Perkins County athletes compete at NSAA state meet

By Emmalee Parsley Stevens

Grant Tribune Sentinel

The Perkins County track and field team competed at the NSAA State Track and Field Championships on Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23, at Burke Stadium in Omaha, with several athletes recording personal-best performances and school records.

Madison Potts led the Lady Plainsmen with a seventh-place medal finish in the girls 1,600-meter run. Potts broke her own school record by nine seconds while earning a spot on the medal stand. She later competed in the girls 3,200-meter run, where she posted another school-record performance. She finished 10th with a time of 12 minutes, 0.67 seconds, improving her previous school record by 13 seconds.

Ella Homan turned in a strong performance in the girls 300-meter hurdles, finishing second in her heat while setting a personal record with a time of 47.76 seconds.

In the field events, Macey Cole cleared 4 feet, 9 inches in the girls high jump, while Lauren Bishop posted a mark of 31 feet, 2.25 inches in the girls triple jump.

The Perkins County boys 4x800-meter relay team of Carson Green, Logan Barry, Jesus Marquez and Ethan Swesey finished with a time of 8:52.02.

Perkins County head coach Shayne Hite said the state meet provided valuable experience for many of the team’s competitors.

“We knew going in for the most part we were going down to gain some experience with most of our athletes,” Hite said. “I thought the kids competed hard. Some got caught up in the limelight a little so hopefully we can get them back down there again to try for a medal.”

Hite said he was pleased with the performances from Homan, Cole and Potts.

“Macey jumped well. She went out at her PR. Ella ran well also. She was second in her heat and ran a season PR,” Hite said. “Madi we knew going in she had a chance of medaling. We thought her better chance was in the 3200 but she didn’t care for the rain very much. She is such a competitor you can never count her out. She got a great start and she just kept rolling from there. Both races she ran new school records that she already held.”

Stats

Boys 4x800-meter relay;  16th place;  8:52.02 (Carson Green, Logan Barry, Jesus Marquez, Ethan Swesey)

Girls triple jump;  Lauren Bishop;  24th place;  31-2.25

Girls 300-meter hurdles;  Ella Homan;  16th place;  47.76

Girls high jump;  Macey Cole;  22nd place;  4-9

Girls 1,600-meter run;  Madison Potts;  7th place;  5:27.91

Girls 3,200-meter run;  Madison Potts;  10th place;  12:00.67