The Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin girls' track team is no stranger to the winner's circle, and Wednesday's Class 1A Salt Fork Sectional meet proved exactly why. The Blue Devils stormed to their third sectional championship in four years, posting a commanding team score of 118 points—46 clear of second-place Paxton-Buckley-Loda. It was a performance that blended star power, depth, and sheer determination.
Senior Natalie Thomason was the headliner, and she delivered in spectacular fashion. After winning the high jump by clearing 5-3 3/4, she set her sights higher—literally. On her final attempt at 5 feet, 6 inches, Thomason barely grazed the bar, just missing a chance to break her own school record. "I was so close," she said with a smile. "But we'll have another shot at state." And she'll get that chance in three events, having also won the 100-meter hurdles (15.42 seconds) and the 300-meter hurdles (46.95 seconds).
Thomason wasn't alone in the spotlight. Fellow senior Nevaeh Scott successfully defended her 100-meter dash sectional title with a personal-best 12.62 seconds, then added the 200-meter crown in 26.35 seconds. "I got it last year, and that's a big motivation thing for me," Scott said. "My goal is to break our school record at state." She also anchored two relay victories, helping the Blue Devils sweep the 4x100 and 4x200 relays.
The team's success, however, runs deeper than its individual stars. BHRA coach Susan Kentner pointed to the leadership of nine seniors who have embraced a winning culture. "We have nine fantastic seniors, and a lot of them have seen state, so it felt like we had to keep that going for them," Kentner said. "The seniors have been leading by example, and we've got youngsters who really pulled through. It's so special. You get special groups once every 20 years."
The Blue Devils' depth was on full display, with contributions across the board. The team's victory margin was the largest of any sectional champion in Class 1A, underscoring the program's dominance. Behind BHRA, Paxton-Buckley-Loda took second, followed by Salt Fork in fourth, Milford/Cissna Park in sixth, and Iroquois West in eighth. Watseka, Armstrong-Potomac, Oakwood, and Georgetown-Ridge Farm rounded out the top 10.
For Thomason, the near-miss on the school record only added fuel to an already burning fire. "My dream is for me and all my teammates to do amazing, leave here happy, not regret anything, and leave it all on the track," she said. With three sectional titles in four years, the Blue Devils have built a legacy of excellence—and they're far from done.