BATTLE CREEK — Osmond track teams traveled to Battle Creek on Thursday April 4 for their invitational.
The Tigers had a long layoff since their last meet at WSC on March 16.
Weather had caused many rescheduling and cancelations.
Because of the rescheduling of the Battle Creek invitational, the meet fell on the date of the State FFA convention, so many schools were missing team members. Osmond was also missing competitors and gave younger runners a chance to step up.
The boys placed sixth in the 15team field, which included many
strong Class C schools. The Tigers top finish was second place in the 3,200-relay. Osmond placed second in a time of 9:33.4 behind Norfolk Catholic with a winning time of 9:14.8. Relay runners were Jaxon Vinson, Caleb Vinson, Caleb Miller and anchorman Dominic True.
Dominic also ran a strong 3,200 meters as he finished in fourth place, holding off Miles Clausen of Battle Creek. Dominic's time was 10:57.8, his personal best effort. Jaxon Vinson placed fifth in the 800 meters in a time of 2:20.1 and nearly caught Jaron Blum of Stanton.
Also on the track earning a medal was exchange student Nicholas Velasco. His effort in the 400 meters placed him sixth in a nice time of 59.8. Noah Geneski made the finals in a strong field of 110 high hurdles. His time in the finals was 18.2, but he did not place.
In the field, senior Xander Brown held third place in the discus going into the finals. When the finals were completed, Carter Nelson of Ain-
sworth was first (174-1), Ren Brown of Stanton second (154-8), Trent Uhlir of Battle Creek third (151-7), Xander Brown of Osmond fourth (144-1), and Brandon Kollars of Norfolk Catholic fifth (140-1), a very strong field of throwers.
The Tigers had two relays score well. The 400-relay team finished fourth in a time of 49.0 with team members Noah Geneski, Xander Brown, and freshmen Mason True and Austin Napier. The final relay race was the 1600-relay. Osmond placed fourth in a time of 3:57.5 with team members Dominic True, Noah Geneski, Mason True and Jaxon Vinson. Their time was 3:57.5.
For the girls, senior Erica Heiman earned a fifth place medal in the 300 hurdles. Her time was 53.8. Erica just missed the 100 hurdle finals as she had the ninth best prelim time.
Senior teammate Anabelle Vinson qualified for the finals of the discus with a toss of 92-6. This was her personal best effort, but she did not place. Freshman Klaire Johnson made the finals of the triple jump with a dis - tance of 29-4.5, but she did not medal.
“We competed well against some very good track schools,” noted coach Joe Ortmeier. “We will improve as the season moves on and we get some consistence in the weather and training.”
Girls' Scores
North Best Central ............. 113 Norfolk Catholic ................ 112 Battle Creek ......................... 77 Elkhorn Valley ..................... 71 Ainsworth ............................ 57
Plainview ............................. 39 Stanton ................................. 38 O'Neill ................................. 10 Randolph ............................... 3 Madison ................................. 3 Osmond ................................. 2 Winside .................................. 1 Boys' Scores
Battle Creek ....................... 147 Norfolk Catholic .................. 88 Elkhorn Valley ..................... 63 Ainsworth ............................ 46 Stanton ................................. 43 Osmond ............................... 27 O'Neill ................................. 25
North Bend Central ............. 21 Plainview ............................. 20 LHNE .................................. 16 Lyons-Decatur NE ............... 14 Winside ................................ 11 EPPJ ...................................... 3 Madison ................................. 2 Randolph ............................... 1
