NTL TRACK & FIELD: NEB'S LAUDERMILCH PUNCHES HER TICKET TO STATES IN THE 800, 1600 (2025-05-18)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportWILLIAMSPORT — NEB’s Gracelyn Laudermilch went 3-for-3 at the District IV Track and Field Championships this year. On Thursday she qualified for states in the 3200, on Saturday she did so in the 1600 and 800.
Laudermilch hit the state standard in both races as she took home a pair of bronze medals. She ran 2:19.69 in the 800, and 5:03.21 in the mile.
“I feel really blessed,” Laudermilch said about her day. “It could have gone a lot different today. I’m more proud of the way I race than my race times, and everything. I raced healthy this year, and I loved every second of it. I’m just really soaking it in and realizing that high school sports are basically over.”
The 1600 district record was broke by the top two runners on Saturday, showing how fast that mile field was. Ultimately, five runners made it through under the state standard.
“It is really overwhelming,” Laudermilch said about making it to states in the mile. “God has just been really good. I keep saying that, God’s opened so many doors and done so much for me this season, and every day at the end of the day, I’m like how in the world am I going to do that again, and God continually gives me enough strength the next moment, and that’s just been huge. I really can’t do it on my own, and I don’t think I truly knew what running with the strength of the Lord meant until this year, when I didn’t have any other strength that I had to run with this strength.”
She hugged Warrior Run’s Claire Dufresne throughout the race, coming in just one second behind her at the end.
“I was just trying to run a smart race,” remarked Laudermilch. “The goal was to qualify, that’s what I was looking for. I was really happy with that race, and it felt controlled enough so it didn’t feel like I absolutely died, which was good.”
She comes into states seeded fifth out of 35 runners as she looks to medal in the mile for the second year in a row.
Laudermilch would also like to break that five minute barrier that she’s been bumping up against.
“I have a cousin right now, and he just ran 4:58 and there’s some trash talking going on, so definitely breaking five would be a huge goal,” she said. “I think that’s been something I’ve had my eye on since freshman year. I didn’t know if I would get there, and I ran five flat during indoor, and it’s like, ‘OK, it’s there, I’ve just got to go and get it.’ I can’t wait for that.”
In the half-mile Laudermilch was behind for the first half of the race, but made up a lot of ground in the final 400.
“I’m supposed to go out hard, and I just can’t get out,” she said. “The last two years we keep joking I always get out terrible in this race, and the same thing happened. I just had to close, it’s fine.”
She was just under a second under the state standard.
Laudermilch plans on doing all three again with the 1600 on Friday, the 3200 Saturday morning, and the 800 that afternoon.
“I’m really excited to do all three,” she said. “I’m just staying heathy in every single aspect, mentally, emotionally, physically, socially, all the areas. I’m trying to be as holistically healthy as I can at states, and just have some fun. I really enjoy it, and I’m going to go out and see what I can do - really run free on my terms.”
Mallorie Maynard (50.69) was 17th in the 300 hurdles with teammate Amelia Kapr (52.77) 23rd.
Lillie Maynard was 18th in the 400 (1:04.95) and 21st in the 800 (2:38.27).
The 4x400 relay was 12th in 4:31.21.
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
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