Westonka records fall as track season heats up

The start of the 2024 track and field season has been rainy and cold, but that hasn’t stopped the White Hawk track and field team from having some great performances. So far this season, four school records have been broken.

At the Jordan Invitational, freshman Sami Christensen broke her own school record in the triple jump, jumping 35’4.75”. Her previous record was from 2023 and was 34’11”.

Jack Markstrom broke the 100 meter dash record racing to a 10.84, breaking the 10.93 record previously set in 2017 by Dylan Smerillo, winning the race at the Jordan Invitational. The next day, Markstrom broke the 400 meter dash record at the Hamline Elite Meet, placing 2nd and racing a 48.51. He broke his own record of 48.52 set last year.

At the WCC Quad Meet on Monday, April 22, Owen McCue, Brett Bartkowicz, JT Kimbrough and Jack Markstrom set the 4x200 meter school record with a 1:30.54. The previous record was from last year and was set by McCue, Markstrom, Bartkowicz and Luke Markstrom. McCue, Bartkowicz, Kimbrough and Markstrom also raced at Hamline Elite meet and finished in seventh with the second fastest time in school history.

Athletes placing in the top five of the eight team Jordan Invitational include: Markstrom and McCue in both the 100 and 200 meter dash; Isaac Hays (4th) in the 3200 meter run; Brett Bartkowicz (4th) in the 110 hurdles and Brenden Sexton (2nd) in the 300 meter hurdles; 4x400 relay team of Bartkowicz, Sexton, Mason Lilledahl and Hall finished 3rd; the 4x800 team of Hays, Lilledahl, Noah Huesmann and Jensen Blackstad was 4th. In the field events John Seeman was 2nd in the discus, JT Kimbrough and Julian Herkelman placed 3rd and 4th in the long jump, and Hall was 3rd in the triple jump.

On the girls side, Avery Olson and Sami Christensen finished second and third in the 100 meter dash. Paige Johnson was fourth in the 200 meter dash, Morgan Johnson took fourth in the 100 meter hurdles and third in the 300 meter hurdles. The 4x400 team of Cassie Nemecek, Johnson, Erica Johnson and Audrey Kirscht was second. The 4x800 team of Stella Miner, Ava Daum, Kirscht and Anna Regenold was second. Christensen won the triple jump.

The White Hawk track and field team is led by junior captains Stella Miner, Claire Rashleger, Avery Olson, Audrey Kirscht, JT Kimbrough, Tanner Blume, Mason Lilledahl, Jacob Orenge, Isaac Hays and Brenden Sexton. Senior captains include Cassie Nemecek, Brett Bartkowicz, Jack Hall, Jack Markstrom and Owen McCue.