Bergan’s Jacobs, Hotovy second again

OMAHA - Fremont Bergan seniors Shelly Jacobs and Carissa Hotovy picked up their second state medals in as many years Friday morning in their respective Class D field events at Omaha Burke.

Hotovy recorded a mark of 16-6 on her final attempt as she finished runner-up to Paige Fraudendorfer of Humphrey who won the long jump at 16-8. Jacobs cleared 9-8 on her third pole vault attempt to repeat as a state runner-up. Jennifer Dannehl won the event at 10-0.

After missing the board on her second attempt of the finals, Hotovy managed to regain her focus to record her second-place jump. After the prelims, Hotovy was sitting in fourth place at 16-0. No one in the field posted a preliminary round jump further than 16-2.

"There were a lot of scratches, it seemed like an off day but I managed to pull through," Hovoty said.

She was sitting in fifth place before her final jump.

"I moved up a little bit," Hotovy said of her last leap. "I think my adrenaline kicked in and I ran a little bit faster so I could get on the board â€- I’m happy with what I did. I pulled it out on the last one and got it. I guess I can’t be disappointed."

Jacobs was also satisfied with her second-place effort.

"It’s a beautiful day and I wish I could have done a little bit better," she said. "I’m always impatient on the pole vault. I’m happy getting second again. Jennifer (Dannehl) is a really good vaulter."

While her second-place finish may have been a surprise last season, Jacobs knew what to expect this year at state.

"It just felt like conference to me since that’s our biggest meet," she added. "It was nice to be able to get out here and know what’s going on. It makes it so much easier to compete."

Jacobs will return to action noon today as she qualified with the second best time in the 100-meter hurdles.

Bergan’s girls are currently tied for first place with Newcastle after Friday’s events with a team score of 16.

Megan Liekhus tied for ninth in the pole vault at 9-0. Karen Liekhus failed to qualify for the 100-meter run finals as she finished her heat in 13.923.

Freshman Evan Stober was the only member of the Bergan boys team to compete on Friday. He finished the 3,200 in 11:05.53.

"Overall, I thought the kids did pretty well today," Bergan coach Scott Painter said. "Second place overall in the long jump and pole vault was pretty exciting. This last year (Jacobs and Hotovy) have been the top two scorers on the track team; it’s what you like to see out of your senior leaders."

Both Bergan standouts will continue to compete in college. Jacobs will be attending the University of Sioux Falls and Hotovy is going to attend Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.

In other Class D girls action, Scribner-Snyder’s 3,200-meter relay team of Logan Hoge, Lauren Schnoor, Jessica Kreikemeier and Mikayla Baumert placed fourth in 10:13.113. Prague’s Jenna Paseka finished sixth in the long jump at 15-10.

Mead’s boys were led by Jared Larson who placed sixth in the triple jump at 42-5 1/2. Adam Taylor was seventh in the high jump at 6-2.