scheduled to compete at Sutton Thursday, May 6, while the Broncos go to Fillmore Central. The meets are the last ones before districts.
