NRHEG juniors take first in sub-section
SAILING TO SECTION — The Panthers’ T.J. Schiltz clears the high jump bar during the Sub-Section 5A track and field meet in New Richland Tuesday, May 21. Schiltz advanced to section in the high jump along with his specialties, the 3200 and 1600. Junior Raece Johnson was finished first in the 400. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
T.J. Schiltz found himself in familiar territory, with a gold medal hanging around his neck.
For Raece Johnson, it was uncharted terrain.
Schiltz, NRHEG’s distance running standout, was no surprise to win the 3200 meters in the Sub-Section 5A meet at New Richland Tuesday, May 21.
The surprise came when Johnson, also a junior, did the same thing, clocking a career-best 54.14 seconds to win the 400.
They’re two of four Panther boys to advance to section, joining Keith Maxon and Nick Goette.
Schiltz, a returning state entrant, cruised to victory in the 3200, clocking 10:04.78. He also qualified for section in the 1600, placing second in 4:44.64, and in the high jump, clearing 5-6.Goette made it to section in the shot put, where he was fourth at 43-5. Maxon took fourth in the discus at 122-10.
Freshman Tyler Schlaak just missed qualifying in the 800, running a career-best 2:11.2 for fifth place. Kevin Kalis was fifth in the discus at 119-8.
Other non section-qualifying NRHEG places: 4x200 relay, fourth, 1:41.8 (Kiel Sletten, Johnson, Hunter Ryg, Schiltz), 1:41.18; 4x400, fourth (Schlaak, Johnson, Hans Frank, Adam Anderson); 4x800, fourth, 9:35.56 (John Cole, Karter Sletten, Schlaak, Frank); 4x100, sixth, 50.71 (Zach Mely, Ryg, Aaron Seath, Ethan Borwege); Cordell Peterson, sixth, pole vault, 10-0; Johnson, sixth, long jump, 17-6; Kalis, sixth, shot put, 41-5; Todd Erickson, sixth, discus, 117-3; Kiel Sletten, eighth, 200, 26.57; Frank, eighth, high jump, 5-2; Maxon, eighth, shot put, 39-3.
USC/AC won with 181 points, followed by Waseca with 177, Maple River 123.5, St. Clair 104, NRHEG 96.5, JWP 81 and WEM 56.
“The boys had a good meet against some tough competition,” said Panthers coach Duey Ferber.
The Section 2A meet is Saturday, June 1 at Mankato West High School. The first-place relays and top two individuals in each event advance to state, along with those meeting qualifying standards. The state meet is June 6-7 at Hamline University.