The THS co-ed track team stepped up its game in Saturday’s Northland Pines’ ‘Border Battle.’
The girls locked down the title despite the presence of several traditionally strong teams and the boys gave a more-than-solid performance and placed third in the eight-team meet.
“We were able to get times and distances from all of our athletes this week and participate in a high level meet, which gave our top athletes some needed challenges,” THS coach John Zuelsdorf said. “It was a plus for our girls to take their second team invitational title on Saturday, somewhat unexpected with the challenges the larger schools from DC Everest, Ashland, and Houghton presented.
“We tried some different race combinations for some of our athletes to see how they handled it and to work on their mental toughness. We were pleased with the way our athletes competed and how they handled their competition this week.”
The girls posted 1-2 finishes in two events and won three others outright. Kellan Flynn (31’1.5″) and Sam Schade (29′ 6″) led the shot put and Marlee Kiander (:09.68) and Kayli Ogstad (:09.85) paced 55M high hurdles. Rachel Sudbury was a double winner in the 800 (2:25.92) and 3200 (12:35.06) and Rachael Miller backed her up in the latter with a third (12:54.65). The 1600 relay team of Flynn, Kiander, Sudbury and E. Miller earned the other win in 4:30.09.
Other runner-up finishes came from Ogstad (LJ, 16′ 4″); Flynn (HJ, 5′ 0″0; Grace Mickelson (PV, 8′ 0″); Breanna Renn (200, :30.38); the 800 team (Flynn, Katie Koth, Emmy Larson, Ogstad, 2:00.49); and the 3200 squad (R. Miller, Kelsey Renn, Amanda Koshak, Emily Miller, 11:03. 90). Also placing third were: Koshak (1600, 6:04.93); E. Miller (400, 1:09.83); and Kiander (200 IH, :33.39).
The boys were paced by a win from Peter Pintens in the pole vault with a PR-tying 11′ 0″. Eddie Yirsa (:24.99) and Dan Galloy (:25.09) went 2-3 in the 200M, and Austin Bellile (TJ, 38′ 11.5) and the 800M group (Yirsa, Galloy, Ben Yirsa, Jacob Ungerer (1:43.27) were runners-up. Ranking third were Bryan Tomek (800, 2:07.46/3200, 10:57.03), Galloy (55, :06.95) and the 1600 team (E. Yirsa, Bellile, Ungerer, Neko McMahon, 3:56.59).
“The vault has been one area where we’ve been struggling to get points in recent years,” Zuelsdorf said. “It’s a real boost for the team to be able to count on points from the vault this year. Our vaulters are off to a great start!”
Other top-six finishes from the boys came from: Bellile (4th, 400, :56.40); Connor Ahrens (5th, 3200, 11:09.54/6th, 1600,5:04.50); McMahon (6th, 200 IH, :30.93); B. Yirsa (6th, 55 HH, :09.37); and the 3200 team (Nate Flohr, Jacob McGuire, Dakota Tomek, Jacob Kaiser, 10:11.78).
Additional top-six finishes from the girls were turned in by: Haley FauFau (4th, SP, 28′ 9.5″); Larson (5th, TJ, 30′ 1″/6th, 55, :08.35); K. Renn (5th, 1600, 6:25.20); and McKena Viegut (6th, TJ, 29′ 10″).
Team standings-Girls-Tomahawk 163, D.C.E. 137, Houghton 75, Rhinelander 63, Wabeno 54, Ironwood 41.5, N. Pines 34.5, Ashland 32……Boys-D.C.E. 170, Ashland 121, Tomahawk 91, N. Pines 80, Houghton 74, Rhinelander 42, Ironwood 39, Wabeno 0.