The 2023 track and field season officially got underway March 17 for Seward and Milford at the Bulldog Track and Field Challenge, and already athletes are making splashes.
Milford sophomore Lilly Kenning set a new meet and school record of 5:13.28 in winning the 1,600-meter run. Kenning outkicked reigning Class B state champion Kassidy Stuckey of York, Coach Cody Gregory said. The previous school record of 5:37.56 was set by Ashley Kroese in 2018.
Seward’s Karnie Gottschalk earned third in the race with a time of 5:54.16.
Tessa Greisen of Seward brought home gold in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 12:31.21.
Kelsey Miller of Seward was a double gold winner, topping the 60-meter hurdles in 9.71 seconds and winning the high jump at 5-2. Sarah Spahr of Milford was second at 6-0, and Brooklyn McDonald of Milford tied for third at 4-10.
The Milford girls’ 4x800-meter relay team of Kaitlin Kontor, Kylie Jakub, Delaney Carraher and Kenning won gold with a time of 10:39.15.
Eden Schulz of Seward placed third in the 200-meter dash, crossing the finish line in 28.89 seconds.
In the boys’ competition, Kalen Knott of Seward took top honors in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 14-0.
Milford’s 4x800-meter relay team was its top finisher of the day, earning second in 8:48.58. Team members are Avery Carter, Kaleb Eickhoff, Hudson Mullet and Isaac Roth.
Mullet also finished third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:13.26.
Gavin Dunlap of Milford won the bronze in the 3,200-meter run, finishing in 10:37.6.
Caden Brooks finished third for the Bluejays in the long jump with a 20-9 effort.
The two teams competed in the Sandhill Division.
SHS Coach Jeff Hass said the coaches were pleased with how the athletes competed in the season’s first meet.
“The girls got second overall and really put in a great effort,” he said.
The SHS girls finished as the meet runner-up with 55 points. Milford scored 33.
The MHS boys scored 29 to finish sixth, while Seward put up 22 points.
“The day saw several first-time performances from freshmen as well as upperclassmen who are either new to the track team or competing in new events,” Gregory said.
The Eagles had six returning athletes set personal-best marks in their events, including Kenning, McDonald in the high jump, Addi Mowinkel in the shot put, Dane Kolb in the long jump, Gavin Piening in the 60-meter hurdles and Gavin Dunlap in the 3,200-meter run.
For Seward, sprinters Vicki Wang, Schulz and Coral Collins had good races in the 60-meter dash, Hass said.
“Tessa Greisen and Kelsey Miller picked up where they left off last year also,” he said.
Milford’s next meet is Saturday, March 25, at Ashland-Greenwood. Seward is in action Saturday, March 25, at Fairbury.
