Track athletes qualify just in time

Among last-minute qualifications for the upcoming conference meet and consistent performances in the jumps, Chadron State saw many high marks, and personal records set Saturday. 

Naishaun Jernigan, sophomore of Springfield, Massachusetts, took first in the triple jump with a jump of 47 feet, 9.75 inches. 

Coming behind Jernigan in second, Joss Linse, junior of Plattsmouth, leaped 47 feet, 3.75 inches in the triple jump. 

“He finally put together a jump that gave him a PR, by an inch in the men’s triple jump,” Northrup said. “He was ready to have a big jump indoors last year and then COVID came and that put that on delay. Then this year, he was looking really good and he rolled his ankle. So that set him back like three weeks. Now, he finally came in and felt pretty good.” 

Brock Voth, junior of Berthoud, Colorado, ended up placing sixth in the triple jump, with a leap of 42 feet, 4.25 inches. With this jump, Voth qualified for the upcoming conference meet. 

Morgan Fawver, freshman of McCook, won the long jump with a career personal record of 23 feet, 1.75 inches. 

Emory Yoosook, freshman of Casper, Wyoming, jumped 22 feet, 2.5 inches in the long jump, setting a career personal record while taking second. 

“Emory again came through with another season best,” Northrup said. “I think he jumped almost 10 inches farther than he had so far this year. Got him safely into the Conference meet in the men’s long jump, which he wasn’t in before this weekend, so this last-chance meet really paid off.” 

Dan Reynolds, freshman of Granby, Colorado, finished the weight throw fifth with a toss of 51 feet, 7 inches. 

Joe Dumsa, junior of Sandy, Utah, and Alex Penfield, sophomore of Lusk, Wyoming, cleared the high jump bar at 6 feet, 5 inches, with an extra competitor. Coach Northrup joined the two in hopes of pushing the two athletes past the mark they had been struggling with. 

“It was rough,” Northrup said. “The last time that I high jumped in a competition was in 2016. I thought maybe if I got in with them, they’d get a little more energy, get a little my hype. You know, don’t want to lose to their old man coach. They had good jumps, and it was a lot of fun overall.” 

Hannah Christie, freshman of Alpine, Wyoming, took first in the high jump, clearing the bar at 5 feet, 1 inch. She finished runner-up in the 60 meters dash, with a run of 8.10 seconds, and fifth in the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 0.25 inches. 

Courtney Smith, sophomore of Rock Springs, Wyoming, out-threw her personal record in the weight throw with a mark of 51 feet, 1.5 inches, placing her fifth. 

The Eagles will travel again to Spearfish, South Dakota, Friday, to compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference meet.