Wood River's Rennau soars to high jump title

Tight. That's the best way to summarize the field in the Class C high jump entering the State Track and Field Meet.

Even tighter.

That's the best way to describe the results.

Wood River senior Tim Rennau had few complaints as the competition concluded on the south side of Omaha Burke Stadium. Rennau finished first based on fewer misses as three jumpers cleared 6 feet, 6 inches. 

"It was really tight," Rennau said. "We knew it would be coming in. I thought I had a shot. Everyone jumping was close to the same height."

Rennau edged Ainsworth senior Jesse Carr, a Colorado State basketball recruit, and Ponca sophomore Jared Curry. Rennau, who finished third at state last year with a leap of 6-5, just missed twice at 6-7.

Carr actually cleared 6-7 on the competition's final jump, but the bar fell off as he hit the mat.

"I was going for 6-7 coming in," Rennau said. "Those first two felt really good.

"I was happy with the way I jumped today. I wanted to get a new PR. You can't always expect it at the state meet under the pressure."

Rennau cleared 6-6 on his first attempt despite hitting the bar to tie his personal record from the Wood River Invite at Shelton on April 4.

Rennau's leap has Wood River tied for third in the boys team race with 14 points. Burwell is fifth with 13 points.

There were two area athletes who claimed Class C silver medals Friday night.

Burwell junior Jacob Holmquist cleared 14-2 in the pole vault to finish behind class leader Micah Pomplun of Kearney Catholic, who went 14-6. Holmquist's mark tied the school record.

"I knew Pomplun was going to be tough," said Holmquist, who won the Class D pole vault last year at 13-2. "I definitely wanted the school record. It was definitely the vault I was looking for."

Holmquist also made the finals in two hurdle events -- the 110-meter high (15.3 seconds for the sixth-best preliminary time) and 300-meter intermediate (40.45 seconds for the fourth-best preliminary time).

"I had an alright race," Holmquist said of the 110. "I hit a couple hurdles."

Heartland High senior Malaina Huebert sprinted past Crofton sophomore Kristin Steffen at the line to finish behind Bayard senior Amy Long in the 3,200.

Huebert ran a 11:50.34, which was 13 seconds slower than Long.

"I wish I could have done better, but it was a PR," Huebert said. "I wanted to get first or second."

Huebert will compete in the 800 and 1,600 today.

"I just want to place in the 800," Huebert said. "Hopefully top three in the mile."

Loup City sophomore Jordan Smith (43-10 3/4) and Cross County junior Isaac Moore (43-6) finished third and fifth in the triple jump, respectively.



Fredrickson finishes eighth in long jump

Grand Island Central Catholic senior Tali Fredrickson earned a Class C medal with an eighth-place finish in the long jump (16 feet, 1 inch).

Fredrickson also will medal in the 100-meter high hurdles. She posted the sixth-fastest preliminary time at 16.06 seconds.

Classmate Brent Moravec will be a double Class C medalist on the track. He posted the top 110-meter high hurdle time (14.76) in the preliminaries and fourth-best clocking in the 100-meter dash (11.42).

Moravec failed to qualify for the 300-meter intermediate hurdle finals. He also will compete in the long jump Saturday.