The Elkhorn North Track and Field teams have seen major imporvements since their first 2021 season. The girls team claimed the state runner-up title in their first two seasons, and the boys team placed second in 2023.
The girls began the season looking to get back on the podium and the boys sought to get the gold.
“This was our first group of seniors to come through the program for four years,” coach Linda Blomenkamp said. “They have built an incredible culture where everyone is an important part of the team, and works their tails off to get better.”
Both the boys and girls teams started out the season strong. At the Steven Series Class B Invitational on March 14th the girls placed first and the boys finished second to the defending state champions, Omaha Skutt Catholic.
Freshman Reagan Wallraff tied the school record in high jump by clearing 5 foot 2 inches and placed first.
“This meet set a foundation for the rest of the season,” freshman Leah Robinson said. “It showed us we were capable of greater things.”
At the Norris Invitational on March 28th junior Jett Tingelhoff set the school record in the 200 meter dash, he ran a 21.81 second race and placed first. Junior Ella Ford also broke the school record for the 1600 meter run. She ran a 5:12.29 and won first place.
On April 5th the team competed at Waverly High School. Senior Sydney Stodden set the school record for the 200 meter dash running a 25.56 second race, and Ford broke another school record with a 11:04.07 in the 3200 meter run.
“This season our team really worked towards running hard for each other,” Ford said. “I think this helped us to end the season on a positive note.”
On April 11th, 2024 at the Kruger May Invite Senior Sam Thomas threw 66 feet and 3 inches in shot put. This marks the second farthest throw in Nebraska history.
“Sam is a very hard worker,” junior Johnny Tran said. “We will miss him and his talent next year.”
With the opportunity to display their talent at the Kansas University Relays, Maddi Harrison, Britt Prince, Robionson, and Stodden broke the school and class B record in the 4×400 race with a 3:56.08.
The Eastern Midland Conference Tournament took place on April 30th. Hibbard took first in the pole vault and tied the EMC record.
“Winning the jump off helped boost my confidence for state,” Hibbard said. “I got to practice feeling the pressure of competing one on one.”
The wolves saw major success at the EMC tournament. Thomas set the EMC record for shot put with a throw of 62-04, Addison Curry broke the triple jump school record with a 43-9.75, Stodden, Harrison, Robinson, and Prince broke the 4x400m EMC record with a 3:55.75, and Gavin Topf broke the school 100m dash record with a 11.09.
At districts in Fort Calhoun, the girls placed second and the boys tied for third as a team.
Brendan Heedum, Landon Johnson, Ryker Pithan, Thomas, Curry, and Tinglehoff qualified individually for state for the boys.
Allyson Dutoit, Avery Melendrez, Kailey O’Brien, Jenna Polking, Halle Pribnow, Anna Ripley, Kamerin Turner, Morgan Sachs, Paityn Christoffels, Ford, Harrison, Hibbard, Prince, Robinson, and Stodden qualified for the girls.
“State track is intimidating,” Melendrez said. “But we leaned into our coaches and trusted our training.”
At the state finals, Stodden won the 400m open with a time of 55.95; she broke the All Class State Meet Record and All Class State Record. The girls 4x800m relay, consisting of Stodden, Robinson, Prince, and Ford, placed first with a 9:11.08, and the 4x400m relay with Harrison, Stodden, Prince, and Robinson. This earned both relay teams the new All Class State Meet and All Class State Records.
Overall, the girls placed second overall and brought home a state runner-up trophy.
For the boys, Thomas won two gold medals in shot put and discus. In shot put he set the All Class State Meet Record and goes down in history as one of the best to throw shot put in Nebraska. Curry and Johnson placed second and seventh in the triple jump. Tingelhoff, coming off an injury, placed fourth in the 400m open.
“Not only did we accomplish so many goals, they are just an absolute joy to be around,” Blomenkamp said. “They found a way to work hard everyday and have a good time together.”
Congrats to the Elkhorn North Track and Field programs, and we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next season!
