Knights athletes fall just shy of advancing to State

By Ginna Young

With a goal of getting some athletes to the State competition, the Cornell-Lake Holcombe track program gave it their all to advance.

May 27 Colfax Regional

The first hurdle to get by, was Regional action at Colfax, which saw two athletes – senior Hunter Anders and junior Megan Paff – advance onward. Anders placed fourth in high jump (5-8) and 20th in long jump (17-7.5), while Paff was fourth in shot put (31-6) and seventh in discus throw (98-4).

“They are one step closer to their goal of competing at the State tournament,” said coach Laurie Bowe.

While not qualifying to move on, the remainder of the team still did well. On the boys’ side, junior Alex Dixon placed ninth in triple jump (35-10.75) and 10th in the 800-meter run (2:25.32), while sophomore Bryce De-Jongh took 10th in pole vault (9-6) and junior Logan Jaedike was 13th in the 200-meter dash (65.91).

Junior Jordan Ness came next, taking 11th in the 400-meter dash (1:09.87), 24th in long jump (11-11) and 26th in the 200 dash (31.77). Junior Tommy Kane rounded out the placings, ending in 23rd in shot put (29-11) and discus throw (78-9).

For the girls, freshman Ann Pogodzinski placed eighth in the 100-meter hurdles (20.05) and ninth in the 300-meter hurdles (58-49), while freshman Lane Porter was 12th in the 800 run (3:16.76) and freshman Kaitlyn Helland placed 18th in long jump (10-5.5).

“As coaches, we are very proud of all the athletes that competed at Regionals,” said Bowe.

May 30 Colby Sectional

Next up, was Sectionals, at Colby, in which Paff and Anders were the lone competitors for the Knights.

“I am proud of Megan and Hunter,” said Bowe. “They competed against great competition.”

Paff finished in 11th place in the shot put event (3211.75) and Anders came in 13th in high jump (5-04). The placings were not enough to reach State and the Knights’ season came to an end.

“It was a great experience for them,” said Bowe.