When the Bluejays girls hosted a three-team track meet last Tuesday, the competition wasn’t abundant, but it was high quality.
Fresh off their spring break, the Merrill girls squared away with Valley perennial power D.C. Everest and GNC stalwart Mosinee.
Everest took down the title with 84 points, but the Merrill girls hung close with 66. Mosinee was held to 22.
“Tuesday’s meet resulted in many changes and unexpected events for many athletes,” MHS coach Bethany Martinovici. “This challenged the efforts of many and proved to be successful for some.
“We had several personal records and first time performances. Katelynn DeLosh and Larissa Jahnke raced for the first time in both of the hurdle events (200 hurdles and 50 hurdles). They were dedicated and although a couple of nicks occurred, they both finished with a great first experience and the opportunity to better their results for next time.
“Other first timers included McKenna Robbins in the long jump with a jump of 14′ 10-3/4″, Rachel Bayer in the 800, and Kennedy Soderberg in the 50 dash.”
The Jays’ best event turned out to be the 1600M, and featured a 1st, 3rd, 4th finish from Morgan Pettit (6:38.97), Rahael Romanowski (7:16.54) and Sarah Rantz (7:19.01).
Merrill took 1st and 4th in the triple jump with Morgan Marnholtz (35′ 1.75″) and Lauren Hojan (31′ 2.75″), and took the top two spots in the 3200 with Svetlana Heisinger (14:22.74) and Kate Williams (14:55.66).
More wins came in the 10-lap relay (Hannah Marrier, Hojan, Kaitlin Berry, Marnholtz, by 4 secs. in 4:21.21) and the 6-lap relay (Daneeca Stewart, McKenna Folz, Emily Gessler, Sierra Smith/2:31.62).
“Other top performances included the 4-by-4 relay consisting of Hannah Marrier, Lauren Hojan, Kaitlin Berry and Morgan Marnholtz,” Martinovici said. “Although there was a dropped baton, the team held it together and finished with a solid time. Hannah filled in as an alternate, and although nervous, became competitive when the race took off, running a 65-second split.
“The rest of the girls followed her lead all running under 70 seconds. We have many potential athletes and we are looking for the right group of girls to push their limits. This relay is looking more and more exciting each meet.
“We are anticipating finalizing our relays, and in the meantime, working on making our handoffs more fluid and consistent.”
The Jays grabbed places 2-4 in the high jump, all at 4′ 8″, with Hojan, Rylee Folz and Ashley Berton.
Additional runner-up finishes came from: Aubrey Wardall (shot put, 31′ 7″); Marrier (50 hurd., :08.81); the 4-lap relay (Marrier, Robbins, Finnell, Berry, 1:34.65); and the 20-lap team (Pettit, Romanowski, Jewell Charbeneau, Heisinger, 11:27.45).
Merrill ranked 3-4 in the: 200 LH (Hojan, :35.16/Christa Schleif, :36.84); 200M (Soderberg, :32.14/Cassandra Chism, :32.54); 400M (Mickenna Comstock, 1:20.15/Caylin McCarthy, 1:24.51) and 800 (Rachel Beyer, 3:13.77/ Stephanie Zengler, 3:27.90).
Other thirds were turned in by: Berry (50M, :7.25); the 4-lap (Stewart, R. Folz, Gessler, Smith, 1:39.28); the 20-lap (Sarah Ranta, Bayer, Comstock, Williams, 11:57.09).
Also rating 4th were: Berton (PV, 8′ 6″); and Robbins (LJ, 14′ 10.75″).