Longhorn boys making final preparations for post season

The Chase County boys’ track team made a mad dash to the end of regular season with a busy schedule last week.
Seven Longhorns opened the week at Sutherland’s Best of the Midwest.
Chase County Head Coach Carl Zuege said the event is a great chance for some CCS athletes to see a very high level of competition before the district meet comes around.
    “With only the top eight marks in the area qualifying in each event, that sets up a quick moving and highly competitive meet,” Zuege said.
    Coaches were selective on the events in which athletes participated .
    “We go into the meet trying to decide who would best benefit from each event. This year, we concentrated on our relays,” Zuege said.
    Coaches chose to emphasize the 400 and 1,600 meter relays because it’s been rare this season to have a fresh set of runners at the end of most meets.
    “Those relays are made up of our kids who usually have a very full workload during a track meet, so this was an opportunity to just emphasize the relays,” Zuege said.
    Though both finished second, one didn’t go as coaches had planned.
    Dawson Mollendor, anchor leg for the 400 meter relay, was sick and Cedric Maxwell stepped in to fill his spot.
    After taking four seconds off the 1,600 meter relay, Zuege said the finish gives his team a great deal more confidence heading into districts.
Brit Gockley was third with a PR in the pole vault, Ryan Bernhardt placed third in the long jump and Kade Anderson placed sixth in the 110 meter hurdles with a PR.
That same day, other CCS athletes traveled to the North Platte JV Invite.
CCS wrapped up its final regular season meet on a high note, dominating the Dundy County-Stratton Twilight Friday in Benkelman.
    Zuege said the meet is a great opportunity to fine-tune before districts and coaches did not enter most of their athletes into their normal full workload to give team members an opportunity to really concentrate on just a couple of events.
    “I thought we had some excellent times and performances. This is the final meet for some athletes to reach their goals and to secure spots in the district entries. I was pleased with what we accomplished, and I think we are ready for the district meet Thursday,” Zuege said.
    Maxwell won the 400 meter dash.
    Clay Meeske took the 800 meter run title. Zach Herbert was second in the 800.
    Mollendor was second in the 100 meter dash and third in the 200.
    Anderson placed second in the 100 meter hurdles and Easton Fries was second in the 300 meter hurdles. James McArthur was second in the triple jump.
    The Longhorns won the 400 meter relay, then cut another half second off the 1,600 relay to set a season best with a winning time of 3:37.16.
    CCS set 12 PRs at the meet.
Districts this Thursday
CCS will return to Sutherland Thursday for the C-9 District track meet.
The first session of field events will begin at 10 a.m. MT with the second session of field events at 11:30 a.m. MT.
Officials estimate a 1 p.m. MT start for running events.

To read more go to: https://etypeservices.com/Imperial%20RepublicanID359/