Friday, March 6, 2026
The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
SportsTrack & Field

Track and Field head to Spearfish for RMAC championship

Eagle Staff

With the Eagle’s flight plan changed from last week as the field team separated from the runners and made their way to Spearfish, S.D.  Bringing home multiple first place spots, the Eagles showed great potential going into the conference finals.

With major improvements shadowing the Eagles from their last meet, male pole vaulters, Skyler Hoopes, sophomore of Lusk, Wyo., and Kolten Jelden, senior of Eaton, Colo., cleared 15 feet, 5 inches on Saturday at the Black Hills State Rock and Jock Open Meet, a height no Eagle has cleared before. Hoopes took the number one spot by clearing 15-5 on his first attempt while Jelden snatched the second spot due to missing his first attempt at 15-5 and then clearing his second attempt.

Long distance runner Doug Harris, freshman of Las Vegas runs around the Nelson Physical Activity Center Wednesday evening during practice. — Photo by Ashley Swanson
Long distance runner Doug Harris, freshman of Las Vegas runs around the Nelson Physical Activity Center Wednesday evening during practice. — Photo by Ashley Swanson

Sophomore, Josey Pehringer soared along with the guys as she won the women’s vault clearing 10 feet, 11 and three-fourths inches.

Freshman of Eaton, Colo., Mel Herl was neck-and-neck with Alyssa Norton, junior of Rushville, during the women’s shot put and weight throw. Herl edged Norton by two inches to earn first place with a 44 feet, two and three-fourths inch throw in the shot put. The girls switched places in the weight throw with Norton throwing a 54 feet, eight and three-fourths inches distance to win.  Cyndi Thomas, junior of Omaha, wasn’t far behind the two other Eagles as she stole third place with a throw of 43 feet, three and three-fourths inches.

In the men’s shot put, junior of Chilaw, Sri Lanka, Charith Kapukotuwa took third place with a 52-6. Behind upperclassmen Kapukotuwa, redshirt freshman of Grand Island, Daniel Sotelo threw 51-0 while Kyle McCarthy, sophomore of Aurora, finished with a throw of 50 feet, five and one-fourths inches. The young throwers marked 20 inches farther than previous bests.

The Eagles look forward to continuing their level of flight as they make their way to the RMAC championship meet in Spearfish, S.D. The meet is hosted by Black Hills State and begins at 9 a.m. on Friday. After competing on Friday and Saturday, the list will be made of who gets to go to nationals.

“We are fresh and ready to fire on all cylinders. We are just going to focus on competeing for places not marks,” Baily said.