Returning to Launch: Steinmetz searches for last year’s long jump form

Payton Steinmetz achieved a personal best in the long jump last year when he launched himself nearly 20 feet.
The tape measured at 19 feet, 10.5 inches. The Glenrock record stands at 22 feet, 11.5 inches, set by Dustin Worthington in 2010 and almost two feet farther than the guy behind him. Steinmetz’s jump put him at sixth all-time and just a few inches short of the names in front of him.
This season the junior has been hovering around 18 feet, with his best jump landing him at 18 feet, 9.75 inches during the Glen Legler Invitational in mid-March. Despite experiencing some pushback at the 19-foot mark this season, coach Ryan Collier is optimistic that Steinmetz will return to familiar form.
“I think a lot of it is the weather we’ve had,” Collier said. “We haven’t had a lot of opportunities to get out and really jump off the boards.”
Collier makes a valid point. A number of this season’s meets have been affected by lingering cold and blustery wind, not exactly ideal elements for someone trying to fly through the air.
It can certainly hinder the true potential of a long jumper but Collier sees the work ethic in Steinmetz and knows the results will soon reappear.
“Payton’s a hard-working kid, he tries to get better every time he’s out there,” Collier said. “The timing of it and the explosiveness… he’s just missing it a little bit but I think here soon you’ll start to see him pop off the board.”

DOUGLAS INVITE
The Herders traveled to Douglas this past Friday and turned in a solid meet following top finishes by the boys and girls a week before in Wheatland.
Tucker Bopp led the way for the boys, cruising to first place in both the 200-meter and 400-meter races. He also barreled down the track in the 100-meter dash but fell to Buffalo’s Cody Milmine for a second place finish. The heat featured each of the top five finishers in the event, including four runners from Buffalo.
Bopp also moved into second place in the Glenrock record books in the 400 meter with a time of 50.07 and is now third all-time in the 200 meter at 24.47.
In the 110-meter hurdles, Gannon Guenther placed first with a time of 17.77 and also took third in the 300-meter hurdles. He currently holds a top-five spot all-time in Glenrock’s records in each event.
Zane Moore ran strong in the 1600-meter race as he’s done from week to week, but placed behind only Douglas’ Kenyion Townsend for the second place spot. Teammate T.J. Kraft also took third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:11.49.
Helping to solidify their reputation in the relay races, the Herders took second in the 4-by-400 relay and 1600-meter sprint medley. To no surprise, they also placed first in the 4-by-800 relay with a time of 9:09.43.
On the field, Casey Sebesta jumped his way to a second place spot in the triple jump with a distance of 33 feet, 7.75 inches. It marked his personal best of the season. In the shot put, Brock Jones put forth a valiant effort but fell short of Douglas’ Dawson Stinson with a distance of 43 feet, 5.5 inches, taking home second. Jones also moved into fifth place all-time in Glenrock’s record books with a discus throw of 125 feet, 5 inches. He earned second.
The other half of the Jones’ sibling duo, Mikalah impressed in the throwing events, taking second in both the shot put and discus throw. She hung tough with Riley Seeds of Douglas in the shot put but was bested by a mammoth 38-foot toss in the final round.
Annelise Clark earned a top finish in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 51.22 and also took third in the 300-meter hurdles. She also helped the 4-by-100 relay team capture second with a time of 55.54, along with Katelyn Cathcart, Autumn Hiser and Paige James.
Collier has taken notice of back-to-back successful meets from his team and credits a consistent work ethic.
“They’ve been doing everything they can to try and compete,” he said. “Each week they’re trying to get better and we’ve definitely seen that.”

UP NEXT
The Herders will travel to Lusk on Saturday for the Niobrara County Invite beginning at 9:00 a.m.