Track and Field: 41 Area Athletes Make State

It was a busy and successful Section 1A Meet for “Journal-covered” track and field programs GM-LOKS, Chatfield, LFCMC, Rushford-Peterson/Houston, and Caledonia /Spring Grove. They combined for 41 state entrants.

Behind Reilands, Foster, and Galle, GMLOKS Girls Win Team Title 

Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Kingsland/Southland’s section track and field experience was not perfect. Their best athlete, a state contender, was disqualified and thus missed out on one state opportunity. A senior ended up less than an inch away from state. But the Bulldogs got multiple state berths from Anika Reiland, Chantle Reiland, Lexy Foster, Breeley Galle, and Garrison Hubka, two relays qualified for state, and a first-year track and field athlete went from zero to state in a couple months. It was still had a good day. Senior Anika Reiland’s 1A Meet experience did not start the best. After qualifying second in the 100 (12.52), and after a timing issue delayed the start of the finals race, she was disqualified for a false start. Reiland was the defending 1A champ and state third place finisher. But the credentialled sprinter then broke (25.34) her own 1A Meet record (25.57 from last year) in the 200-meters in capturing that title over D-E’s Taylor Kurtz (25.56). Reiland was champ last year and in 2021 (25.79). Teammate Chantle Reiland (26.21) took fourth and qualified for state on standard (26.28). In the 100, with Anika out, Chantle (12.74) took home the section title over Kurtz (12.78). The sophomore tied the 1A Meet record in the prelims (15.50), where she qualified first. Breeley Galle took advantage of a fall in the 300-hurdles to claim that title. The frosh (47.62) topped LC/H’s Emily Ludwig (47.74). Galle made state as 300-H runner-up last year (also helped by a fall). Reiland, Reiland, and Galle joined with Lydia Redman to repeat as 4×200 relay champs (1:45.19), topping Chatfield (1:45.99). In the prelims (1:44.42), the girls broke the 1A Meet record set by GMLOKS circa-2018 (1:44.54) when A-Reiland was a seventh grader. Galle added two other high finishes (4th Triple Jump > 34’2 ¾”, 6th 100-hurdles > 17.51). C-Reiland’s Long Jump finish (7th > 16’3”) gave her four top sevens. Thrower Lexy Foster continued her reign as 1A’s top thrower. Last year’s Discus (116’) and Shot Put (36’10 ½”) champion repeated. Foster topped RPH’s Sydney Torgerson in the discus 123’9” to 120’, and in the shot 39’11 ¼” to 37’5 ¼”, to double-qualify again. Garrison Hubka won the 1,600-meters (4:35.16) over Pine Island’s Brandt Konik (4:37.15) for his third 1-mile state qualification. He was 1A runner-up in 2021 (4:37.23) and 2022 (4:30.58). He joined with Andrew Imm, Carter Glynn, and Tate Georgen to help the 4×800 relay make state. They set the program record (8:05.34) in taking second to

LFCMC (8:04.54). First-year high jumper Sam Snitker finished fourth (6’2”), but qualified for state on standard (6’2”). Senior Kendyl Queensland took third in the Triple Jump (35’5 ½”), a half-an-inch from state standard (35’6”). Sister Lauren Queensland tied for third in the High Jump (4’10”). Second-place was 5’0”. The boys 4×200 (1:34.01 > Beau Wiersma, Kaaleem Reiland, Zach Reiland, Ayden Howard) took third. Lucca Sween had two top five finishes (4th Shot > 46’9”, 5th Discus 135’4”). Gracie Foster (100-H > 17:09) and Zach Reiland (300-H > 42.08) each took fourth. Foster had the second fastest qualifying time (16.65). The boys 4×100 (44.49 > K-Reiland, Wiersma, Kale Mensink, Cam Ruechel) took fourth. Team-wise, the girls (123.75) topped Chatfield (70.75) and RPH (70) for the title. The guys took fourth (of 21).

Sprint Relays Lead the Way for Chatfield 

Chatfield’s track and field teams pulled off a difficult feat. The boys and girls 4×100 and 4×200 teams each qualified for state. Those super-speedy Chatfield guys were the headliner, maybe of the whole meet. The 4×100 (Isaac Erding, Eli Hopp, Thad Evans, Sam Backer) took second (43.65) to Lourdes (43.46) in the prelims, but topped (43.04) the Eagles (43.34) in the finals by simply tying the 1A Meet record (43:04) from 1984 (Lyle/Pacelli). The same four guys also qualified second (1:31.42) to C/SG (1:31.04) in the 4×200 prelims, only to top (1:29.79) the Warriors (1:29.86) in the finals. Chatfield bested, and C/SG tied, LFCMC’s 1A meet record (1:29.86) set in 2009. Two races, two meet and school records for Erding-Hopp-Evans-Backer Incorporated. They repeated as 1A champs in both races. Backer also did his thing individually. He snagged the 100-meter crown (11:09) over Z-M’s R.J. Sylak (11.34). It is Backer’s third straight 100-meter title (11.10, 11.17, 11.09 in sequence). Hopp added a fourth place (200 > 23.10). On the girls front, the 4×100 (Lauryn Daniels, Savannah Peterson, Evy Goldsmith, Jaelyn LaPlante) took home the title (49.78) over Lourdes (49.94). Chatfield was third in qualifying (50.17). The same foursome also took second (1:45.99) to GMLOKS (1:45.19) in the 4×200 to reach state twice. LaPlante added two other high finishes (3rd-tie H-Jump > 4’10”, 6th 200 > 26.54), as 5’0” made state in the H-Jump. Joining Backer in making state individually was Aletta Strande. The senior took second (11:54.33) to Cotter’s Sonja Semling (11:46.47) in the 3,200-meters. Strande was a state cross country qualifier in the fall. Blake Thompson had two top six finishes (3rd Shot > 47’0 ½”, 6th Discus > 126’6”). He was three inches behind second (47’3 ½”) in the Shot. The girls 4×800 (10:07.36 > Peyton Ellis, Sydney Ellis, Strande, Lexi Kivimagi) took third. Treyten Lanning (800 > 2:01.91) and L-Kivimagi (1,600 > 5:39.61) each took fourth. Charlotte Oeltjen (3,200 > 12:30.7) took fifth. Chatfield’s girls team (70.75) was meet runner-up to GMLOKS (123.75). Coach Jeff DeBuhr was named Section 1A Coach of the Year.

