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May 25, 2021
The 2021 State Track & Field meet will be remembered for a lot of things, but the first event on the track may be the most memorable. The Osmond boy’s 3200-relay team came into the event with the 8th best District time but after all runners ran personal best splits the Tigers came away with the State title and new school record.
Johnson Chishiba led off with a 2:07.28 passing runners on the curve to move the Tigers into third place. Ryan Schmit ran a very solid second leg passing a runner to move into second place. His split was 2:11.27. Karter Johnson held off five runners for a lap and a half before passing the leader to hand off to Graysen Schultze in first place. Karter’s split was 2:12.50. Graysen led the field for his first lap then was passed. With 200 meters to go he and the anchorman from Pawnee City passed the leader, then on the middle of the turn Graysen sprinted past Pawnee City and took the lead for good. His split was an outstanding time of 2:01.43 and the teams first place time was 8:32.50. This time bettered the 2011 record of 8:36.91 set by Daniel Wiese, Chris Schmit, Michael Koehler, and Brett Bahr.
“This was an amazing effort by the entire team. Every runner had an important part in the win from Johnson getting a great start and setting up Ryan for his leg. Ryan for moving up to second place and executing a great hand-off to Karter. Karter for holding off a pack of runners for both laps before passing the leader and getting the baton to Graysen with a smooth exchange, and Graysen running a great anchor leg. He didn’t lose focus when passed, and had confidence in his ability to outkick anyone in the race,” praised Coach Joe Ortmeier.
Earlier in the morning Kiera Moes competed in the triple jump. Her best distance was 31-1.5 which was her second best mark ever, but not quite good enough to make the finals. Spencer Hille had a tough task competing in the high jump and long jump at the same time. Spencer measured both approaches and prepared to high jump first and was taking warm up jumps when he slipped on his plant on the wet surface and strained his hamstring. He did manage to clear 5-7 for an 11th place finish. His best long jump was 17-10.5.
Kaden Polt was the next Tiger up on the track in the 110 high hurdles. Kaden had a good start and hurdled well and finished with a time of 17.04. Kaden and Spencer competed in the 300 hurdles later in the afternoon. Both Tigers were in heat 2. Both hurdlers had good starts but both had struggles during the race. Kaden finished in a time of 45.26 and Spencer 45.78 for 19th and 20th place over all.
Day two started in the sand pits again. At 9:00 Graysen Schultze competed in the triple jump and Grace Gansebom in the long jump. Graysen’s best mark was 39-11.25 and did not make the finals. Grace hit her best effort of 14-3 on her second jump and also did not make the finals.
The first running event of the day was the 800 meters. Johnson Chishiba had a good time in the first heat from the district entries. Johnson sprinted out and after the first lap found himself in fourth place. On the back stretch he moved up to third place before sprinting down the home stretch passing Winkleman of Osceola and winning heat one. After time comparison with heat two Johnson had finished in second place in his best time ever of 2:04.50. Third place was Johnson of Axtel with a time of 2:04.51.
“Johnson ran a very smart race, understanding he had one move and when to take- off. Also that if he wanted a chance at a medal winning heat one was the best way” Ortmeier noted.
The next race involving Osmond runners was the girls 1600 meters. Cali Gutz got out well with the crowd with everyone maneuvering, trying to find a spot and pace. After the first lap the group started to thin a bit. Cali maintained her pace through three laps and picked it up for the last. Her time was 5:55.32 placing her 15th of 24 runners.
In the boy’s 1600 meters Graysen and Johnson made the field. Both Tigers started well crossing the first lap in 67 seconds. On the second lap they settled in around 12 and 14th place. The final lap they both moved out and kicked to the finish line. Graysen finished with a seventh place medal in a time of 4:44.93 his fastest time this season by 9 seconds. Johnson finished in eleventh place in a time of 4:50.54 bettering his best time this season by 4 seconds.
The final race of the day was the 1600-relay. Osmond was in lane three of heat two. Bodie True led off with a strong opening lap making up the stagger handing off to Johnson Chishiba. Johnson hit the cut line and moved in on the back stretch to eighth place. Connor Gutz took the hand-off and closed the gap before handing off to Graysen. Graysen pulled out and around some teams as others passed him sprinting to the line in seventh place. Their time of 3:36.64 was slightly faster than their winning District time and very near school record time.
“That was a really good race and fine time for our team, especially after the races Johnson and Graysen ran earlier in the day” Coach Ortmeier said.
The Osmond boy’s would finish the 2021 State Meet with 22 points tying for 10th place with the Wausa Vikings.
“This was a really good showing for our boy’s and girl’s at the State Meet and throughout the season. Our teams worked hard and had good leadership from our senior class. We will miss them and thank them for their efforts.”