Annie Nabwe unmatched Friday, making history for Jamestown

May 28—Minot High's Majettes' Track and Field Twitter account posted a video of Jamestown's Annie Nabwe breaking the state record in the shot put on her last prelim throw Thursday evening.

"This girl is like no other!" The account said. "Should be state athlete of the year!"

While the results for Senior Athlete of the Year are yet to be announced, Nabwe keeps giving the state meet officials, coaches, other teams, North Dakota High School Activity Association members and Blue Jay fans all the reasons in the world why she deserves the title.

"Looking back, as far as we can tell the last girl in Class A to sweep the throws was in 1992," JHS co-head track and field coach Mike Dietz said. "She had a great day and you just can't complain with PRs."

Day No. 2 of the 2022 State Track and Field Meet kicked off on Friday at the Bismarck Community Bowl. Friday marked Nabwe's second chance at a state championship title, having garnered her first on Thursday evening in the shot put with a throw two inches shy of 50 feet-even.

While some athletes might be satisfied after setting a new school, state meet and all-time record in the shot put, Nabwe didn't travel 102 miles west to come back with only one state title.

The senior qualified for State in shot put, discus, javelin and the 100 meter dash — the same four events she did last year — but unlike last year, she is looking to earn the No. 1 spot in all four.

Track and field aficionados in the state of North Dakota have been stunned at the progression the senior has made since her freshman year back in 2019 — especially when considering she was gypped an entire season as a sophomore.

As a freshman, Nabwe's best in shot put was a 40-11, a mark she easily beat two years later. In Jamestown's 2021 season-opening meet, Nabwe went on the break the JHS indoor shot put record by almost 6 feet. By the time she wrapped up the season at the 2021 state meet, the senior had broken her own record on four separate occasions.

Nabwe is now clocking throws of 48 to almost 50 feet in shot and while that is where her true dominance lies, the senior is a force to be reckoned with in all three throwing events. Prior to last spring, Nabwe had never thrown discus but after three months of training, she was crowned the 2021 State Discus Champion with a throw of 143 feet, 9 inches. Her throws in the mid-140s were eclipsing second-place finishers by 10 to 15 feet.

Fast forward a year later and she is just that much more dominant.

The senior's best throw of the season coming into Friday was a throw of 151 feet, 11 inches. The senior's PR came at the West Region Meet on May 21.

On Friday, the senior notched a repeat first-place in discus with a throw of 154 feet, 7 inches — almost a meter better than her previous best.

"She made me a little nervous in discus," Dietz said. "She scratched her first two throws and then she got in a throw to get into finals but it was not her best.

"Then her first throw in finals wasn't as good but then she finally hit a throw and then it was smooth sailing. Her best throw came on her final throw."

Bismarck's Tayla Anderson was the state runner-up in discus with a mark of 126-08. Jamestown's Kinley Anderson, just missed out on the podium, placing 10th with a mark of 113-00.

Nabwe's Achilles heel has been the javelin for the past two seasons. As a junior, Nabwe took third at the state meet in jav, collecting a personal best throw of 131 feet, 9 inches. Mandan's Taylor Leingang won the 2021 javelin title with a throw of 141-02.

Nabwe's best throw on record is 132-02.

Or rather — it was.

Nabwe mustered a school and personal record-breaking throw of 144 feet, 9 inches to claim the Class A girls javelin title.

"The biggest thing has just been the weather," Dietz said of why the javelin has posed a challenge. "It's been really cold and today was the first time she took all six throws.

"We know what we've got (with her) — we don't need to wear her arm out early in the season. The cold is sometimes hard on the body but today was a nice warm day and she threw well."

Four of Nabwe's six throws in javelin were over 135 feet and her two bad throws were still over the 130-foot mark.

The soon-to-be Jamestown High School grad has accepted a full-ride offer from the University of Minnesota to join the Gophers' track and field team. Nabwe will specifically compete in the throws for Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Matt Bingle.

While the next four years are pretty clearly laid out for her, Nabwe's got one more sprint race on her docket before she says good by to North Dakota High School track and field

The senior is set to square off in the 100 meter dash on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The Blue Jay standout set a new school record in the 100 last season with a time of 12.04 seconds.

