Gage Mintken of Hay Springs led a solid contingent of area athletes at Wednesday’s D-9 district track meet at Creek Valley, swiping a pair of golds in the long jump and triple just to earn his way to state.
Mintken went 20’ 5.5” in the long jump and lept 40’ 8” in the triple jump. He’ll be joined by teammate Dylan Raymer who took 1st in the 110m hurdles (15.57) and 2nd in the 300m hurdles (42.80). Wes Jacobs is returning to Omaha, this time in the 800m with a 3rd place finish (2:05.27) and is an additional qualifier and Parker Wellnitz was runner-up in the 3200m with a 11:40.71.
For the Hay Springs girls, Mia Skinner snagged gold in the 800m with a time of 2:35.33 and Gabby Twarling was the runner-up in the 400m with a 1:05.33.
Crawford will send Ty Brady and Carter Rudloff on the boys side. Brady captured 1st in the 1600m with a 4:57.74 and was 2nd in the 800m with a 2:04.32. Rudloff went 126’ 9” in the discus to earn silver and a spot at state.
Crawford’s Kylah Vogel and Kiera Brennan were double qualifiers. Vogel placed 1st in the 400m in a time of 1:03.4 and was 2nd in the 300m (49.78). Brennan was a runner-up in the 800m (2:39.12) and was a member of the winning 4x800m relay team along with Kember Mittan, Keslyn Vogel and Halee Wasserburger.
The Class D state meet begins next Thursday in Omaha.