The NRHEG boys’ track and field team got the season off and running in beautiful weather with the NRHEG Invitational Tuesday, March 31. Maple River won the three-team meet with 77.5 points. The Panthers had 65.5, Medford 42.
The Panthers claimed eight first places, including three relays.
John Cole, Josh Fleming, Brenden McMann and Tyler Schlaak won the 4x800-meter relay in 9:09.1, and combined for first in the 4x400 in 4:01. Nathan Krause, Zach Mely, Aaron Seath and Noah Sletten teamed for first in the 4x200 with a time of 1:40.53.
Schlaak won two individual events, the 800 in 2:12.88 and the triple jump at 36-2. Other individual firsts were by Cole, 3200, 11:03.88; Todd Erickson, discus, 127-2; and Agro Gushwa, high jump, 5-2.
“It was a good meet for our first meet of the year,” said Panthers coach Duey Ferber. “We saw some good things from our boys, some good times and distances to work off from.”Other NRHEG places: Flemming, second, long jump; Gushwa, second, 400; Todd Erickson, second, shot put; Zeke Erickson, second, discus and third, shot put; Brady Agrimson, second, 110 high hurdles and second, high jump; Noah Sletten, third, 100; Zach Mely, third, 200 and fourth, long jump; Krause, fourth, 100.
The boys traveled to the Waseca Invitational Thursday, April 2, where they were third among four squads with 32 points. Waseca had 128, New Ulm 66, JWP 28.
There were no firsts for the Panthers.
Other placewinners: 4x100, second (Seath, Krause, Noah Sletten, Mely); Cole, second, 3200; 4x800, third (Schlaak, Flemming, Karter Sletten, Cole); 4x200, third (Seath, Krause, Sletten, Mely); 4x400, third (Schlaak, Flemming, McMann, Cole); Agrimson, fourth, 110 hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles; Krause, fourth, 100; Schlaak, fourth, 800 and triple jump; Gushwa, fourth, high jump; Todd Erickson, fourth, shot put and fifth, discus; Mely, fifth, 200.
“It was a chilly and blustery night, but the kids ran hard against very tough competition,” said Ferber. “The 4x100 and John Cole in the 3200 had nice performances tonight. We are doing well very early in the season. I’m very pleased.”