After running north to south the opening two days of the 2025 NSAA State Track & Field Championships with high winds and sunny skies, the clouds made their way over Burke Stadium along with some rain showers the final few races.
A new set of spectators were in attendance with Class C and D qualifiers beginning their first day of competition on May 23 moving into May 24.
For Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, senior Tali Erwin tied for fourth in the Class C girls high jump (5′ 2″) on May 24.
A three-year state qualifier tied her personal best of 5' 2".
"Definitely my sophomore year was all the nerves," said Erwin. "You're taking everything in and so many people. It's just such an experience to be able to be here and jump on this track. Same with junior year but coming into this year I worked really hard, I was like I want to get this medal. I've been here three years and this year is the year."
During her sophomore season two years ago, she finished 14th (5') and last year tied for ninth clearing (4' 11").
She missed her entire girls basketball season following an injury during the district volleyball final to her non-jumping foot. Following physical therapy to build strength and keep the mentality to compete in high jump during the track & field season.
She was also a two-time state qualifier in the Class C 100-meter hurdles (2024: 21st - 17.04/2023: 23rd - 19.6).
Erwin cleared the first four marks of 4' 8", 4' 10", 5' and 5' 2" all on thee first attempt in 2025.
"Early on I felt really good," Erwin added. "I was like, 'this is going to be my day and it was.' My main thing was, me and my coach were like 5' 2" is all we need to get over. We just need to clear it on the first one and then we'll go from there and that was my goal."
Erwin will be attending Wayne State College and pursuing a degree in Business.
Freshman Drey Puppe earned a fifth place medal on May 24 during the Class C boys 110-meter hurdle finals (15.3). He ran 15.17 seconds the day prior during the prelims.
Puppe was enjoying the experience and was happy to make it to state and explained his thoughts at the starting blocks.
"Happy to make finals, happy to represent my school," said Puppe. "Just fast as I can to the first hurdle, attack the first hurdle and cruise from there."
Following the Puppe tradition in the hurdle events, he joins older brothers Daniel and Deagan as state medalists.
"It's amazing looking at the crowd, you can just see everything, so many people here and it's just a different experience when you're on the field."
Puppe plans to compete in more indoor meets and work harder to return next year while also playing legion baseball in Hartington over the summer. His personal best during his freshman season was 14.58
Puppe also qualified for state in the Class C boys high jump but did not clear the opening height (5' 10") on May 23.
Also in action on May 23, sophomore Faith Galvin finished 22nd during the 3200-meter run finals (12:57.28). On May 24, junior Kate Tasler took 22nd during the 1600-meter run (5:49.45).
The LCC girls finished in a tie for 32nd with four points while the LCC tied for 36th with four points.
Team champions were awarded to Kearney Catholic in the Class C girls race with 79 points (Syracuse in second, 50); Class D girls were won by Dundy County Stratton with 86 points (Nebraska Christian took second with 42 points); Class C boys went to Perkins County with 61 points (West Holt followed in second, 57) while the Class D boys state champion was awarded to Dundy County Statton with 87 points (Axtell followed in second with 62 points).