She is coming off a State runners-up finish but she has only clocked times in two outdoor meets this season. Cece Deebom, the defending state champ, is leading the pack of sprinters with a personal best time of 11.90 seconds.

But worrying about potential outcomes on Saturday does nothing for Nabwe's game and she knows it.

"What we do control is how we compete and how we perform and she is showing why she is one of the best athletes if not one of the best throwers ever in the state of North Dakota," Dietz said. "She had a great day — let's put it that way,"

2022 State Track and Field Meet

May 26-28, Bismarck

Results

Class A

Girls

Discus: 1. Annie Nabwe, JHS, 154-07; 2. Tayla Anderson, BHS, 126-08; 3. Aliya Selensky, LEG, 123-11; 4. Scout Woods, Wahpeton, 120-08; 5. Elise Hardy, MIN, 120-02; 6. Kiera Oukrop, SM, 118-10; 7. Kaylynn Red Tomahawk, BHS, 117-04; 8. Berlyn Lindbo, LEG, 114-05.

High jump: 1. Morgan Sheldon, MAN, 5-03; 2. Hope Stein, MAN, 5-02; 3. Lauryn Rydell, RR, 5-02; 4. Linnea Axtman, FD, 5-01; 5. Jordyn Rood, BHS, 5-01; 6. Hunter Petersen, JHS, 5-01; 7. Lexi Hagen, BHS, 5-01; 8. Mallory Docktor, WF, 5-01.

1600 meter run: 1. Anna Lien, FN, 5:09.66; 2. Eleni Lovgren, WIL, 5:13.82; 3. Acey Elkins, MAN, 5:14.86; 4. Jocelyn Schiller, RR, 5:15.56; 5. Eva Selensky, SM, 5:17.43; 6. Jaelyn Ogle, WC, 5:17.64; 7. Bayla Weigel, BHS, 5:17.75; 8. Elle Sondag, FN, 5:17.75

Javelin: 1. Annie Nabwe, JHS, 144-09; 2. Camille Deringer, FD, 127-08; 3. Mya Sheldon, MAN, 123-09; 4. Ella Weippert, RR, 121-10; 5. Morgan Johnson-Colbert, BHS, 120-10; 6. Alexis Gerving, SM, 118-04; 7. Abby Fletcher, BC, 117-07; 8. Cambrie Fischer, BHS, 116-02.

4x800: 1. Fargo North 9:39.35; 2. Century 9:48.01; 3. Red River 9:48.89; 4. Davies 9:51.26; 5. West Fargo 9:54.69; 6. Williston 9:6.55; 7. St. Mary's 9:57.65; 8. Legacy 10:05.22.

Boys

Discus: 1. Logan Arason, RR170-07; 2. Ethan Manock, WAH, 158-02; 3. Jacob Burckhard, BC, 157-11; 4. Thomas Allmer, JHS, 157-06; 5. Jaxson Walz, BC, 153-05; 6. Brackston Kemmet, LEG, 149-02; 7. Lucas Schweigert, BC, 146-07; 8. Eli Hayes, FD, 144-01.

1600 meter run: 1. Brady Korsmo, BHS, 4:14.77; 2. Ethan Moe, WIL, 4:15.41; 3. Caeden Johnson, WFS, 4:16.37; 4. Parker Hintz, BHS, 4:16.51; 5. Quinn Roehl, GFC, 4:16.68; 6. Aiden Johnson, WFS, 4:20.32; 7. Hunter McHenry RR, 4:20.63; 8. Griffin House, BC, 4:21.18.

4x800: 1. Williston, 7:57.87; 2. West Fargo 7:59.61; 3. Century 8:01.94; 4. Red River 8:03.48; 5. Davies 8:03.74; 6. Legacy 8:10.90; 7. Minot 8:11.06; 8. Bismarck 8:14.36.

Triple jump: 1. Golden Deebom, FD, 45-04.50; 2. Anthony Brown, MIN, 44-00; 3. Ty Allen, BHS, 43-10.50; 4. Michael Nihal, WFS, 43-09.75; 5. Dylan Beyl, WFS, 42-11.75; 6. Simon Haug, RR, 42-10.50; 7. Brett Lacombe, LEG, 42-10.50; 8. Grayson Schaeffer, MIN, 42=10.25.

