The lineup was complete once again for the NRHEG boys’ 4x800-meter relay team, and they made the most of it.
They didn’t just re-break their school record again. They smashed it.
Tyler Schlaak, Nate Krause, Josh Fleming and John Cole teamed for second place in their specialty in last Thursday’s Sub-Section 5A meet at Wells, knocking 11 seconds off their record with a time of 8:21.19.
It was the highlight of the day for the NRHEG boys, who finished a surprising fourth as a team and advanced seven individuals to section.
Fairmont won with 191 points, followed by Maple River with 193, Blue Earth Area 141, NRHEG 96, Madelia/Truman 76.6, USC/AC 76, Martin County West 47.
The Panthers’ 4x800 team, missing Fleming a week earlier because of injury, also teamed for second in the 4x400, clocking 3:38.41.
Zeke Erickson advanced to section in the throws, taking second in the shot put at 44-8 and fourth in the discus at 114-2.
Other section qualifiers: Fleming, third, 400, 54.54; Cole, third, 1600, 4:55.44; Brady Agrimson, third, 300 hurdles, 43.3; Nathanial Techau, third, shot put, 42-2.5.
“Finishing four and taking seven athletes to the section meet exceeded our expectations,” said coach Duey Ferber.
Other NRHEG places that did not advance: Agro Gushwa, fifth, 400, 56.47, fifth, high jump, 5-8, and eighth, 200, 25.36; Schlaak fifth, 800, 2:07.78; Agrimson, fifth, high jump, 5-8, seventh, 110 hurdles, 17.9, and seventh, triple jump, 36-11.5; 4x200, fifth, 1:42.42 (Aaron Seath, Mason Ferber, Lucas Hermann, Jerrett Utpadel); 4x100, seventh, 49.74 (Seath, Ferber, Hermann, Utpadel); Cole, seventh, long jump, 17-2.5.
The Section 2A meet is Saturday, June 4 at Mankato West High School.