by Laurie Pfeifer

There was no gold rush for the Aurora Huskies at the 2009 Nebraska State Track and Field Meet this past weekend, but there was plenty of other precious metal to be had.

In all, the Huskies brought home 13 medals, including three bronze for third place finishes in the girls discus, boys shot and boys 1600 meter relay race.

The Aurora boys ended the meet in a tie for eighth place in the team race and the girls finished in a tie for 18th.

Aurora coach Ron Haden said he was pleased with everything his teams accomplished at state. "We probably left about 10 points out there with kids not hitting their best marks but hey, it’s state track and it was blistering hot and that affected everyone, not just our kids."

Jerry Lobeda ended a dream senior year by claiming medals in all four of his events: sixth in the 100 meter dash, seventh in the 200 meter dash, sixth in the 400 meter relay and third in the 1600 meter relay.

Lobeda said the state meet was a nice ending to a year that included contributions as running back on the Class B state championship football team and being named 2009 Aurora Athlete of the year.

"I definitely met all my goals. I kind of pulled it all together here at state and ran my best times," Lobeda said. "It was real nice to place in the 100, it’s the first year I’ve done that. And I ran a 49.9 in the 1600 relay which was a PR for me."

Ashton Henderson, who is know for her competitiveness, muscled a throw of 131-7, edging out Beatrice’s Holly Bishop for third place in the discus.

Henderson said she didn’t change anything going into her final throw, her competitive spirit just rose to the surface one more time.

"I just knew I had to get one out there in order to place high. I wasn’t about to settle for fourth," she said. "I’m kind of known for doing my best on my final throw."

Andrew Rodriguez also came through in the discus Saturday, throwing 146-10 for seventh place. A day earlier he claimed the third place medal in the shot, throwing 55-2, just four inches out of second place.

Sophomore Kyle McCarthy added sixth place shot points for the Huskies, throwing a season and personal best 52-11.75 in his first outing at state. Haden said McCarthy’s performance was impressive considering he was way down the list of qualifiers. "Then to make the finals and medal was really good," he said.

The shot proved to be a valuable event for Aurora as Abby Griffith and Jenifer Ashby also medaled in the event.

Griffith, a four-time state qualifier, surpassed the 41 foot mark by half an inch for fifth place, while Ashby claimed eighth place with a throw of 39-5.5.

Also adding to the girls points total was junior Tess Moyer who leaped 36-4.5 for a fourth place medal and just one-quarter of an inch out of third place. Moyer had a strong finish to the season that included a 37-foot jump at districts.

Maggie Schneider won the first heat of the 800 meter run in 2:22.67, less than one second out of eighth place.

Haden said Schneider ran great times, but was competing against a very strong field. "In Class B, if you can’t run 2:20 or under it’s hard to medal," he said.

The girls 3200 meter relay team also was edged out of the medals, finishing ninth.

Freshman Trevor Thorell leaped 20-3.75 in the long jump for an eighth place finish. Haden said he was pleased both Thorell and Sam Shaw made it to the finals, giving them some great experience for next year.

All three boys relays placed to round out the medal chase for the boys.

The 3200 meter relay team of Daniel Haden, Chase Perry, Sean McCarthy and Josh Bart completed the eight-lap race in 8:17.28 for eighth place.

The 400 meter relay team of Andrew Patton, Tyson Broekemeier, James Van Pelt and Jerry Lobeda sprinted to a 44.082 sixth place finish.

But the Huskies saved the best for last.

Running out of the slow heat, Van Pelt, Bart, Perry and Lobeda ran a blistering 3:26.056 for third place in the event, smashing their previous best in the event by four seconds.

"We knew they could do that. We were just waiting for state to put those four runners in it," Haden said. "Grand Island Northwest pushed us and we pushed them to a state championship. I think if we both would have been in the fast heat, our time would have been even faster."

Girls results

Shot: 1. Kamphaus, Seward, 46-2.5; 2. Pinkelman, Cozad, 44-5.25; 3. Henry, Cozad, 43-7.75; 4. Johnson, GINW, 41-2.5; 5. Abby Griffith, Aurora, 41-0.5; 6. Ziemke, Centennial, 40-4.25; 7. Shupe, Skutt, 39-10; 8. Jenifer Ashby, Aurora, 39-5.5.

