County athletes shine at Nike Nationals

The REPORTER

Hamilton County’s track & field stars got a chance to shine on a national level this past weekend, competing at the Nike Nationals in Eugene, Ore.

Hamilton Southeastern’s Chloe Senefeld had the highest finish among local athletes, sprinting to second place in the Girls 400 Hurdles Championship race on Sunday, June 21. Senefeld is a recent graduate of HSE.

Senefeld’s time was 59.27 seconds, just 0.06 seconds behind the winner, Anna Schneidler of GLS Speed in Washington State. Schneidler’s time was 59.21 seconds. Both times were World U20 standards.

On Saturday, June 21, Southeastern’s Anissa Lammie finished sixth in the Girls 400 Championship race. The incoming Royals senior and IHSAA 400 dash state champion clocked in at 54.54 seconds, hitting a World U20 standard.

Senefeld and Lammie joined Kallen Hoeft and Jaxson Wanza to place second in the Mixed 4×400, which took place Thursday, June 18. The Royals team finished in a time of 3:30.01. Coastal Georgia Track Club won the race in 3:28.14.

In other events:

• Fishers’ Konrad Hayden finished 11^th in the Boys High Jump Championship, with a best jump of 6 feet, 8.75 inches.
• Liam Powers competed in the Boys 2 Mile Championship. He placed 37^th in a time of 9 minutes, 9.08 seconds.
• Guerin Catholic’s Amelia Smith competed in the Girls Pole Vault Championship, clearing 11 feet, 3 inches for 34^th place.
• Carmel’s Kaitlyn Oshimura ran in the Girls 800 Championship on Friday, June 19. She placed 39^th in a time of 2:12.43.

In addition, county athletes competed in Emerging Elite events. At the Nike Nationals, Championship events are for athletes who meet qualifying standards, while Emerging Elite events are for athletes who post strong results but are just shy of those standards.

Oshimura placed fourth in the Girls 1 Mile Emerging Elite, finishing in 4:55.64.

Carmel’s throwers made an impact in those events. Ellie Cooley placed sixth in the Girls Discus Emerging Elite with a top throw of 129 feet, 8 inches. Norah Chase finished 38^th with a best throw of 115 feet, 5 inches and placed 43^rd in the Girls Shot Put Emerging Elite at 36 feet, 1.5 inches.

Powers placed 52^nd in the Boys 1 Mile Emerging Elite, clocking in at 4:21.39.