Boys, girls take second behind JWP
By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The NRHEG track and field teams opened the season with the USC/AC Indoor Invitational at Minnesota State-Mankato Monday, March 27.
The Panther boys and girls turned in a strong performance, both finishing second to JWP.
JWP won the boys' meet with 148 points, followed by NRHEG with 120, GFW 88, WWG/RRC 63 and USC/AC 9.
Will Tuttle was the high point man for the Panthers, winning three events. He took the 55-meter high hurdles in 7.83 seconds, the 55 intermediate hurdles in 8.18 and the triple jump at 37-1.5. Notably the triple jump was Tuttle’s first experience in the event. Coming into the meet he was not expected to compete in the triple jump.
“For someone who's never competed in the triple jump, that was a really, really good performance,” NRHEG Coach Duey Ferber said.
The rest of NRHEG firsts were by Sawyer Prigge, 55 dash, 6.82; Devin Nelton, 1600, 5:38.97; and Jaylin Raab, long jump, 19-6.
Other places: Raab, second, 55, 6.84; Prigge, second, high jump, 5-10; Conner Nelson, second, 800, 2:26.26; Lucas Hanna, second, shot put, 38-11.25; Aidan Deyle, third, 200, 25.75; 4x200 relay, third, 1:52.86 (Parker Bunn, Levin Kitzer, Logan Scheill, Gavin Sletten; Kitzer, fourth, 55 high hurdles, 9.47 and fourth, 55 intermediate hurdles, 9.29; Bunn, fifth, 55 highs, 9.60 and fifth, 55 intermediates, 9.36; Sletten, fifth, 800, 2:33.57; Nelson, fifth, pole vault, 8-6.
"We saw some nice performances tonight," said Ferber. "It felt good to be out competing again. Six first places and two second-place finishes is a good way to start the season."
JWP ran away with the girls title with 189 points. Following were NRHEG with 89, USC/AC 65, GFW 65 and WWG/RRC 50.
Taking first for NRHEG were Quinn VanMaldeghem, 1600, 5:51.6; Anika Ladlie, high jump, 5-0; and the 4x400 relay, 4:54.18 (Kiera Lenort, Sierra Misgen, VanMaldeghem, Clara Buendorf).
Malonna Wilson was second in the triple jump at 29-7 and Josie Strom second in the shot put at 29-3.5.
Others: Misgen, third, 400, 1:10.8 fourth, long jump, 12-6 and sixth, 55 dash, 8.24; Paige Johnson, third, 200, 31.69 and third, long jump, 13-9; 4x200 relay, third, 2:17.32 (Kyra Spies, Winter Pederson, Orianna Degen, Anika Ladlie); Makenzie Mueller, fourth, shot put, 26-10; Lenort, fourth, high jump, 4-4 and fifth, 400, 1:11.67; Buendorf, fifth, 400, 1:12.28 and fifth, long jump, 12-0.75.
"We had some nice performances by the girls tonight," said Ferber. "We were a little shorthanded because of the band/choir trip. It's nice to have an indoor meet while there's still snow on the ground."