Discus: 1. Borchardt, Gothenburg, 142-8; 2. Voss, Arlington, 137-10; 3. Ashton Henderson, Aurora, 131-7; 4. Bishop, Beatrice 131-3; 5. Johnson, GINW, 128-1; 6. Finley, Roncalli, 124-2; 7. Pinkelman, Cozad, 124-0; 8. Kobza, Fairbury, 123-9.

Long jump: 1. Martin, Waverly, 18-8.75; 2. Malone, Fillmore Central, 17-9; 3. Spenner, Scotus, 17-7.75; 4. Hooper, Alliance, 17-3; 5. Ehle, Fairbury, 17-0; 6. Weigandt, Gretna, 16-9; 7. Kmiecik, Bishop Neumann, 16-8.5; 8. Jensen, Platteview, 16-4.75.

Triple jump: 1. Weigandt, Gretna, 39-0.5; 2. Martin, Waverly, 37-8.5; 3. Spenner, Scotus, 36-4.75; 4. Tess Moyer, Aurora, 36-4.5; 5. Johnson, GINW, 36-2.75; 6. Scanlan, Plattsmouth, 35-10.5; 7. Schumacher, Scotus, 35-7.75; 8. Guzman, Scottsbluff, 35-3.25.

High jump: 1. Martin, Waverly, 5-7; 2. Malm, Central City, 5-7; 3. Scanlan, Plattsmouth, 5-7; 4. Oliver, Gothenburg, 5-2; 5. Stanek, Bishop Neumann, 5-0; 6. Aschoff, Valentine, 5-0; 7. tie Hahn of Pierce and Hall of York, 5-0.

Pole vault: 1. Kollough, Holdrege, 11-6.25; 2. Fegter, Holdrege, 10-10; 3. Riedy, GINW, 10-10; 4. Walton, Beatrice, 10-6; 5. Walters, O’Neill, 10-6; 6. Anderson, GINW, 10-6; 7. Grenfell, York, 10-6; 8. tie Wakefield of Blair, McCorkle of McCook and Sitorius of Minden, 10-0.

100 meter dash: 1. Martin, Wavery. 12.45; 2. Pretzer, Beatrice, 12.7; 3. Ewers, Scotus, 12.72; 4. Kroese, Norris, 12.85; 5. Niederlein, Adams Central, 12.97; 6. Korgan, McCook, 12. 12.98; 7. Moyer, Arlington, 13.18; 8. Koley, Sutt, 13.55.

200 meter dash: 1. Ewers, Scotus, 25.93; 2. Spenner, Scotus, 26.07; 3. Beckwith, Boone Central, 26.12; 4. Korgan, McCook, 26.35; 5. Hooper, Alliance, 26.49; 6. Pretzer, Beatrice, 26.64; 7. Miller, Valentine, 26.85; 8. Kmiecik, Bishop Neumann, 26.90

400 meter dash: 1. Scotus, 49.99; 2. Beatrice, 50.1; 3. Seward, 51.3; 4. Gering, 51.4; 5. Valentine, 51.39; 6. Boone Central, 51.39; 7. Syracuse, 51.61; 8. McCook, 51.74.

800 meter run: 1. Mullen, Roncalli, 2:16.1; 2. Roemmich, Fillmore Central, 2:16.3; 3. Sughroue, McCook, 2:17.8; 4. Johnson, Arlington, 2:20; 5. Kindellin, Plattsmouth, 2:20.1; 6. Mueller, Seward, 2:20.3; 7. Seier, Waverly, 2:20.6; 8. Stoll, Plattsmouth, 2:21.9.

1600 meter run: 1. Worden, Scottsbluff, 5:08.91; 2. Kindelin, Plattsmouth, 5:15.54; 3. Curran, Wahoo, 5:16.46; 4. Ochsner, Fillmore Central, 5:17.15; 5. Kolbo, Gross, 5:17.54; 6. Driewer,York, 5:18.74; 7. Riesen, Chadron, 5:19.50; 8. Mueller, Seward, 5:22.32.

3200 meter run: 1. Worden, Scottsbluff, 11:19; 2. Ochsner, Fillmore Central, 11:30.6; 3. Driewer, York, 11:39.7; 4. Kolbo, Gross, 11:42.8; 5. Soupir, Gretna, 11:44.2; 6. Nunes, Alliance, 11:50.8; 6. Evans, GINW, 11:53.9; 8. Karn, Holdrege, 12:00.6.