Class B

Girls

Long jump: 1. Elise Wisnewski, CC, 16-11; 2. Decontee Smith, CC, 16-11; 3. Ellie Machayya, OG, 16-09; 4. Danielle Hagler, NS, 16-07; 5. Kennedy Harter, KC, 16-07; 6. Brooklyn Groth, M-PCG, 16-05; 7. Mayzee Jacobson, CC, 16-03.75; 8. Berkley Lundeen, BR, 16-03.

Shot put: 1. Laikyn Roney, OAK, 38-11.50; 2. Asia Becherl, GM, 37-07; 3. Paige Bishop, H-CV, 37-05.50; 4. Rebecca Bohrer, STAN, 37-05; 5. Terryn Johnson, KIN, 36-09.50; 6. Kaylee Johnson, GM, 36-05; 7. Alison Hoff, BC, 36-02.50; 8. Emily Kinzler, EKM, 36-02.

1600 meter run: 1. Brynn Hanson, DLB, 5:21.13; 2. Annika Stroh, SC, 5:22.95; 3. Dreah Frolek, WYND-L, 5:23.88; 4. Madison Johnson, CAR, 5:23.88; 5. Norah Entzi, EKM, 5:27.49; 6. Jordyn Thorson, SMC, 5:28.28; 7. Anna Strand, M-PCG, 5:28.32; 8. Olivia Frolek, WYND-L, 5:29.13.

Pole vault: 1. Brynley Coleman, H-N, 10-03; 2. Mercedes Lura, CAR, 10-00; 3 Anna Clifton, DT, 9-09; 4. Alexa Schneider, L/AEM, 9-06; 5. Hannah Wolsky, CAR, 9-06; 6. Jenna Larson, GM, 9-06; 7. Laisha Martens, BEU, 9-00; 8. Gracia Rolf, LIS, 9-00.

4x800: 1. Rugby 10:08.41; 2. Carrington 10:12.39; 3. May-Port-CG 10:16.05; 4. Benson County 10:20.72; 5. Stanley 10:21.34; 6. Kindred 10:22.19; 7. Southern McLean 10:22.73; 8. Kenmare/Bowbells 10:22.86.

Boys

Pole vault: 1. Parker Gallagher, H/CV, 13-00; 2. Noah Mehus, M-PCG, 12-09; 3. Carter Schmitz, KIN, 12-00; 4. Kory Vetsch, RUG, 12-00; 4. Jack Olson, KIN, 12-00; 6. Jace Andersen, KIL, 12-00; 7. Caleb Klabunde, KIN, 11-06; 8. Kael Kovar, CAR, 11-06.

Long jump: 1. Alex Erickson, H/WC, 21-08.50; 2. Kaden Jensen, NR, 21-08.25; 3. Clay Heimer, BC, 20-11.25; 4. Kevin Gilmore, BEU, 20-10.75; 5. Bohden Duffield, BC, 20-09.50; 6. Owen Wiersma, CC, 20-07.50; 7. Trevon Rodriguez, OG, 20-05.75; 8. Gaabe Allmaras, H/WC, 20-04.

1600 meter run: 1. Ian Busche, HAZ, 4:24.57; 2. Christian Brist, H/CV, 4:29.84; 3. Austin Wanner, BC, 4:30.12; 4. Taylor Wanner, BC, 4:31.46; 5. Caleb Sarsland, BC, 4:32.69; 6. Ethan Schaffer, KIN, 4:33.09; 7. Eli Hansen, DT, 4:35.97; 8. Colt Spotted Bear, NT, 4:40.16.

Shot put: 1. Jack Packer, KIN, 58-05.00; 2. Riley Sunram, KIN, 54-04; 3. Kaydenn Rivinius, GC, 52-08; 4. Brady Guscette, BCN, 51-11; 5. Blake Houska, KIN, 51-03.50; 6. Hunter Rasmussen, BC, 49-08; 7. Nick Thompson, RICH, 49-07; 8. Caleb Olson, LIS, 49-05.