By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The 34th and final season for Duey Ferber as a head track and field coach is not quite finished.
Three NRHEG High School girls extended their season for another week, qualifying for the state meet out of Saturday's Section 2A comptition at Mankato.
While state qualifiers Evelyn Nydegger, Quinn VanMaldeghem and Malonna Wilson provided the biggest highlights, the entire NRHEG girls' contingent shined, finishing a strong third with 56 points. River Valley won with 87 and JWP was second with 67. Twenty-three teams scored.
"Holy smokes," said Ferber. "What a great meet!"
Nydegger, a recent graduate, secured her state berth with a second-place finish in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, in which she clocked 47.48 seconds.
Another graduate, Wilson, finished first in the shot put with a mark of 35 feet, 6 inches.
VanMaldeghem, who recently completed her sophomore year, placed second in the 400 with a time of 1:00.11.
"To send three girls to state is quite a feat," said Ferber. "This is a tough section!"
Kylie Olson came oh so close to advancing, taking third in the shot put at 34-11.5. Wilson tossed the discus 104-5 for third place. Nydegger was fourth in the 100 hurdles in 16.37.
Quinn and Camryn VanMeldghem teamed with Sierra Misgen and Clara Buendorf for sixth in the 4x400 relay in 4:24.75. Chloie Riewer, Buendorf, Misgen and Ellie Clark took sixth in the 4x200 in 1:52.21. Riewer, Anika Ladlie, Gabby Schlaak and C.VanMeldghem were seventh in the 4x100, clocking 53.72.
Also placing for the girls: Anika Ladlie, 7th, high jump, 4-9; Julieann Wobbrock, 7th, 3200, 13:08.4; Schlaak, 9th, high jump, 4-9; Riewer, 9th, long jump, 15-2.5; Camryn VanMaldeghem, 8th, 100, 13.5.
"I'm very proud of these young ladies," said Ferber.
The NRHEG boys tied for 21st among 23 teams with nine points.
The biggest disappointment for the Panthers was the absence of their top entrant, senior hurdler Will Tuttle, who was injured in the sub-section meet and was unable to compete.
The top finisher for NRHEG was senior Jaylin Raab, who went 19-8 for fourth in the long jump.
Harbor Cromwell, Levin Kitzer, Parker Bunn and Raab took sixth in the 4x100 in 46.8. Kitzer was eighth in the 110 high hurdles in 21.88, and Parker Bunn finished ninth in the 300 hurdles in 45.5.
LCWM-Nicollet won the boys' division with 75 points. Windom Area was next with 67.
"Our boys had a tough day with stiff competition," said Ferber. "Levin had a great prelim in the 110 hurdles, but fell in the finals. Jaylin jumped well, but finished fourth. I'm proud of these boys!"
The state meet is Thursday-Saturday at St. Michael-Albertville High School.