The NRHEG girls’ track and field team had one of its strongest showings of the season, finishing second out of eight schools in the Blooming Prairie True Team meet Tuesday, April 28.
WEM was first with 816 points. The Panthers totaled 647.5, with Maple River third at 636.5.
“It was a very nice meet for our girls pulling off a second place,” said Panthers coach Duey Ferber.
Sophomore Maddie Wagner pulled off a first place in the high jump, clearing a personal-best 5 feet, 3 inches.
“It was a great jump,” said Ferber.
Also finishing first was the Panthers’ 4x200-meter relay team of Hailey Schuller, Gretchen Ramaker, Maddie Wagner and Marnie Wagner, who won in 1:54.2.
Schuller was second in the 100 high hurdles and 300 intermediates. The Wagner sisters, Ramaker and Erin VanWilgen teamed for second in the 4x100 relay.Other NRHEG places: Marnie Wagner, third, 100 and sixth, high jump; Maddie Wagner, third, 200; Schuller, third, long jump; Ramaker, third, triple jump and fourth, 100; Sophia Fischer, third, shot put and sixth, discus; Sandra Quezada, fourth, 3200; Emily Eder, fourth, shot put; 4x800 relay, fourth (Mia Williams, Micaela Vaale, Maddie Bartelt, Katie Crabtree); Vaale, fifth, 3200; Kelly Harden, sixth, 800; Jade Mely, sixth, 3200.
“We are starting to pull off time and increase distances,” said Ferber.
The Panthers finished a disappointing fifth out of five schools in the Blue Earth Invitational Friday, April 24. The host team posted 111.5 points for the win. The Panthers had 21.
Schuller had the Panthers’ lone first, winning the 100 hurdles in 16.92 seconds. She was second in the 300 hurdles and fourth in the long jump, teaming with Ramaker, Harden and VanWilgen for second in the 4x200 relay.
Others: Ramaker, fourth, 100; 4x100 relay, fourth (Ramaker, VanWilgen, Grace Kofstad, Harden); Fischer, fifth, shot put.
“This was a tough meet for us, cold, windy, and we were missing a few girls,” said Ferber. “Hailey continues to be our top scorer. She is ‘Steady Eddie.’ We need to get fine tuned for True Team in a few weeks.”