Contributing writer
For the Goessel girls’ track and field team, it was not until their last two events that the Bluebirds could claim first place.
Ali Buller ran a tactical race, taking the lead from the start and continuing to mount a pace no other runner could maintain. Buller finished the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 36.50 seconds and 50 meters ahead of second place.
In Goessel’s last event of the evening, senior Brittny Czarnowsky ran two laps shoulder to shoulder with Centre’s Shelby Makovec and then established her own pace as she finished the eight-lap race with her season best time of 12:47.60. This was the first time in three years that she was able to break the 13-minute mark even though she spent most of the race running alone.
Tia Goertzen led the team in scoring by coming in second in both hurdle races. Nursing an injury for most of the season, this was the first race at 300 meters for Goertzen and the second race at 100 meters for the junior. Erin Brubaker earned points in high jump and 300-meter hurdles and Makayla King earned points with her best leap of the season in triple jump.
Only eight of the nine teams in the Wheat State League compete in track and field. The Goessel girls finished in eighth place, one point behind Hope and two points behind White City. Little River won the girls team title. Goessel girls will be at the 1A Regional Meet in Burlington on Friday.
Scoring for Goessel girls in Wheat State League Track Meet:
High Jump: 5. Erin Brubaker 4 feet, 6 inches.
Triple jump: 5. Makayla King, 28-7.75.
3200: 1. Brittny Czarnowsky, 12:47.60.
100 hurdles: 2. Tia Goertzen, 16.70.
300 hurdles: 2. Goertzen, 51.60; 5. Brubaker, 55.50
800 : 1. Ali Buller 5:36.50