Eagles Hold On To Late Lead, Win B-4 District Track Title

Photo courtesy of Micheal Peterson

For the first time in a long time, the O'Neill Eagle boys are district champs.

O'Neill started the day off strong, using the field events to get a strong jump start in the team standings. Walker Liewer was the Eagle's top finisher in the field events, taking first in the discus and second in the shot put. 

Once the running events started, the Eagles used a deep group of runners to hold on to a late charge from Columbus Scotus. Both teams finished with 90 points on the day. While O'Neill had many strong performances in the running events, the leaders were unquestionably twin brothers Blake and Grant Johnston, as well as Alex Thramer. The Johnston brothers controlled the distance events, with Blake taking first in the 1600 meter run and second in the 3200 meter run. Grant took second in both events, sending both brothers to state. The twins also made state as members of the 4x800 meter relay team along with Nathaniel Jennings and Jon Gettert. Thramer had a strong performance in both hurdle events, finishing second in each to earn a ticket to state.

On the girls side, the Eagles will send five to state. Mikayla Marvin qualified by taking second in the pole vault. The final four to qualify for state were Lilly Thompson, Briaunna Parks, Claire Morrow, Payton Birkel, all members of the second place 4x800 meter relay team.

The state track meet begins May 20th at Omaha Burke High School.

Boys Team Results
1. O’Neill 90
1. Columbus Scotus 90
3. Norfolk Catholic 84
4. Pierce 76
5. Boone Central Newman Grove 58
6. David City 44
7. Columbus Lakeview 40.50
8. Wayne 25.50
9. Schuyler 15
10. West Point Beemer 4
Boys Shot Put Final Results
2. Walker Liewer, O’Neill, 48′ 9″
Boys Triple Jump Final Results
4. Justin Appleby, O’Neill, 40′ 3.50″
Boys Discus Final Results
1. Walker Liewer, O’Neill, 161′ 6″
Boys Pole Vault Final Results
3. Corbin Dean, O’Neill, 12′ 6″
Boys 4 x 800 M Relay
2. O’Neill, Nathaniel Jennings, Jon Gettert, Grant Johnston, Blake Johnston, 8:30.65
Boys 3200 M Run Final Results
2. Blake Johnston, O’Neill, 10:22.41
3. Grant Johnston, O’Neill, 10:31.44
4. McCoy Strong, O’Neill, 10:49.05
Boys 110 M Hurdles Final Results
2. Alex Thramer, O’Neill, 15.49
Boys 800 M Run Final Results
6. Nathaniel Jennings, O’Neill, 2:11.45
Boys 300 M Hurdles Final Results
2. Alex Thramer, O’Neill, 42.18
6. Wyatt Liewer, O’Neill, 43.66
Boys 1600 M Run Final Results
1. Blake Johnston, O’Neill, 4:47.19
3. Grant Johnston, O’Neill, 4:51.52
Boys 4 x 400 M Relay
5. O’Neill, Tyler Regan, Jon Gettert, Corbin Dean, Nathaniel Jennings, 3:35.57
Girls Team Results
1. Scotus Central Catholic 110
2. Boone Central Newman Grove 89
3. Wayne 76
4. Norfolk Catholic 73
5. Pierce 58
6. Columbus Lakeview 37
7. West Point Beemer 32
8. O’Neill 28
9. David City 21
10. Schuyler 2
Girls Pole Vault
The Top 4 girls here qualified for State as 9’7 is a qualifying height
2. Mikayla Marvin, O’Neill, 10′ 7″
6. Caleigh Miles, O’Neill, 9′ 1″
Girls Triple Jump
6. Allison Ludwig, O’Neill, 32′ 3″
Girls Shot Put Final Results
6. Emily Morrow, O’Neill, 34′ 4″
Girls 4 x 800 M Relay
2. O’Neill, Lilly Thompson, Briaunna Parks, Claire Morrow, Payton Birkel, 10:19.13
Girls 100 M Hurdles Final Results
6. Aurora Gutshall, O’Neill, 16.63
Girls 800 M Run Final Results
4. Lilly Thompson, O’Neill, 2:31.94

Girls 300 M Hurdles
5. Samantha Eichelberger, O’Neill, 49.16
Girls 4 x 400 M Relay
5. O’Neill, Samantha Eichelberger, Briaunna Parks, Mikayla Marvin, Lilly Thompson, 4:23.30

State Qualifiers
Walker Liewer, O'Neill, shot put, discus
Corbin Dean, O'Neill, pole vault
Nathaniel Jennings, O'Neill, 4x800 meter relay
Jon Gettert, O'Neill, 4x800 meter relay
Grant Johnston, O'Neill, 4x800 meter relay, 3200 meter run, 1600 meter run
Blake Johnston, O'Neill, 4x800 meter relay, 3200 meter run, 1600 meter run
Alex Thramer, O'Neill, 110 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles
Mikayla Marvin, O'Neill, pole vault
Lilly Thompson, O'Neill, 4x800 meter relay
Briaunna Parks, O'Neill, 4x800 meter relay
Claire Morrow, O'Neill, 4x800 meter relay
Payton Birkel, O'Neill, 4x800 meter relay