Houchin breaks record again

SUTHERLAND—The Swedes ranked among the best track and field athletes in all classes across central Nebraska at the Best of the Midwest meet in Sutherland on May 1.

Five Gothenburg participants earned six gold medals and three additional Swede events were good enough to move into the school’s all-time top performers list.

Senior Erica Houchin, who set a new school record in the pole vault three days before, broke her record again by clearing 10-foot-6.

“That is a tremendous feat for Erica,” said Swede coach Steve Reeves.

Houchin had a scare during an attempt at 11-0 when she fell but Reeves said she was not injured badly.

“That can be a pretty scary thing,” Reeves said, “but she’s one tough cookie.”

Houchin finished second to Allexis Menghini of North Platte, who cleared 11-0.

Swede freshman Tiani Reeves was a double winner taking first in the long jump with a mark of 17-6.25 and cruising past the competition in the 200-meter dash in 26.5 seconds.

Senior thrower Kersten Nelson captured the third gold for the Gothenburg girls, winning the shot with a toss of 38-7.

In addition, Morgan Kowalewski slipped into the all-time Top 10 with a 300-meter hurdle time of 50.3 seconds.

“Morgan is a very hard worker,” the coach said. “Whatever she accomplishes, she definitely deserves.”

The 4x400 relay also entered the school’s all-time best at No. 3 with a time of 4:07.0, finishing second to McCook.

Runners on the relay were Regan Geiken, Tiani Reeves, Payton Prall and Aryn Meisinger.

Event winners for the boys were Brett Dockweiler in the 3200-meter run, Alec Foster in the 110 hurdles and Preston Franzen in the 300-meter hurdles.

Franzen moved into the Swede Top 10 at No. 10 with a time of 41.0 seconds.

“Preston ran a fairly clean race,” Reeves said. “He finished with a quality time and I really like the way he attacked the event.”

No team scores were kept.