The NRHEG boys’ track and field team is a little banged up, and the final score reflected it at the Maple River Invitational Tuesday, April 26.
The injury-plagued Panthers were seventh among eight schools with 39 points. Minnesota Valley Lutheran won with 112, Maple River was second with 106. The Panthers finished ahead of USC/AC.
“We faced some very good teams tonight,” said coach Duey Ferber.
The lone win was by the 4x800 relay team of Tyler Schlaak, John Cole, Nate Krause and Josh Fleming, who clocked 8:57.26.
“They continue to impress,” said Ferber.
Other places: Schlaak, third, 800, 2:16.83; Cole, third, 1600, 4:54.18; 4x400, third, 3:4786 (Schlaak, Cole, Krause, Fleming); Fleming, fouth, 400, 55.79; Brendon McMann, fourth, pole vault, 9-6; Brady Agrimson, sixth, 110 hurdles and high jump; Alex Buckmeier, sixth, shot put.
The boys were third in the USC/AC True Team Invitational April 22. Team scores: LCWM/Nicollet 247, Blue Earth Area 232, NRHEG 184, USC/AC 160, Martin County West 111.
The distance relays swept, with Schlaak, Cole, Krause and Fleming winning the 4x400 in 3:41.53 and the 4x800 in 8:42.68.
Zeke Erickson won the throws, tossing the shot put 39-9 and the discus 108.10.
Cole was second in the 1600 in 4:55.38, third in the long jump at 17-2. Fleming clocked 55.61 for third in the 400. Schlaak was fourth in the 800 in 2:11.56.
Agro Gushwa placed in three events, taking fourth in the high jump and fifth in the triple jump and 400.
Others: Buckmeier, third, shot put; McMann, fourth, pole vault; 4x100, fourth (Aaron Seath, Lucas Hermann, Jarett Utpadel, Krause); 4x200, fourth (Seath, Hermann, Utpadel, Gushwa); Mason Ferber, fifth, 200; Seath, sixth 100; Ben Lewer, sixth, 3200; Schlaak, sixth, triple jump.
“Going against sub-section rivals, we held our own,” said Coach Ferber. “The 4x800, 4x400, and Zeke in the throws really shined.”