100 meter hurdles: 1. Fischer, Wood River, 15.26; 2. Kroese, Norris, 15.33; 3. Fujan, Bishop Neumann, 15.35; 4. Koehn, Pierce, 16.05; 5. Bygland, Boone Central, 16.49; 6. Fujan, Beatrice, 16.98; 7. Spellman, York, 17.11; 8. Bernadac, Scottsbluff, 17.61.

300 meter hurdles: 1. Fujan, Bishop Neumann, 45.52; 2. Helmink, Fairbury, 47.38; 3. Max, Gothenburg, 47.41; 4. Findley, Roncalli, 47.44; 5. Grossenbacher, Norriks, 47.55; 6. Bygland, Boone Central, 47.58; 7. Murren, Wahoo, 47.74; 8. Fischer, Wood River, 48.40.

400 meter relay: 1. Scotus, 49.99; 2. Beatrice, 50.09; 3. Seward, 51.22; 4. Gering, 51.32; 5. Valentine, 51.39; 6. Boone Central, 51.39; 7. Syracuse, 51.61; 8 McCook, 51.74.

1600 meter relay: 1. McCook, 4:05.72; 2. Roncalli/Duchesne, 4:07.13; 3. Wahoo, 4:08.12; 4. Seward, 4:09.12; 5. Boone Central, 4:09.35; 6. Broken Bow, 4:10.12; 7. Fillmore Central, 4:10.26; 8. Minden, 4:12.11.

3200 meter relay: 1. McCook, 9:35.4; 2. Wahoo, 9:35.5; 3. Roncalli/Duchesne, 9:39.5; 4. Scottsbluff, 9:47.3; 5. Fillmore Central, 9:47.5; 6. Seward, 10:00.1; 7. Plattsmouth, 10:01; 8. Norris, 10:01.9.

Boys results

Shot: 1. Volkmer, Syracuse, 57-1.5; 2. Henry, Cozad, 55-6; 3. Andrew Rodriguez, Aurora, 55-2; 4. Wonka, Bishop Neumann, 53-5; 5. Schlote, Battle Creek, 53-4.25; 6. Kyle McCarthy, Aurora, 52-11.75; 7. Johnson, Arlington, 52-11.25; 8 Thalken, Ogallala, 52-2.75.

Discus: 1. Suess, Scotus, 167-3; 2. Rutt, Hastings, 165-8; 3. Nelson, Platteview, 157-0; 4. Trausch, Minden, 151-2; 5. Jurgens, Beatrice, 150-8; 6. Johnson, Arlington, 148-0; 7. Andrew Rodriguez, Aurora, 146-10.

Long jump: 1. Wullenwaber, Centennial, 22-9.25; 2. Hartzler, Sidney, 21-10.25; 3. Brei, Adams Central, 20-11.25; 4. Cook, Waverly, 20-8.5; 5. Englund, GINW, 20-6.5; 6. Baxa, Norris, 20-6.5; 7. Matthews, Boys Town, 20-5.75; 8. Trevor Thorell, Aurora, 20-3.75.

Triple jump: 1. Brei, Adams Central, 45-9.25; 2. Gandy, Boys Town, 45-7.25; 3. Grasmick, Gering, 44-11.25; 4. Daake, Norfolk Catholic, 44-8.25; 5. Englund, GINW, 44-5.25; 6. Klaus, Bennington, 44-3.25; 7. Nichols, McCook, 43-2.25; 8. Reardon, Scutus, 43-23.

High jump: 1. Wiest, Hastings, 6-8; 2. Sugden, Beatrice, 6-7; 3. Bardsley, Beatrice, 6-6; 4. Hartzler, Sidney, 6-5; 5. Wegner, West Point-Beemer, 6-4; 6. Englund, GINW, 6-4; 7. tie Lordino of Chadron and Ptacek of O’Neill, 6-2.

Pole vault: 1. Bullock, Gothenburg, 14-8; 2. Pomajzl, GINW, 14-8; 3. Driver, Minden, 14-0; 4. Laursen, O’Neill, 13-6; 5. Smith, McCook, 13-6; 6. Nelson, Norfolk Catholic, 13-6; 7. Svoboda, Ogallala, 13-6; 8. Peter, O’Neill, 13-6.

