By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
It's not all that often that a NRHEG girls' track and field team finishes first in the NRHEG Invitational. That honor has, more often that not, gone to Albert Lea.
Not this year.
The NRHEG girls totaled 100 points, edging Albert Lea by eight, to capture the title Thursday, May 4. WEM totaled 83.5, Maple River 45.5, Mankato Loyola 44.
"It was a great night for our Lady Panthers," said NRHEG coach Duey Ferber. "First place is always nice."
The Panthers garnered five firsts, two by Quinn VanMaldeghem who won the 1600 in 5:44.59 and the 800 in 2:34.20. Evelyn Nydegger clocked 17.56 seconds for first in the 100 high hurdles, and Anika Ladlie cleared 5 feet to win the high jump. Keira Lenort, Sierra Misgen, Clara Buendorf and VanMaldeghem teamed for first in the 4x400 relay in 4:44.17.
Nydegger tripped on a hurdle and did not finish the 300 hurdles.
"She should be good for True Team," said Ferber.
Other Lady Panther placewinners: Malonna Wilson, 2nd, shot put; Lauren Cowell, 2nd, discus and 4th, shot put; Josie Strom, 2nd, triple jump and 4th, 100; Gabby Schlaak, 2nd, high jump, 5th, 300 hurdles and 6th, 100 hurdles; 4x100 relay, 2nd (Strom, Bartness, Schlaak, Paige Johnson); McKenzie Mueller, 3rd, discus; 4x800, 3rd (Elis Aronson, Sierra Misgen, Holly Bartness, Winter Pederson); Misgen, 4th, long jump; Johnson, 4th, 100 and 5th, long jump; Lenort, 4th, 200 and 5th, high jump; Olivia Kofstad, 5th, triple jump; 4x200, 5th (Misgen, Buendorf, Orianna Degen, Ladlie); Ladlie, 5th, 200; Buendorf, 6th, long jump.
Maple River's boys were impressive in taking first with 162 points, followed by Albert Lea with 106, NRHEG 65, Loyola 31, WEM 10.
"The boys had some serious competition tonight," said Ferber. "Maple River is very good, and Albert Lea has a nice team."
Will Tuttle continued to shine in the hurdle races, winning the 110 highs in 16.35 and the 300 intermediates in 42.65. He was third in the triple jump. Jaylin Raab won the long jump at 20-6.
"Will Tuttle continues to impress," said Ferber. "He, with the help of coach Kim Schlaak, has had an amazing season in the hurdles. Jaylin was having a good meet until he hurt his ankle on his final long jump of the night. He will be questionable for True Team."
Other places for the boys: 4x100, 2nd (Aiden Deyle, Sawyer Prigge, Tuttle, Raab); Lucas Hanna, 3rd, shot put; Prigge, 3rd, high jump; Raab, 3rd, 100; 4x400, 3rd (Deyle, Prigge, Harbor Cromwell, Conner Nelson; Levin Kitzer, 4th, 110 hurdles; 4x200, 4th (Parker Bunn, Kitzer, Cromwell, Cohen Riewer); Bunn, 4th, 300 hurdles; Cromwekll, 5th, pole vault; 4x800, 5th (Devon Nelton, Jacob Karl, Charlie Fuller, Nelson); Deyle, 5th, 200; Karl, 5th, 3200; Fuller, 6th, triple jump.
The Panthers competed in True Team section Tuesday at USC. They return to USC for the Gopher Conference meet Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m.