NCHS Track And Field Start Outdoor Season

By Brent Huelsmann
The Nashville Community High School boys and girls track teams both began their outdoor season on Thursday March 23 at home. Five teams competed on the girls side, while six teams competed on the boys side. The Hornettes track team took home first place in the girls meet as they defeated Woodlawn, Mater Dei, Christ Our Rock Lutheran, and Okawville. The boys track team also took home first place just ahead of Murphysboro, Mater Dei, Christ Our Rock Lutheran, Okawville and Woodlawn.
In the girls meet, Nashville finished with 119 points, followed by Okawville in second, Mater Dei in third, Christ Our Rock Lutheran in fourth, and Woodlawn in fifth.
The Hornettes finished with nine first place finishes in the meet. In the field events, Morgan Fox took home first place in the pole vault as she cleared seven feet. Janie Holle finished first in discus with a throw of 95’, and Carlie Hoffman finished first in shot put with a throw of 33’10”.
In the running events, the Hornettes crossed the line first six times, including twice in the relays. Taylor Cook crossed the line in 17.4 seconds to win the 100M hurdles, which was one of two victories for Cook. Cook also took home first place in the 300M hurdles with a time of 49.8. Hannah Meade bested the competition in the 100M dash with a time of 13.75, while Grace Maschhoff crossed the line in six minutes flat to take home first place in the 1600m run. The two first place finishes in the relay were from the 4X100m relay team, and the 4X200m relay team.
The Hornettes also finished with 11 second place finishes in the meet. Finishing second for the Hornettes was Kylie Kozuszek in the pole vault, Josie Middleton in the discus, Sydney Schnitker in the triple jump and long jump, Brittnie Bartling in the 3200m run, Sabrina Kollbaum in the 100m hurdles, Elise Spencer in the 300m hurdles, Avery Meade in the 100m and 200m dash, 4X400m relay, and the 4X800m relay.
Finishing third for the Hornettes was Jaylyn Bower in the 3200m run, Kylie Kozuszek in the 400m dash, and Hannah Meade in the 200m dash.
The boys also took home first place in their first outdoor meet of the season. The boys previously competed indoors at SIU-Carbondale on March 4, and at Eastern Illinois on March 18.
On March 18, at Eastern Illinois University, the Hornets had just one top finisher, as Brandon Schnitker finished first in the 800m dash. Other top finishers for Nashville were Derryn Holmes, who finished fifth in the 400m dash, Gavyn Lietz in the pole vault, and the 4X800m relay team of Gavin Love, Holmes, Schnitker, and Caleb Zgonina.
In the Hornets first outdoor meet of the season the Hornets bested five others teams to take the victory. Nashville finished first in seven events to edge Murphysboro in the meet.
In the field events Tabor Kozuszek took home first place in the high jump, while Lietz vaulted above the competition in the pole vault. In the running events the 4X800m relay team of Holmes, Love, Drew Barczewski, and Zgonina took home first place. Holmes and Zgonina both also brought home first place in individual events, as Holmes finished first in the 400m dash, while Zgonina finished first in the 800m dash. The team of Alec Johns, Tabor Kozuszek, Holmes and Ethan Reid finished first in the 4X400m relay, while Reid also finished first in the 300m hurdles.