The Seward track team opened its season March 14 at Concordia University with a pair of runner-up team finishes.
Coach Kyle Royuk said it was a good meet, even though the coaches didn’t know what to expect. He said the upperclassmen stepped up and performed well.
Event winners were Brooke Meyer in the girls’ high jump, setting a new meet record at 5-2, Jordin Battaglia in the 60-meter hurdles, Shantel Koranda in the 60-meter dash, Davon Brees in the 60-meter dash, Gabe Knisley in the long jump and triple jump, Chase Berry in the pole vault and PJ Schaben in the shot put.
The long jump competition came down to the final jumps, Royuk said. The jumper from Omaha Gross hit a 20-10 mark. Reece Foreman of Seward landed 21-6 from the board, and Knisley, on his final jump, reached 21-6.5 to win.
Brees has been wroking hard all winter and is finally healthy, Royuk said.
Koranda also ran well in the 60-meter prelims but tweaked her quad so wasn’t 100 percent for the finals, Royuk said.
Keegan Beisel turned in a good time in the 3,200-meter run and finished second. Ethan Ideus was second in the 1,600 for the boys.
Hannah Helmer set a personal best in the pole vault at 8-7 to tie for second.
In the boys’ high jump, Kelly Vyhnalek jumped 5-10, a personal best, to finish third.
The Bluejays are scheduled to be back in action Saturday, March 23, at Fairbury. Events start at 9:30 a.m.
