Jumper sparks six regional champions

By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

WICHITA – “Schroeder?” “Schroeder?”

The long jump official repeated Jaclynn Schroeder’s name, similar to Ben Stein’s failed attempt to locate “Bueller? Bueller?” in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”

Eventually, the official located Schroeder, and motioned that she was next to jump in the 5A track regional. It was a cat-and-mouse game Schroeder continued to play.

Well played Jaclynn.

Schroeder marches to her own drummer, preferring to take her time on her jumps. The strategy worked perfectly as she won the 5A regional by tying her career best by clearing the bar at 5-foot-2.

The girls high jump was delayed 75 minutes because of the lack of a landing pit, but Schroder’s laid-back style worked just fine. She adjusted well to 30 mph southerly winds. She liked the jumping surface.

“The delay didn’t bother me. It was a good day because my goal was to qualify for the state meet. I felt pretty good jumping today,” she said. “The wind was fine because it was right behind you today. It gave us a little push.”

She said she’ll be ready for the intensity level at the 5A state meet next week.

Schroeder was one of six Great Bend regional champions that featured 14 state qualifiers – eight boys qualifiers and six girls qualifiers.

Great Bend Panther superb distance runner Josh Tomlin earned double wins in the 1,600 (4:42.92) and 3,200 (10:24.61). Bryce Brown captured the triple jump (40-111/2).

McKenna Esfeld won the 800 (2:30.52) and started the first-place 3,200-meter relay (10:35.11) with Emma Loomis, Emilia Diaz and Olivia Rugan.

The Panthers’ distance runners were solid with six state qualifiers. The 3,200-meter relay (8:40.24) placed runner-up with Evan Hammond, Josh Tomlin, Sage Cauley and Jesus Sanchez competing. Sanchez was the 800 runner-up (2:07.12). Cauley earned a third-place in the 3,200 (10:37.68). Jaime Arellanes placed third in the 1,600 (4:43.97).

The seventh-seeded 400-meter relay (44.05) was a surprise fourth-place state qualifier with Korbin Widiger, Dalton Miller, Sam Ryan and Bryce Brown competing.

Esfeld’s winning 800 meters was followed by runner-up Olivia Rugan (2:31.75). The Panther girls were full of surprises. Taryn Warren posted a personal best shot put (36-101/4) to win the event. Molly Kaiser’s third-place discus (111-4) delivered another pleasant surprise.

The Great Bend qualifiers earn spots in the 5A state track meet at Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium next weekend.

The Great Bend boys placed third (74 points) behind Newton (92) and Wichita Northwest (84). The Panther girls finished fourth (64) with McPherson (112) winning the regional ahead of runner-up Newton (98).

5A WICHITA REGIONAL

BOYS TEAM SCORES --1—Newton 92; 2—Wichita Northwest 84; 3—Great Bend 74; 4—Salina South 72.5;5—Valley Center 64;6—McPherson 54; 7—Wichita Heights 53;8—Hays High 34.5; 9—Salina Central 26

GREAT BEND RESULTS

100—8—Widiger, 11.24

200—6—Miller, 24.43

400—13—Lindberg, 1:09.46

800—2—Sanchez, 2:07.12; 7—Arellanes, 2;10.36

1,600—1—Tomlin, 4:42.92; 3—Arellanes, 4:43.97

3,200—1—Tomlin, 10:24.61; 3—Cauley, 10:37.68

400 relay—4—Great Bend, 44.05 (Widiger, Miller, Ryan, Brown)

3,200 relay—2—Great Bend, 8:40.24 (E. Hammond, Tomlin, Cauley, Sanchez)

Long jump—5—Brown, 20-9

Triple jump—1—Brown, 40-111/2

Shot put—12—Seymour, 44-71/2; 15—Murray, 43-01/2; 16—Lutt, 42-81/2

Discus—7—Seymour, 140-11

Javelin—6—Duvall, 151-0

Pole vault—7—Liles, 11-0

5A WICHITA REGIONAL

GIRLS TEAM SCORES—1—McPherson 112; 2—Newton 98; 3—Valley Center 70; 4—Great Bend 64; 5—Salina Central 52; 6—Wichita Northwest 49; 7—Salina South 46; 8—Wichita Heights 41; 9—Hays High 26

GREAT BEND GIRLS RESULTS

100—15—Buehler, 13.38; 18—Latham, 13.59

100 hurdles—8—White, 18.15

400—11—Razo, 55.35

800—1—Esfeld, 2:30.52; 2—Rugan, 2:31.75; 7—Loomis, 2:39.11

3,200—3—Diaz, 12:43.55

3,200 relay—1—Great Bend, 10;35.11 (Esfeld, Loomis, Diaz, Rugan)

High jump—1—Schroeder, 5-2; 6—Smith, 4-10

Long jump—9—Ahn Nhi, 15-61/2; 11—Smith, 14-10

Triple jump—6—Smith, 34-31/2; 10—Herter, 32-21/2

Shot put—1—Warren, 36-101/4; 10—Brack, 30-93/4

Discus—3—Kaiser, 111-4; 9—Brack, 93-9; 10—Warren, 92-6

Javelin—5—Schroeder, 109-11

Pole vault—13—Lindberg, 7-6