Fast Track

Bailey Ahlers, Hadley Cheatum and Trevor Thomson are no strangers to the 2023 Nebraska School Activities Association State Track and Field Championships.

The trio of Bobcats will make a return trip to Omaha Burke Stadium, this Friday and Saturday, for the 2023 Class C event.

All three qualified one year ago, also.

The meet begins Friday and continues Saturday for classes C and D. Classes A and B were scheduled to compete Wednesday and Thursday.

Ahlers qualified in high jump after clearing 5' 3 at the district meet, held May 11 in Atkinson. She was crowned district champion.

She will compete in Saturday's final at 11:30 a.m.

Cheatum will participate in three events. On Friday, she will run in a 100m hurdles preliminary heat at 2:25 p.m. She qualified after running 16.32 in district competition, where she placed fourth.

At 4 p.m., Cheatum will run the 400m dash. She qualified after claiming the district title, with a 1:00.02 performance, a season record for the Summerland senior.

She'll run her final prelim at 5:40 p.m., in the 300m hurdles. Cheatum was crowned district champ after running 46.77.

Thomson, a senior sprinter, will compete in two events.

At 3:05 p.m., he will run in a 100m dash prelim. Thomson ran 11.19 at districts, placing fourth. His time was good enough for a season record and a state meet wild card position.

At 6:30 p.m., Thomson will run in a 200m preliminary. He secured a silver medal in district competition, running 22.99, a season record.

Saturday's finals in running events begin 1:30 p.m.

If she advances, Cheatum will compete in the 100m hurdles final at 2:25 p.m .; the 400m dash at 4 p.m. and the 300m hurdles at 5:40 p.m.

If Thomson qualifies for finals, he will compete in the 100m dash at 3:25 and the 200m dash at 5:15.

PHOTO GALLERY: To view more pictures from the district track meet, visit summerlandadvocatemessenger.zenfolio.com.