Akin-Otiko continues state meet domination

State Meet Highlights

 
Nebraska's four-class championships take place at Omaha's Burke Stadium. But in addition to competitions arranged by school size, there is something called the "all-class gold." It's a reward for the best performance overall in every event.  

Top Performances:

 
- KJ Cotton, the younger brother of multiple state champ Kenzo, emerged as a sophomore for Papillion-La Vista and inherited the throne as the top sprinter in the state. He won the 100 meters in US#48 10.57 and the 200 meters in 21.61.

 
- Chloe Akin-Otiko, a junior at Bellevue West, continued to make progress as one of the greatest sprinters in state history. She won the Class A 100 meters in US#34 and also won the 200 in 24.56 and the 400 in 56.77..

- Miles Carlisle of Omaha Burke won the all-class gold in the boys 400 meters with 48.70. He edged Keaton Suey of Elkhorn, who ran 48.71.

- Ty Hansen from Fremont won the Class A titles in the 800 (1:52.63) and 1,600 (4:13.71). Those were tough races to win because Reno Law of Millard South ran 1:53.73 in the 800 and John Nownes of Creighton Prep ran 4:13.90 in the 1,600.

- John Nownes of Creighton Prep helped his team win the state title with a victory in the 3,200 in 9:17.84, second place in the 1,600 and also ran a leg on the wining 4x800 relay that ran US#38 7:47.40.

- Allen Gordon, a sophomore from Omaha North, won the all-class gold in the high jump with a clearance at 6-11. That was good for US#20.

- Kevin Cahoy of Grand Island was the top pole vaulter in the state and won the Class A title with 16-0.25 for US#36.

- Jacob Long from Kearney won the Class A titles in the shot put (57-7.50) and discus (US#41 185-3).

- Senior Katie Spencer of Millard South won the Class A titles in the 1,600 meters (4:55.18) as well as the 3,200 (US#55 10:31.58).

- Lauren Houston, a senior at Burke, won the Class A girls 800 meters in 2:13.58.

- Erin Lee from York, a junior, won Class B girls titles in the 800 (2:15.61), 1,600 (5:04.07) and the 3,200 (10:51.96).

- Tiani Reeves from Gothenburg won the Class B titles in the triple jump (38-7.75) and long jump (18-1.50).

- Junior Javon Hopkins from Boys Town doubled in the Class B sprints with 10.86 and 22.18 in the 100/200.

- Senior Luke Siedhoff from Crete won the Class B 110 hurdles with US#48 14.09 seconds. He was fourth in the 300 hurdles.

- Tanner Borchardt of Gothenburg (6-8/270) won his second Class B shot put title with 59-6.25 and also placed second in the discus with 173-1.

- Cameron Jurgens, a freshman at Beatrice, had the second-longest discus throw among freshmen nationally, winning the Class B title with 176-6. He was also third in the shot put (54-7.50).

- Samantha Dirkschneider from North Bend Central won the Class C shot put with 44-4.75 and also placed third in the discus with 130-11.

- Jessi Smith of Bayard, a junior, showed her versatility in Class C with victories in the 400 (57.18) and 800 (2:17.28) and a second place finish in the 200 (25.78).

- Simon Wiedel of Thayer Central, a junior, won the Class C title in the 100 meters (10.82), was second in the 200 meters (22.31), second in the triple jump (44-5.50) and also third in the long jump (21-8.75).

- Junior Catherine Mick of Bruning-Davenport/Shickley won the Class D pole vault (12-3), 100 hurdles (15.25) and 300-meter hurdles (45.39).

Top Teams:

The Creighton Prep boys were the dominant team in Nebraska this year and finished the state meet with 86 points. On the girls side, Lincoln Southwest was seven points up on runner-up Millard South, 62-55 in Class A.

Sidney's boys (42) and Holdrege’s girls (57) won the Class B titles after close team battles.

Top Competition: Grand Island senior MacKenzie Puckett and Omaha Burke junior Nyakuome Thichiot both finished at 38-3 in a high quality triple jump competition in Class A. Second-best jumps were used to break the tie and Thichiot got the slightest of edges there: 37-6.75 to 37-6.25.