Pinkelman wraps up her career at State Track Meet

OMAHA— The Randolph High School track team boiled down to one senior — Lady Cardinal Keely Pinkelman — when it came to make the trip to the Class D state meet last week.

Pinkelman wrapped up her high school career and the season for the Cardinals, running the 100-meter dash for the first time ever at the season’s final meet. She qualified as a member of the 4x800 relay team two years ago.

Her time was a 13.45 – about her normal time for the season – and about three-tenths slower than her qualifying time at the District meet.

“She would have had to run another personal best to make the finals,” Randolph head coach Ted Stubbs said.

Stubbs said the team graduated six seniors this year.

“We graduate six seniors who have contributed in some way to the strength of our core number of girls out for track this season,” Stubbs said. “They will all be missed, and we look forward to a bright future with our numbers staying strong and the girls buying into track and field as a great way to maintain a competitive edge as well as become a better overall athlete.”

Track is on the rebound in Randolph, Stubbs said. ‘“With the numbers of girls, we had out this season and hope to get for next year the next few years could be a lot of fun,” he said. “The coaches look forward to what is to come.”

The lost girls seniors will be Pinkelman, Natalie Munter, Arianne Greiner, Baylie Shearer, Abby Schmit and Gracie Eledge, who helped manage the team this spring.

Pinkelman admitted prior to the race she was hoping not to be nervous and said her run in Omaha was free from that expected anxiety.

“I was nervous, but I wasn’t,” she said. “I don’t know if this cold I have affected it at all. It was later that afternoon I started to feel crappy. It was hot and humid, and I have a little more snap when it is chillier out.”

Despite not being able to to brin back a State medal, Pinkelman was still happy she was able to make it to State.

“Just competing against some of the best in the state and warming up in that infield, it was a great experience,” she said. “I got to bring some of girls from my team and they are some of the best cheerleaders I’ve had in my high school career. They made it awesome too.”

Pinkelman emphatically noted that this year was a pleasure to be a part of and feels she went out with style and made the most of her final year as a high school athlete.

“I think (Randolph) will be fine and they have some good leaders coming up,” Pinkelman said. “In all my sports I never got to place at state, but what is important to me is if I made a difference and little girls can look up to me and say, ‘I want to play and run like she did,’ that’s more important to me.

Overall, she is pleased with her efforts on the track.

“I’d rate my track career a 10 (on a scale of 10). I got to experience everything – even those not fun ones made those fun ones even easier.”

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