100 meter dash: 1. Evans, Waverly, 10.95; 2. Dotson, Boys Town, 11.04; 3. Horton, Boys Town, 11.04; 4. Mroczek, Gothenburg, 11.11; 5. Janda, Scotus, 11.19; 6. Jerry Lobeda, Aurora, 11.22; 7. Thompson, Boys Town, 11.26; 8. Baxa, Norris, 11.29.

200 meter dash: 1. Wullenwaber, Centennial, 22.33; 2. Horton, Boys Town, 22.46; 3. Dotson, Boys Town, 22.46; 4. Loseke, Scottsbulff, 22.70; 5. Sheldon, Lexington, 22.78; 6. Evans, Waverly, 22.91; 8. Jerry Lobeda, Aurora, 22.92; 8. Mroczek, Gothenburg, 23.32.

400 meter dash: 1. Loseke, Scottsbluff, 50.08; 2. Schmidt, Lexington, 50.01; 3. Ingersoll, Scottsbluff, 50.55; 4. Nannen, York, 50.92; 5. Nutsch, Beatrice, 51.18; 6. Goltl, McCook, 51.40; 7. Harris, Boys Town, 52.02; 8. Morris, Blair, 52.34.

800 meter run: 1. Mitteis, Plattsmouth, 1:56.61; 2. Bedell, Plattsmouth, 1:57.24; 3. Gibson, Blair, 1:57.37; 4. Heng, Norfolk Catholic, 1:58.36; 5. Maslowsky, Arlington, 1:58.37; 6. Nannen, York, 1:58.66; 7. Gutierrez, Sidney, 1:58.95; 8. Hassan, Lexington, 1:59.31.

1600 meter run: 1. Gibson, Blair, 4:20.77; 2. Heng, Norfolk Catholic, 4:22.49; 3. Grieb, York, 4:27.99; 4. Maslowsky, Arlington, 4:28.51; 5. Holliday, Minden, 4:29.10; 6. Harsin, Blair, 4:30.30; 7. Larsen, Gross, 4:31.16; 8. Adams, Ogallala, 4:31.56.

3200 meter run: 1. Heng, Norfolk Catholic, 9:29.65; 2. Faughn, Waverly, 9:38.01; 3. Holliday, Minden, 9:39.11; 4. Tophoj, Ogallala, 9:40.93; 5. Tophoj, Ogallala, 9:54.50; 6. Adams, York, 9:57.30; 7. Aden, Syracuse, 9:58.62; 8. Sherrill, Wood River, 10:01.47.

110 meter hurdles: 1. Ingersoll, Scottsbluff, 14.93; 2. Suhr, Seward, 15.26; 3. Marten, Broken Bow, 15.47; 4. Conner, Nebraska City, 15.65; 5. Wilkins, Boys Town, 15.68; 6. Vaughn, Minden, 16.28; 7. Tourek, Arlington, 16.29; 8. Peters, Gering, 17.79.

300 meter hurdles: 1. Schroeder, Lexington, 39.16; 2. Wilkins, Boys Town, 39.25; 3. Hilderbrand, Gothenburg, 39.94; 4. Conner, Nebraska City, 41.20; 5. Pfeifer, Madison, 41.32; 6. Marten, Broken Bow, 42.33; 7. Neal, Norfolk Catholic, 42.62; 8. Tingelhoff, Lexington, 42.68.

400 meter relay: 1. Boys Town, 42.33; 2. Waverly, 43.36; 3. Sutt, 43.45; 4. Gothenburg, 43.92; 5. Lexington, 44.08; 6. Aurora (Patton, Broekemeier, Van Pelt, Lobeda), 44.09; 7. McCook,, 44.35; 8. Crete, 44.38.

1600 meter relay: 1. GINW, 3:24.67; 2. Lexington, 3:25.36; 3. Aurora (Van Pelt, Bart, Perry, Lobeda), 3:26.06; 4. Scottsbluff, 3:26.92; 5. Bennington, 3:29.99; 6. McCook, 3:30.66; 7. Gering, 3:30.97; 8. Boys Town 3:31.47.

3200 meter relay: 1. Blair, 8:04.63; 2. Plattsmouth, 8:10. 06; 3. Holdrege, 8:13.54; 4. GINW, 8:15.05; 5. Gross, 8:15.06; 6. Norfolk Catholic, 8:15.55; 7. Lexington, 8:17.13; 8. Aurora (Haden, Perry, McCarthy, Bart), 8:17.28.