Longhorns repeat as Class C boys state champs

Things were starting to look grim for the Chase County boys’ track team Saturday morning in Omaha at the state meet.
Winning a state title takes a little luck and the Longhorns missed out on some valuable points in the first field session.
But the tide starting turning in the second session.
North Platte St. Pat’s was leading Class C. Needing to gain ground, CCS did just that with Kole Clevenger’s fourth-place finish in long jump ahead of NPSP’s seventh-place finisher.
The Longhorns finished one spot behind the Irish in the 400-meter relay, taking third and the six points that came with it. Team members were Jonathan Sosa, Tucker Mollendor, Thomas Reeves and Camron, Lempke.
As the afternoon rolled on, NPSP was in Chase County’s rearview mirror along with all the other teams hoping to derail the Longhorns’ second-straight state title.
Easton Fries ran his best times of the season in Omaha. Fries finished second to NPSP’s Jaxon Knisley in the 110-meter high hurdles. If Knisley hadn’t set the Class C state record in the prelims and finals, Fries would have. Knisley won the All-Class Gold Medal in the event.
Fries and Knisley have been head and shoulders ahead of the competition all season long, Zuege said.
Reeves was hot on Knisley’s heels in the ensuing 100-meter dash. Reeves placed third in the event to Knisley’s second.
Fries was outstanding in the 300-meter hurdles, finishing well over two seconds ahead of second place. The Longhorn senior blew the Class C state record running a 37.99. Dundy County Stratton’s Phalen Sanford set the record of 38.61 in 2018 and Jack Drahota of Ravenna tied it one year later. Fries earned the All-Class Gold Medal for his efforts.
It was a culmination of four years worth of work, Zuege said.
Reeves also did his part to ensure the state championship with a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter dash, running 22.26.
Zuege said Reeves’ points were huge for the Longhorns. He credited Reeves with spending a lot of time in the weight room and becoming more explosive. Reeves broke Kerry Shinn’s record of 22.34 in the race.
By the time Class C stepped onto the track for the meet’s final event, the 1,600-meter relay, it would have been easy to think the drama was over. CCS had the team title wrapped up, but still had one more trick up its sleeve.
Clevenger, Tristan Jablonski, Reeves and Fries held off Lincoln Lutheran, which had the first and third-place finishers in the open 400, to take first place in the 4x4 and set another state record. CCS (3:21.17), Lincoln Lutheran (3:21.27) and West Holt (3:22.81) each ran times better than the previous record of 3:23.91 set by Heartland in 2000.
“Our handoffs were almost flawless,” Zuege said, adding that the relay practiced with teammates creating traffic at practice.
Reeves ran a 48.939 split to give Fries the time he needed to get from lane three to lane one ahead of the other two schools. Fries’ 48.477 was enough to hold off Class C 400 State Champion Logan Lebo at the finish.
It was the cherry on top of an outstanding track season across the state.
Across all classes, three state records, 19 class records, six state meet records and 27 class meet records were set. Prior to the state meet, 31 records were set throughout the season.
The Longhorns rocked the school record board as well, setting eight new team records, Reeves 100 and 200; Fries, both hurdles and 400; Mason Wallin, pole vault; 400- and 1,600-meter relays, and adding 18 entries to the top 10.
As Zuege predicted, three SPVA teams ended their seasons in the top five of the team standings. NPSP ended up fourth, 45.5 points, and Perkins County was right behind them in fifth with 35.  
Friday action
The meet got off to a quiet start Friday morning with the Longhorns’ only field event being the triple jump. James McArthur and Tyler O’Neil each cleared 40-feet, while Clevenger just missed with a jump of 39’11.5. None made finals.
CCS was quick to put points on the board. In the meet’s first running event, the 3,200-meter relay, Longhorns Haven Hauxwell, Sosa, Luis Co and Tristan Jablonski finished fifth.
After a round of preliminary races that saw Reeves move on to the finals in the 100 and Fries and Tyler O’Neil advance in the 110-meter hurdles, Fries took to the track for the open 400.
This year was the first time the 400-meter dash and 300-hurdles, both races Fries runs, were finals only at state.
With his best 400 of his career, Fries finished second to Lincoln Lutheran’s Lebo by 0.06 seconds. Despite Hershey’s Chase Moorhead having Fries number throughout the season in the 400, Zuege said CCS coaches were confident Fries and Lebo were the best two runners in the race. Moorhead finished eighth.
The day wrapped up with Haven Hauxwell’s run in the 3,200-meters and Reeves qualifying for the 200-meter finals.
Saturday morning, Jaret Peterson and Noah Rau kicked off action with throws in the third flight of discus. Peterson went on to finish 6th. Rau missed out on finals.
Around that same time returning state champion and Class C leader Mason Wallin hit the runway for pole vault. A recurring hamstring injury shut down Wallin’s efforts and he didn’t clear 13 feet.
As the second CCS bus arrived at Burke Stadium and word spread about Wallin, Zuege said athletes were checking in on Wallin and telling him they had his back.
It was unfortunate Wallin was injured, Zuege added.
“He’s been a great competitor,” Zuege said.
Finishing behind Clevenger in long jump were Mollendor and McArthur.
Jablonski ran in the afternoon’s first running event, the open 800. Jablonski finished just out of a medal in 9th place after running in the slower heat.
Following the 400-meter relay, Fries and O’Neil picked up team points in the 110-meter high hurdle finals and Hauxwell set a personal best and placed 10th in the 1,600-meter run.

