By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
It was a logjam for second place in the Gopher Conference boys’ track and field meet.
The NRHEG Panthers finished at the bottom of it.
USC/AC ran away with the title at Medford Tuesday, May 14, winning with 190.5 points. The next four teams were close, with Bethlehem Academy at 120, Medford 115.5, Blooming Prairie 113 and NRHEG 112. JWP and WEM brought up the rear with 96 and 62, respectively.
While the Panthers were only four points away from third place, junior T.J. Schiltz ran away from the field in the distance races, winning the 1600 meters in 4:47.78 and the 3200 in 10:29.8.As the Panthers’ lone champion, Schiltz is their lone all-conference selection for 2013.
The Panthers just missed first in two other events. Keith Maxon threw the discus 120-10 for second and the 4x800 relay team of John Cole, Karter Sletten, Tyler Schlaak and Tyler Raimann was second in 9:46.93.
Other NRHEG places: Raece Johnson, third, 400, 56.3 and sixth, long jump, 18-5; Cordell Peterson, third, pole vault, 9-0; Karter Sletten, fourth, 800, 2:18.67; Schiltz, fourth, high jump, 5-8; Kevin Kalis, fourth, shot put, 41-1.5 and fourth, discus, 115-0; 4x100, fourth, 50.97 (Aaron Seath, Ethan Borwege, Zach Mely, Hunter Ryg); 4x200, fourth, 1:46.57 (Kiel Sletten, Karter Sletten, Johnson, Nathan Krause); Ryg, fifth, 300 hurdles, 51.22; 4x400, fifth, 3:58.53 (Johnson, Adam Anderson, Schlaak, Hans Frank); Schlaak, sixth, 800, 2:20.73; Maxon, eighth, shot put, 39-7.
“T.J .won both the distance races handily,” said NRHEG coach Duey Ferber. “The boys competed hard today. I’m very proud of their efforts.”
The Panthers host the sub-section meet Thursday, May 23.