Peppiina Raisanen dominated in the 3200 up and down the Panhandle, often winning by double digit margins. She expected more of a battle at state, however.

“There are many, many girls here,” observed Banner County’s Finnish exchange student and distance ace. “Some are really fast.”

The fast ones included Andrea Weeder of Lindsey Holy Family, who took gold in the two mile event by gliding across the line in 11:31.9. Raisanen ended her American high school run in 11th position, clocking in at 12.54.9--slightly off her district time, perhaps due to Omaha’s heat.

The Wildcats sent four athletes to state. Joining Raisanen in distance competition was Jordan Knaub. He earned a slot in the two-lap 800 meter race by slipping past rival Luke Johnson of Potter-Dix at Chappell.

But Knaub’s district time already set him two seconds back--on paper--from the quicker athletes. And from the gun he stepped into difficulty. Two other runners cut across his line as they converged toward the inside lane.

“I got stuck behind right away,” he explained. Like Raisanen, though, he knew to expect some catch up work.

“When some of those guys take off, they just outrun you,” he said.

Austin Blume from Hitchcock County logged the quickest time, breaking the line at 1:59.6. Knaub finished in the pack, a respectable 2:08.4.

Lindsey Soule and Maegan Coffman stepped into a busy shot put pit.

Coffman, who entered as number two in districts. Her best throw in Omaha--just over 26 feet--bounced four feet short of her own mark from Chappell.

“I think it’s because it is my first year and I was really, really nervous,” she explained. “But it feels really good to be here.”

Soule, who had been kicking up dust just over 30 feet in the weeks leading up to Burke, recorded a throw of 30 feet 11 inches. Kylie Abbenhaus of Bloomfield won the competition with a 38-07 mark. But with the long recovery from a knee injury behind her, was happy with the result.

“It felt good,” she pointed out. Then, looking around at the Burke Stadium crowd, she added “this is indescribable.”