Runners Ochoa and Noecker rewrite history in Norfolk Classic 1,600-meter race
NORFOLK, Neb. -- In a rare 1,600-meter race, Carson Noecker of Cedar Catholic dueled with Isaac Ochoa of Norfolk High to produce two record-breaking performances on Thursday.
Although Noecker did not place first, he still managed to break the Class C record of 4:18.6 set by Larry Kassebaum of Hebron in 1967. Noecker still has the second-fastest time ever in the region, finishing the race in 4:17.80.
"I didn’t really realize what my time was until my coach told me," Noecker said. "Towards the end of the day, I started to realize that was something truly special."
Meanwhile, Ochoa's time of 4:16.38 set the meet and stadium record, topping his 4:18.77 from earlier this season. It also broke the all-time Northeast and North Central Nebraska mark.
His coach Aaron Bradley said Ochoa’s 1.42 second edge came down to a perfectly executed race plan.
"The 100-meter mark after the start I just yelled at him and he did exactly what he (Ochoa) was supposed to do," Bradley said. "He runs a very intelligent race."
Noecker was later named the Norfolk Classic boys outstanding athlete, after he won the 3200-meter event.
"I was very proud of myself," Ochoa said. "But of my opponent too...we did a pretty wonderful thing out there on the track."
