Longhorn girls ready to repeat as state champions in 2022

    The Chase County girls’ track team isn’t rebuilding in 2022, it’s reloading.
    The Longhorns return a good group from last year, led by seniors Sophie Fiedler, Jordan Jablonski, Jerzee Milner, Lucy Spady, Chloe Dillan and Caelyn Long and juniors Joee Clevenger, Ali McNair, Liz Reeves, Bryn McNair, Kaylie Lotspeich, Gisselle Acuna, McKenzie Vogt and Keirsten Colton.
    Jablonski, Milner, Spady, Dillan, Clevenger, A. McNair, B. McNair and Lotspeich were on the field last year when the Longhorns won the Class C state championship.
    Their leadership and experience will be key if CCS wants to repeat in Omaha.
    The team has been bit by the injury bug. Fiedler returns to action this season after battling injuries, as does junior Gisselle Acuna.
    Dillan has battled a back problem, as has sophomore Katelyn Stamm. Lotspeich will compete with an injured knee.
    CCS Head Coach Troy Hauxwell said the team’s numbers are good and it’s always a strength to have depth.
    Hauxwell expects middle distances and distances to be a strength for his team, as well as the hurdles.
    Between the weather and school breaks and activities, Hauwell said week four of official practices is actually day 12.
    “It’s been a whirlwind,” Hauxwell said, adding the coaches are still working to find the right spot for many kids.
    “We’ve got some unknowns. We haven’t had enough time to get everything figured out,” Hauxwell said.
    With losing Kamrie Dillan and Kora Weiss to graduation, Hauxwell said the coaches are on the lookout for runners to fill their spots in the relays.
    The jumps will be wide open this season, Reeves as the team’s most experienced jumper. Hauxwell said there’s a lot of freshmen and sophomores getting a chance to earn a varsity spot.
    The Longhorns’ season will begin Thursday at the Perkins County Pre-Season Meet with the Plainsmen and Potter-Dix.
    Hauxwell said he’s looking forward to getting to Grant and getting everyone on the track and field to see how his athletes will do.
    Chase County will look to continue its dominance in its district May 12 when it heads to Mitchell. Other teams in the district will be Bayard, Bridgeport, Gordon-Rushville, Hemingford, Kimball, Mitchell, Morrill and Perkins County.
    Classes A and B will compete together at state track this year on May 18-19.
    Classes C and D will get their turns May 20-21.