KEARNEY, Neb. — Everywhere Hazel Haarberg went at the state track and field meet, it felt like gold medals and records followed.

The Kearney Catholic sophomore won three events and finished third in a fourth event on the way to helping her team win a state championship. Haarberg set a Class C state and meet record by running an 11.73 in the 100M dash and ran the anchor leg of the Stars’ meet-record 48.38-second run in the 4x100M relay.

Haarberg, who missed the 2023 meet with an injury, says competing with her sister, Margaret, helped motivate her.

“It means so much," Haarberg said. "This is my sister’s final year.”

Hazel also won the 200M dash with a time of 24.36 and placed third in long jump with a distance of 18-01.75. Margaret finished third in the 100M hurdles, fourth in high jump and was also on the record-setting relay team.

Hazel credits her sister with helping her handle the expectations of coming from a prominent athletic family.

“It feels like it takes some of the pressure off having here there with me,” Haarberg said.