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Pinkelman qualifies for State Track Meet

HARTINGTON — The Randolph Cardinals track and field team found its beacon of light this spring and the name is Keely Pinkelman.

The senior is heading to the Class D state finals in Omaha Wednesday when the Lady Cardinal will compete in the 100-meter dash, which she qualified for as one of the best six wildcards.

Her time was 13.15, good enough for third place – outside the automatic qualifying spots – but plenty to keep her season alive.

It was her fastest time of her career. She also finished fourth in the 200 meters and sixth in the 400 meters and made the final in long jump.

“Keely is one of the hardest working girls we have in school,” Randolph head coach Ted Stubbs said. “Strength training and agility work has always been two of her focuses.”

Randolph scored 13 points as a team with Pinkelman pulling in 11 of those.

“As expected with the difficulty of the district we were in, the points were hard to come by,” Stubbs said. “The point total is not a reflection on our team as a whole. The entire girls team competed at their very best. We had several individuals qualify for finals on the day but not quite make it to the medal platform.”

Bailey Beal finished fourth in high jump and made the finals in the 200 meters and long jump.

Throwers Erin Engel, Jacey Bartels, Baylie Shearer, and Brianna Sporleder had also all performed well, according to Stubbs.

“Nicole Haselhorst and Ella Scott both ran well in the hurdle events,” Stubbs said. “Ryanne Winkelbauer ran a personal best in the 800 (2:56.26). Emma Munter in her first open 400, ran a 1:14.17 for a personal best time also.”

Pinkelman is over the moon knowing that her final days of high school will be remembered for not just graduation, but for going to Omaha representing the Cardinals.

“I am super excited, but it’s state and track is a super, nerve-wracking sport for some reason and state is a whole other level,” Pinkelman said. “I am nervous, but sometimes being nervous helps when running. Our district was stacked in every event I am in, so I knew I would probably have to be a wild card. I was ranked fourth in the 100, so no matter what, I was on the edge of it all. I wasn’t guaranteed, but I knew there was a chance there.”

Pinkelman outran her seed and said her time at this meet would have won some other districts.

“I am going to put it all out there,” she said. “If I break 13 seconds, I have a chance at placing, but I have to make the finals first. I am currently tied for 12th (seed). I feel if I work on getting out of the blocks, I can lower my time a little bit.

“I am excited that I am finally going to state in an individual event.”

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