The meet finished quickly with Fries’ win in the 300-meter hurdles, Reeves placing in the 200 and the 1,600-meter relay.
Looking back
Battling the state’s best week in and week out has been good for the Longhorns.
Throughout the season CCS has battled athletes at the top of their classes leaderboards, the likes of two-time Class D gold medalists Carson Trompke of Cambridge and Mason McGreer of Perkins County in the distance races. Chase County sprinters had the chance to run against William Kuhlanek of Overton who won three Class D events. Longhorn throwers were challenged by Dundy County Stratton’s Brock Bailey multiple times.
Competing against elite athletes at every meet gave CCS confidence, Zuege said.
Culture is a vital part of the Longhorns’ track program. After watching the success of the Chase County’s girls team, Zuege said his boys team has picked up positive habits.
Chase County’s strength and condition program, its junior high teams and community support all contribute, Zuege added.
“We’re thankful for everyone,” he said.
Class C State Track
Top 10 team standings—1. Chase County, 65; 2. Arlington, 49; 3. Lincoln Lutheran, 46.5; 4. North Platte St. Patrick’s, 45.5; 5. Perkins County, 35; 6. Battle Creek, 31; 7. Hastings St. Cecilia, 30; 8. Bishop Neumann, 28; 8. Elmwood-Murdock, 28; 10. West Holt, 27.

Individual results
100 Meters—1. Mitchell Hupp, 10.80, Stanton; 3. Thomas Reeves, 11.01, CCS.
200 Meters—1. Hupp, 21.79, Stanton; 5. Reeves, 22.51, CCS.
400 Meters—1. Logan Lebo, 49.57, Lincoln Lutheran; 2. Easton Fries, 49.63, CCS.
800 Meters—1. Christopher Thomas, 1:57.90, St. Paul; 9. Tristan Jablonski, 2:02.44, CCS.
1600 Meters—1. Mason McGreer, 4:28.66, Perkins County; 10. Haven Hauxwell, 4:41.71, CCS.
3200 Meters—1. McGreer, 10:01.25, Perkins County; 13. Hauxwell, 10:24.00, CCS.
110m Hurdles—1. Jaxon Knisley, 13.84, North Platte St. Patrick’s; 2. Fries, 14.08, CCS; 8. Tyler O’Neil, 15.91, CCS.
300m Hurdles—1. Fries, 37.99, CCS; 23. O’Neil, 46.44, CCS.
4x100 Relay—1. West Holt, 42.85; 3. CCS (Jonathan Sosa, Tucker Mollendor, Thomas Reeves, Camron Lempke), 43.41.
4x400 Relay—1. CCS (Clevenger, Jablonski, Reeves, Fries), 3:21.17.
4x800 Relay—1. Arlington, 8:06.88; 5. CCS (Hauxwell, Sosa, Luis Co, Jablonski), 8:18.55.
Discus—1. Derek Wacker, 167-04, Yutan; 6. Jaret Peterson, 156-08, CCS, 15. Noah Rau, 144-11, CCS.
Long Jump—1. Carter Nelson, 23-02.50, Ainsworth; 4. Clevenger, 21-11.00, CCS; 11. Mollendor, 20-07.50, CCS; 17. James McArthur, 19-08.00, CCS.
Triple Jump—1. Blake Hinrichs, 44-07.50, Ord; 15. McArthur, 40-07.00, CCS; 17. O’Neil, 40-04.00, CCS; 18. Clevenger, 39-11.50, CCS.