Kirt Manion
kmanion@cherryroad.com
Jayden Meyer and Nolan Gartner teamed up for a Class C 800-meter championship sweep on Saturday at the state track meet at Omaha Burke Stadium.
Meyer went first and scored gold in the girls’ race. She came into the contest after having medaled in the 400 meters on Friday, with a fifth-place finish, and in the triple jump on Saturday, with a second-place finish. The 400-meter effort, Meyer said, wasn’t totally satisfying, but she kept a forward focus.
The 800 meter seedings by time had Meyer as the favorite to win, something that the Rocket runner wasn’t even aware of before the gun sounded.
“I didn’t know I was ranked first. I thought was, like, third, and rankings don’t even matter,” she said.
The focus wasn’t on rankings, but on strategy. She wanted to stay close to the first-place runner and then have a kick that would carry her to first place.
The strategy worked perfectly, even more perfect than Meyer thought it would. Historically, Meyer comes out fast at the start, and that makes it hard to have a kick at the end. She ran strong all race and still had a great kick down the stretch to a gold medal finish.
“I surprised myself,” she said. “It was so satisfying to have it all come together. I never thought the 800 would be my best race, but here we are.”
After her race, Meyer said she was excited about Gartner’s chances in the boys’ race. Seeing him grab gold as well, added to her own experience and that of her teammates.
“It’s such a cool moment for both of our teams. He has been doing amazing all year,” she said. “It was so awesome for him to do that also.”
The Rocket teams are used to celebrating success. The girls’ posted seven regular season meet wins last year and had a third-place finish at state. This year they had six meet wins and finished second at state.
Meyer said the boys’ program has been surging and succeeding at fantastic levels as well and noted that it was great to have both teams win the district meet.
“It’s a great atmosphere for both of the teams. It has been so fun, and I am so glad to finish out my senior year with this team.”
Turning to Nolan’s perspective on the 800, his experience began in a different way from which he has become accustomed, with nervous energy.
He was very nervous, shaking with excitement, and, on the on-your-mark command, he stumbled a bit.
After one of runners stepped on the line when told to go on-your-mark, the runners were told to relax and prepare for a second start to the race.
It was at that point that Gartner refocused his energy, became calm in his approach and turned his attention to a game plan that led to gold medal success.
“I realized, just go out there and do it,” Gartner said.
Off the line, runners were setting a fast clip and Gartner went with that energy, charging to the front of the pack to run with the leader, Mason McGreer of Perkins County. In discussions with his coaches, Gartner said the strategy was to stick with McGreer and allow him to carry Gartner to the finish. This was someone to run with at a talent level that Gartner had not seen. It was an opportunity for Gartner to push and run faster. The strategy suggested Gartner would be inspired by the challenge McGreer presented.
It worked.
As the final 100 meters came into view, Gartner turned on his kick, went into first place and charged to the finish.
As he crossed the line for gold, the emotions took over once again.
“The feeling, it just took over my body. I was very overwhelmed. Words can not describe how happy I was,” Gartner said. “I didn’t even care about the time. I just cared that I was a state champion.”
Beyond his own success, Gartner said the state experience was fantastic because he got to watch all his teammates compete and post great finishes.
Being around all the great athletes is something Gartner says he appreciates.
“I think it’s a really great environment,” he said. “We have a super competitive team. It feels great going to practice. We are all such good teammates and friends. It’s awesome to watch my teammates compete and do great. It gives me a confidence boost that I can carry to the next thing I have.”
