A fifth place finish for the girls’ team and standout performances by Andrew Thompson and Russell Hemeter of the boys’ squad were the highlights of opening week for the Nishnabotna track and field program.
The Blue Devil girls’ squad opened the outdoor season by scoring 50 points and a fifth place finish at the Fremont-Mills Girls Invite at Tabor on Thursday.
Hemeter and Thompson stole the headlines for the boys’ team in Friday action at the Clarinda Relays.
Hemeter scored 38 points and was the top individual scorer with three firsts and a second place finish.
Meanwhile, Thompson, running the 1600 meter race for just the second time, beat one of the area’s preeminent runners in Tym Wood of Fremont-Mills.
See below for more results of the Fremont-Mills Girls’ Invite, as well as the Jerome Howe Relays and the Cardinal Relays.
F-M Girls’ Invite
Scoring events for the Blue Devils were 1600 medley relay, third; Molly Goltz, 3000, third; Mallory Jones, 3000, sixth; 1600 relay, third; 3200 relay, second; Amanda Brennan, second in the 800 and third in the 400; Ashley Gilbert, sixth, high jump; Kim Esser, sixth, long jump; Leah Burkhiser, fifth, shot; and the shuttle hurdle relay, fourth.
Clarinda Relays
The Blue Devils scored 65 points for second place at Clarinda Friday.
Scoring events were Russell Hemeter, first in the 400, 400 hurdles, and 800 and second in the long jump; Andrew Thompson, first in the 1600; Kaleb Kahue, fourth, high jump; Matt Barrett, fifth in the discus and sixth in the shot; Jeremy Booher, fourth in the 3200 and 1600; and the distance medley relay, fifth.
Jerome Howe Relays
Nishnabotna scored 39 and finished seventh at the Jerome Howe Relays in Treynor last Monday.
Scoring events were Russell Hemeter, first in the 400 hurdles, third in the 400 and fourth in the long jump; Andrew Thompson, second in the 1600 and fourth in the 800; Jeremy Booher, third in the 3200; and 3200 relay, sixth.
