GRANT CITY, Mo. — Northeast Nodaway junior Jude Archer was in his comfort zone last Thursday. The football standout for the Worth County/Northeast Nodaway football field was back on his home turf for the season-opening Early Bird track meet.

The running back and defensive back showed that his football speed translated with personal-bests in the 100-meter dash at 11.66 and the javelin at 40.6 meters to kick-start the season. Archer finished fourth in the 100-meter dash and third in the javelin.

“I thought it went great,” Archer said of javelin. “New PR even with the wind.”

His busy day continued in the 200-meter dash where her finished fourth with a 23.88, and the 400-meter dash where he was third with a 55.29.

“It feels great,” Archer said. “It is a little windy, but other than that, it is good.”

Archer was the only Bluejay boy to participate with the rest of the team being dual-sport athletes and playing baseball against Albany. The Blue Jays earned an 11-7 win over Albany on Thursday as the rallied from a 7-0 second-inning deficit. Brock Healy and Jordan Dannar each had three hits while Brady O’Connell had four RBI and a triple. Bentin Roberts and Lance Runde each had two hits.

“Whenever those freshmen come back from baseball, we are going to try to put together a relay,” Archer said. “But doing all three (sprints) keeps me conditioned.”

The Northeast Nodaway girls had their full lineup and junior Blair Nelson had the top finish with a third-place showing in the triple jump. Freshman Rylee Scadden had a busy day and finishe fifth in the 200-meter dash and sixth in the 400-meter dash.

Juniors Brianna Meyer and Hayley Yost each had their best showings in the javelin where Meyer was ninth and Yost was 11th. Emma Vicker was 10th in the 1600-meter run.

Freshman Piper Gray had the busiest day with four events and her best finish was in the 200-meter dash where she was ninth.

The Bluejays go to the Wildkat Relays on Wednesday in King City before heading to the Warrior Relays in Albany on Monday.

“The end goal is to either make it to state or sectionals,” Archer said.