Bobcat boys earn four district track medals

In a tough battle against perennial track and field powerhouses, the Bobcat boys' teamfinished eighth at district competition, held May 9, in Atkinson.

After the final starting gun sounded, three Summerland athletes advancde to the 2024 Class C NSAA State Track and Field Championships at Omaha Burke Stadium on May 17 and 18.

Two high jumpers will face each other at state. Juniors Ryan Rifer and Ruger Switzer both cleared 6' one inch. Rifer earned a silver medal and Switzer, bronze. Rifer ran 2:29.87 in the 800m, placing 14th.

Switzer finished ninth in long jump, with a leap of 18' four inches. He ended 15th in the 100m, running 12:08.

Alec Schindler set a personal record in the 300m hurdles, running 41.81. His performance was good enough for third place, sending him to state. Schindler ended in 11th place in triple jump, reaching 38' four inches. He placed seventh in the 110m hurdles, crossing the tape in 16.96.

Gavin Whiting came home with a fourth-place medal in shot put. He threw 46' eight inches. Whiting set a PR in discus, with a throw of 130' 10 inches. He placed seventh.

Parker Napier sailed over the 11-foot bar, which landed him in fifth place in pole vault. Naper tied teammate Switzer for ninth in long jump. He reached 18' four inches. In the 300m hurdles, Naper ended in sixth, running 44.08.

The 4x100 team, comprised of Napier, Preston Hoke, Schindler and Switzer, ran 46.59, placing sixth.

Other Bobcat competitors included:

Hoke: triple jump, ninth, 38' 4.5 inches, PR; 400m, eighth, 57.15, PR;

Carter Bergman: triple jump, 16th, 36' four inches; high jump, no height;

Mathias Wagner: long jump, 23rd, 15' 3.5 inches; shot put, 17th, 35' 11.5 inches, PR;

Ethan Kester: pole vault, 11th, 10 feet;

Matt Umphress: discus, 28th, 68' four inches;

Kevin Lopez: discus, 26th, 70' seven inches;

Jason Shaver: shot put, 28th, 31' 2.75 inches;

AJ Hobbs: 110m hurdles, ninth, 17.84;

Zander Cepel: 3200m, 14th, 12.49.74; 1600m, ninth, 5:32.09, PR;

Luis Perez: 1600m, 24th, 6:10.75, PR;

Rogan Robertson: 1600m, 11th, 5:39.93;

Dewayne Baker: 800m: 18th, 2:33.48, PR;

Beau Ahlers: 400m, 16th, 1:09.03; 200m, 26th, 27.91, PR:

Shayne Jenkins: 200m, 25th, 26.88, PR; 100m, 28th, 13.11;

Connor Thomson: 200m, 24th, 25.85, PR; 100m, 23rd, 12.53, PR;

Alec Kester: 400m, 17th, 1:09.15; and

4x800 (Cepel, Baker, Dougherty, Robertson): eighth, 10:57.62.