Track and Field: Rugby girls looking to defend state titles in shot put and 4×800

The indoor track and field season is underway, as the Rugby Panthers have multiple returning state champions looking to stay on top of their events in Class B.

Winning last season’s Class B Girls state title in the shotput came as a surprise to Rugby’s Riley Bonebrake, setting the winning mark of 38 feet, seven inches on her final throw at state.

“I was shaking I was so nervous, as soon as he said it was a new PR I just started crying. I was so happy,” Bonebrake said.

“It was great to see that all of her hard work paid off in the end. She does put hard work into this and she maybe didn’t have the beginning of the season she wanted and she just kept working at it and never gave up,” Co-throws Coach Kaycee Grochow said.

The chance to repeat that state title gives Bonebrake some nerves this season, motivating her to put in extra preparation for her senior year.

“I did a lot of practicing over the summer before the track season started working on it a little earlier, like going and lifting weights and stuff just trying to prepare for the season,” Bonebrake said.

“I think that’s a big motivator for her, because she wants to prove that she can do it again and she puts a lot of time and effort into it and she’s ready to prove that it wasn’t just a one time thing,” Grochow said.

Bonebrake wasn’t the only Panther to bring home hardware last year, as the girls 4×800 team went back to back, trying for a three peat this season.

Brooklyn Bartsch, Amelia Shepard, and Hannah Senechal are back to defend their crown, with Bartsch and Shepard looking to fill the leadership role left by graduated senior Mikaylee Livedalen, which starts prior to toeing the line at each race.

“Just like warmups and getting the girls prepared, talking to them. Everyone gets really nervous usually so just talking them through their nerves and pumping them up,” Bartsch said.

This change of the guard allows them to prepare future leaders.

“It will be good because then they can take after us and help the next people that cover for us that come in and take our place,” Shepard said.

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