PIERCE, NE — The Pierce Freshman/Sophomore Invitational proved to be a strong showing for O’Neill High School’s track and field teams, with the boys placing 3rd overall and the girls securing 6th place in a competitive field.
Standout performances came early in the meet, with Ryker Sudbeck earning 2nd place in the 100-meter dash, setting a personal best time of 11.80 seconds. The boys dominated the 400-meter race, with Paul Fonseca taking 1st, Colten Shoemaker finishing 2nd, and Brock Latzel coming in 4th. On the girls’ side, Mia Lindsay secured a solid 2nd-place finish.
In the 800-meter event, Reagan Kaufman led the girls with a 1st-place finish. For the boys, Nate Brown came in 2nd, followed by Alex Nelson in 5th.
The hurdle events saw strong showings from Drake Brandt, who placed 2nd in the 110-meter high hurdles. Tenzlie Sorensen earned 5th in the 100-meter hurdles and 4th in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.
Relays were another highlight for O’Neill. The boys’ 4×100-meter team — Ryker Sudbeck, Maguire Heiss, Drake Brandt, and Nate Brown — raced to 1st place. The girls’ team, consisting of Bristol Scott, Hailey Fick, Mia Lindsay, and Maliyah Maas, finished 6th. The boys’ 4×400 relay team of Shoemaker, Brown, Latzel, and Fonseca also captured 1st place in commanding fashion.
In field events, Taylor Young had a consistent day, placing 4th in both shot put and discus. In high jump, Colten Shoemaker cleared the top mark to win, while teammate Brock Latzel earned 6th. For the girls, Reagan Kaufman took 4th and Calli Tomjack followed in 5th.
Long jump competitors added to the tally with Ryker Sudbeck finishing 6th and Mia Lindsay jumping to 3rd place in the girls’ division. In triple jump, Maguire Heiss and Drake Brandt finished 4th and 6th, respectively, while Tenzlie Sorensen impressed with a 2nd-place leap in the girls’ event.
The O’Neill Eagles showed promise across multiple disciplines, demonstrating depth and determination as they continue their season.
Story by Cole Hilker
