Perkins County medals in three events at state track in Omaha

Perkins County came home from the NSAA State Track and Field Championships in Omaha with some well-earned hardware. 

The boys earned ninth place in Class D with 19 points, just four points away from a fifth-place finish. Head Coach Shayne Hite said it’s the highest PC has finished said they placed sixth in 2008. 

Senior Jaden Dietlein, Freshman Colton Pouk and Seniors Matthew Hahn and Caden Waitley claimed the silver in the 3200-meter relay  with a time of 8:32.9.

Waitley fought to the finish to take the bronze in the 800, breaking his own school record by 0.29 seconds with 2:02.39.

Dietlein said he was keeping an eye on his time as he ran the eight laps of the 3200, and knew when he crossed the finish line at fourth that he had broken the school record with his time of 10:24.80. 

The previous record was 10:38.89 and set by Ryan Pankonin in 2009.

Due to timing system glitches, Junior Evan Sestak was scheduled to compete in a run-off with four others to determine who would advance to finals. The runoff was cancelled and Sestak missed finals and medaling by 0.01 seconds with a time of 15.79. The NSAA said they were able to determine official times by cameras. 

The delay had Sestak putting on his high jump shoes as they called his name for that for that event. He jumped 5-10 to tie for 16th. 

Patrick, Dietlein, Hahn and Waitley ran the 1600 relay in 3:38.51 to place 12th. 

Hahn placed 13th in the 1600 with 4:54.04.

The 400 relay team of Junior Trye Hickey, Patrick, Freshman Triston Hite and Wood ran the race in 46.76 to place 15th. 

Senior Beau Wood ran the 300 hurdles in 42.61 to place 13th in prelims.

Junior Alex Patrick placed 15th in the prelims of the 100 with a time of 11.46 and 16th in prelims of the 400 with 53.32.

Hailey Snyder, the lone qualifier for the girls, placed 15th with a jump of 31-08.