Following the announcement of a new press box from last year’s meet, visitors to Burke Stadium were welcomed with an updated look for the 2025 NSAA State Track & Field Championships.
Class A and B qualifiers took over May 21 and concluded their two-day meet on May 22 before Class C and D were represented May 23 – 24.
Wayne High saw two compete on day one. Sophomore Addison Frank finished 12th (10′) and earned a share of the school record (Maysn Dorey/2019 Norfolk Track Classic) during the pole vault in Class B.
In her first year at state, Frank was a little nervous early but had fun.
"When I was warming up, I was a little nervous," said Frank. "Nine foot, a little shaky but after I got nine (foot) it was just another goal."
Frank was excited she accomplished her goal of sharing the school record at 10'.
"My goal really was getting a new PR each meet, which happened a couple of times and I just tried pushing every day," remarked Frank. "After practice...we only did like six or seven or eight (vaults) which really helped us not tire ourselves out too much."
Junior Elle Powicki just missed out on a state qualifying time in the 100-meter high hurdles during the prelims finishing ninth (15.51). She was 0.03 from eighth. Last year, Powicki also took ninth in the Class B 100-meter hurdles (15.62) while in 2023 earned an eighth place medal during the Class B 100-meter hurdles (15.9). She posted a prelim time of 15.68 two years ago.
Back at Burke Stadium, champions were crowned on the podium where the sun was shining and wind blowing on May 22.
For Wayne, junior Grant Maas broke his own school record earning a sixth place medal during the Class B boys pole vault. He cleared 14′ 6″ on his first attempt at the height and 10th overall vault of the event (13 total vaults including three at 15′). The previous record was 14′ set earlier this season.
After earning a Class B 150lb state wrestling medal (sixth) in February, Grant Maas captured sixth during the Class B boys pole vault to earn three points in the team standings.
Grant wanted to make sure he entered 'happy-medium' with excitement while also being calm and felt good for 10 vaults. It was on his 10th vault he cleared 14' 6".
"All day I was struggling with first attempts and I'm like, 'you know what, this is going to be the one and I'm going to have to get it here'," said Grant Maas. "You know what, I just did it and it felt amazing."
He also explained switching to a new pole.
"The first pole I had was a smaller pole, easier to bend and easier to flex," Grant Maas added. "So, I was going into it and it wasn't un-bending at the point I needed it to. So, then when I went up (a pole) that one is a little harder to bend and it un-bent sooner which gave me the lift I need to perform well."
Last year, Grant Maas finished 18th in the Class B boys pole vault (12' 6").
Both Grant and Addison were excited for their teammates of junior Elle Powicki, freshman Alivia Kesting and senior Kasen York competing at state.
Freshman Alivia Kesting finished 22nd in the 800-meter run (2:32.4) while senior Kasen York took 22nd in the 1600-meter run (4:53.54) both on May 22.
For Wayne, the Blue Devil boys finished in a tie for 33rd with three points.
In the team races, Papillion-LaVista South edged Lincoln Southwest, 88-87 for the Class A girls title with Kearney in a close third (86) while Bennington held off Waverly (80-69) during the Class B girls team race.
The Class A boys team champion went to Kearney ahead of Fremont (75-66) and Waverly held off Gretna East (73-64) in Class B boys.
Additional northeast Nebraska state track and field championship coverage can be found through the sports section highlighting Winside, Wakefield, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge as well as Tri County Northeast (Allen/Emerson-Hubbard) girls and boys.
