Southeast Nebraska athletes will try to leave their mark on the Burke Stadium Track this weekend.  The Nebraska State Track meet gets underway in Omaha Friday morning, with the first events scheduled to start at nine o’clock.
 Class B and Class D athletes take to the track first on Friday. 
 The Auburn girls hope to be in the running for a Class B title come Saturday afternoon.  The Bulldogs have qualifiers in nine events, led by junior Tierra Williams, who qualified in four events and is among the favorites in each of them.  Williams will compete in the 100 and 200-meter dashes, along with the long jump and triple jump.  She holds the top 100-meter time and the top mark in the triple jump in the state this season, and her 200-meter time and long jump mark are the best in Class B.
 Syracuse also could be a factor.  The Rockets will send nine athletes to state, led by sophomores Haley and Emily Harsin – who both qualified in two events.  Emily Harsin has qualified in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles, and Haley in the 800 and 1600-meter runs.  Haley Harsin’s times in both the 800 and 1600 are the top in Class B this season.
 On the boys’ side of the Class B meet, Falls City has two athletes who will compete this weekend.  Junior Cord Huettner will compete in the shot put and freshman Zach Jordening competes in the high jump.
 Auburn has four boys set to compete this weekend.  Senior Alex Gonsalves is in three events – the 100 and 200-meter dash and the long jump.  Senior Thomas Hinrichs will run both the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, and Devin Anderson is entered in both the 800 and 1600-meter runs.
 In Class D, Falls City Sacred Heart will send 14 athletes to Omaha to compete in 10 events.  On the girls’ side, Elizabeth Magdanz and Ashli Jordan will both compete in the pole vault.  Senior Sara Landis will compete in the 100-meter hurdles and high jump, Kelsi Fouraker is in the 800-meter run; and Abby Magdanz, Fouraker, Jordan, and Toni Kean will run the 400-meter relay.
 On the boys’ side of the meet, Sacred Heart will run in all three relays; junior Will Burenheide will compete in the 110-high hurdles; and sophomore Sean Strasheim will compete in the pole vault.
 Pawnee City is sending six boys and two girls to the state meet.  For the girls, Michaela Parks will run both the 110 and 300-meter hurdles, and Janae Koester is in the high jump.
 Pawnee City boys heading to state include senior Hadley Sejkora in both the 800 and 1600 meters, Garrett Borcher in the 400-meter dash; Scott Borcher in the shot put and discus; Nate Wiers in the 100 and 200-meter dash; and Austin Smith in the high jump and triple jump.  Pawnee City will also run in the 1600-meter relay.
 Sterling will again have a strong contingent at the state meet, with 14 athletes set to compete.  Girls include junior Jenna Nieveen in the 400 and 800 meters; sophomore Stacia Nielsen in the 200-meter dash and 300-meter hurdles; Emily Keim and Jazzy Eickhoff in the shot put; Jordan Lempka in the discus; Tara Hestermann in the 1600-meter run; and Wendy Sterkel in the 3200-meters.  Sterling will also compete in the 1600 and 3200-meter relays. 
 Senior Colin VanGroningen will run three events – the 100, 200, and 400-meter dashes.  Sophomore Trey Trauernicht will run the 1600 and 3200-meter runs; and the Jets will also have Michael Lucas and Ceaton Malone in the high jump, Chris Wenzl in the 300-meter hurdles, and Kody Benson in the shot put, in addition to a team in the 1600-meter relay.
 Class C athletes begin competition Friday afternoon.  Area athletes highlighted by Johnson-Brock senior Kale Wolken who will cap a stellar year by competing in three events at the state meet – the 100-meter dash, long jump, and 300-meter hurdles.  Also for Johnson-Brock, senior Dallas Griggs will be in the 1600-meter run.  The Johnson-Brock girls will have four sophomores – Nicole Carbajal, Amzie Dunekacke, Shawna Newman, and Sarah Wenzl – competing in the 3200-meter relay.
 HTRS will have two pole-vaulters among their four athletes in Omaha.  Junior Elizabeth Railsback and freshman Ben Railsback will compete.  Senior Hannah Volker will compete in both the shot put and discus; and Travis Jorn in the triple jump.
 Johnson County Central will send five athletes to Omaha – Zach Kaster in the 100 and 200-meters, Scott Johnson in the 3200-meter run; Kyle Laug and Courtney Eltiste in the pole vault, and Lauren Klaasmeyer in the 1600-meter run.