The Le Mars Community girls track team automatically qualified two events for state at Thursday’s state qualifying meet in Sioux Center.
After many days in the 80s and 90s, Thursday’s weather ended up being a major shift in the wrong direction with the temperature being in mid-60s by the start of the meet. Le Mars head coach Tami Dunn says the girls were challenged to fight through the tough conditions, and they responded.
The state qualifying meet can be a culmination of a season’s worth of dirty work for someone to pop out of the woodwork at the right time. Coach Dunn says she had a couple of those girls come out and have a great meet.
One of the better events at the meet was the girls long jump where a mark of nearly 20 feet took first place. Kenzie Niehus placed third, but her best jump of 16’9.5” is looking likely to get her into the event at state anyway. Coach Dunn says Niehus bounced back well after a rough conference meet last week.
With two events qualifying and a few more waiting in the wings, the Bulldogs could have the chance to send a good contingent down to Des Moines. Coach Dunn says she wants the seniors to go out on a high note and see some PRs at the Blue Oval.
The Bulldogs placed sixth as a team at the state qualifying meet. The state meet takes place on Thursday, May 22 and runs through Saturday, May 24. Le Mars’ automatic qualifiers were the shuttle hurdle relay and Claire Susemihl in the 100m hurdles.
