Bantam Division: Kenny Ligon was our lone Bantam at the National meet. Kenny participated in the long jump. This was his first time at the National meet and that is outstanding considering this was his first year in track and field. Although he did not reach his personal best, we see a great future for Kenny in the long jump as well as sprinting.

 

Youth Division: The Youth boys entered the National meet on a high after winning the 4x100m relay at the Regional meet in Minnesota. Jett Baker, Matt Brandes, Dennis Barfield and Devin Barfield ran an outstanding race and finished 11th overall. Devin did very well in the 100m and 200m dashes, coming close to his fastest fully automatic times for the season. Jett Baker had a busy national meet by starting off with the Pentathlon. He has a bright future in the multi-events as well as the sprints and hurdles. Jett ended his national meet experience by setting a club record in the 200m Hurdles. Matt Brandes also had a busy national meet. He qualified and participated in the long jump, 100m hurdles and ran a leg on the 4x100m relay. He set a personal best in the long jump and the 100m hurdles. Considering this was his first year trying the hurdles, he did an outstanding job. Matt was the Regional J.O. champion in the hurdles. Paul Sobczyk ran the 1500m run at the National meet. Staying on the correct pace was a little tough for Paul with so many athletes in one race, all running and bumping each other along the way. Paul spends the majority of the summer participating in his first love, soccer. He is such a good all around athlete. I think he realizes that to compete with the best in the National on the track will take a greater commitment to practice and he can be one of the best if he chooses. On the girl side of things, the youth division for the Breeze was represented by Shelby Quinn and Naomi Jones. Naomi competed in the javelin and shot put. Naomi ride to the National meet has been a roller coaster ride. At the State meet she finished in the middle of the pack in the javelin and then won the Regional meet. Her national meet performance was a little rushed and unsure. Her biggest hurdle will be to relax at this meet and take her time. Its easy to lose your focus at the National meet if you are worried about what everyone else is thinking or doing, you have to stay focused on yourself. Shelby didn't have the National meet she was hoping for but its all a growing experience. Pressure will always be at a meet so don't add to it by trying to force things, just compete.

 

Intermediate Boys & Girls: Five years in a row. Thats how many years Thomas Filer has medaled at  the National meet. This summer Thomas finished 4th in the Decathlon coming just 100 points short of the Nebraska Association record which is held by Breeze athlete Cody Ingold. Thomas has several personal best and finished up the Decathlon with a outstanding 1500m. Later he joined Dominique Hawkins, Korey Pesek, and Kadeem Nelhsen on the 4x100m relay which also finsihed 11th overall. Dominique ran the bomb first leg beating some of the best athletes in the nation at the first leg. Korey, Thomas and Kadeem ran solid legs to bring us just short of getting the Nebraska association record. Kadeem competed in the 100m and 200m and got a good taste of national competition. This young man will be ready for the 2008 summer season, so look out. On the female side of things, Lindsay Svehla was the lone intermediate. This was her first taste of national competition and wow, did she ever get a taste. She now understands first hand that tired basketball legs cannot compete with fresh track legs. She is a talented young lady and will learn from this experience. My expectations for her are very high because I know she can handle it.

 

Young Men & Men: