Austin Jacobsen, Central Nebraska Today
KEARNEY — The Kearney Board of Education took time during its meeting on Monday, June 10 to honor the Kearney High School boys state track team, who were the 2024 State Champions.
It was the first time since 2014, the KHS boys track program had claimed the Class A title.
“Kearney started early, scoring points in the opening day with a state title won by Luke Brachle in the high jump. On Thursday, the Bearcats added titles by the 4×100 M Relay and Cole Brandt’s Discus Throw,” reported Austin Jacobsen.
“The Bearcats locked in the championship prior to the final event of the day, leading Class A with 78 points entering with a comfortable seventeen-point advantage,” Jacobsen noted.
During the recognition, Coach Broc Howard started by thanking the families of the coaching staff, who supported them day in and day out as they spent long hours at the track with the athletes.
Howard said he was proud to see the athletes who seemed more excited for the accomplishments of their teammates than their own.
Recounting the two days at state track, Howard said they felt on the first day that they could earn 15 to 20 points, but actually finished with 38 points.
Before the end of the second day, with several events yet to be held, Howard said the Bearcasts had earned 78 points to clinch the Class A title.
Howard thanked KPS Athletic Director Ryan Houge for his leadership and complimented the district, saying that KHS has the best practice facilities in the state, saying they are even better than the state track facilities.
Kearney claimed the championship over runner-up Millard West (66) and Lincoln Southeast (46.5). Grand Island finished sixth with 32.5 points.
