Jacob Koelzer

Breezing past the competition and leaping to success that’s been the name of the game for Jacob Koelzer of Nemaha Central and he’s picked up where he left off last year this track season starting the year strong.

The season started with the Thunder boys track team sounding loud in the first meet of the year winning the Silver Lake Invitational and Koelzer was right in the thick of things helping his team take first. The Thunder junior sprinted past the competition in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes with times of 10.97 and 23.08 to take first in each event, while leaping to gold in the long jump behind a leap of 22’02.25. On top of that Jacob partnered with three of his teammates and the Thunder quartet with a time of 46.02 won the 4x100 meter relay.

It was four more gold medals for Koelzer in the second track meet of the year last week as the Thunder competed at the Holton Big Seven League Quad. The junior with times of 11.11 and 24.42 won the 100 and 200 meter dashes and recorded a leap of 21’07 to earn first place in the long jump. While again with his teammates also took first in the 4x100 meter relay this time with a time of 45.44.

Last year Koelzer closed out his track season with the Class 3A long jump State title behind a leap of 21’04, while finishing second in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes and also qualifying with his teammates for State in the 4x100 meter relay. As a freshman he notched a fifth place finish in the 100 meter dash in Class 1A running for Baileyville-B&B.

The junior has his mind set on running and leaping past the competition again this year and returning to the State competition to defend his 3A long jump title and compete again for top spots in the sprinting events.