Runner-Up Boys Brigade Carries Cal/SG Torch

Caledonia/Spring Grove’s section 1A track and field exploits centered almost exclusively around the exploits of its guys. The Warriors had a pair of section champions in Tysen Grinde and Josh Beardmore. Grinde, in his first year of track and field, won the High Jump, going 6’4”. Caledonia sophomore Ethan Stendel leapt 6’2”, taking fifth place, qualifying by standard. Grinde added two other high finishes (3rd T-Jump > 40’6 ½”, 6th L-Jump > 20’5 ½”). Beardmore won the Long Jump (21’9 ¼”) over PI’s Michael Goodman (21’8”). He (11.42) also took third in the 100 behind Chatfield’s Sam Backer (11.09) and Z-M’s R.J. Sylak (11.34). The boys 4×200 (Owen Staggemeyer, Beardmore, Fischer Wait, Eric Mauss) took second (1:29.86) to Chatfield (1:29.79) to make state, as each team beat or tied LFCMC’s 1A meet record (1:29.86) set in the 2009. C/SG beat Chatfield in the prelims.

The Warrior 4×100 (Jason Schock, O-Staggemeyer, Beardmore, Mauss) took third (44.14) to Chatfield (43.04) and Lourdes (43.34) but qualified for state on standard (44.25). Beardmore, a junior, thus was just short of qualifying for state in four events. Fischer Wait took third (50.24) in the 400 behind Z-M’s Sylak (49.2) and Cotter’s Luke Gardner (49.81), but qualified for state on standard, giving the Warriors three individuals/teams that did so. Wait also took third in the 200 (22.87) behind second place Jesse Ortiz (22.84) of Medford, while Mauss took fifth (23.48) in the event. Finally, thrower Jordan Tornstrom took second (141’11”) to LFCMC’s Lucas Nikoloski (142’3”) in the discus to earn a trip to state. C/SG’s boys (103) took second to Pine Island (147) team-wise. Of the 11 Warrior boys to compete at the meet, eight made state. C/SG had just one state qualifier last year (Chris Pieper). The top C/SG girl’s finisher was the fifth place 4×100 relay (52.19 > Kloe Jore, Charlese Walk, Ayshia Gay, Nicole Banse).

Double Qualifiers and Repeat Qualifier  Headline Tro-Cane Athletes

RPH had five individuals and one relay make state. Four individuals did so in two events. Freshman Aubryana Boldt grabbed one of two section titles, winning the 100-hurdles (15.90) over LC/H’s Emily Ludwig (16.02). Boldt (35’10 ½”) also took second to Blooming Prairie’s Annaka Forsberg (36’) in the Triple Jump to grab a second spot at state. Fellow Houston athlete Sydney Torgerson pulled off a couple section runners-up. The senior took second (37’5 ¼”) to GMLOKS’ Lexy Foster in the Shot Put (37’5 ¼” to 39’11 ¼”) and again in the Discus (120’ to 123’9”) to double qualify for state. On the guys side, Quintin Betthauser pulled off the state hurdle double-dip. The sophomore took second (15.54) to St. Charles’ Christopher Hilton (14.88), in the 110-hurdles. Betthauser then took third (40.85) to Hilton (39.7) and Pine Island’s C.J. Tree (40.71) in the 300-hurdles, but made state on standard (41.24). Lauren Honken was the sole RP/H athlete to repeat qualify for state. After going last year as runner-up (9’4”) to LFCMC’s Addie Miner (9’10”) in the Pole Vault, Honken (10’2”) bested Miner (9’8”) to grab this year’s title. Dalton Hoel (1:59.28) was only topped by LFCMC’s Jayce Kiehne (1:58.53) in the 800-meters, as the senior grabbed a spot at state. The 4×800 (Ryan Prinsen, Tyler Betthauser, Matthew Sprague, Hoel) took fourth (8:17.25) to LFCMC (8:04.54), GMLOKS (8:05.34), and Pine Island (8:12.64), but qualified for state by standard (8:20.8). Hoel and the 4×8 set new school records. Prinsen (4th 3,200 > 10:29.94), Casey Herek (5th 110-H > 17:05), and Ashtyn Meyer (5th Discus > 106’10”) added top five finishes. Brielle Rasmussen had two top sevens (6th 100 > 13.42, 7th 200 > 26.72). RPH’s girls (70) took third as a team behind GMLOKS (123.75) and Chatfield (70.75).

800 The Key Number in  LFCMC’s Exploits

LFCMC track and field teams could be dialed via an 800-number at the 1A Meet, as the boys were highlighted by the 800 individual champion and the 4×800 team champion. Jayce Kiehne recovered from a hamstring injury in time to handle his second straight 800-meter section title. The junior (1:58.53) topped RPH’s Dalton Hoel (1:59.28) to punch a trip to state for a third straight year in the event. He teamed with Isaac Snyder, Luke Ruen, and Sam Springer (8:04.54) to capture the 4×800 title over GMLOKS (8:05.34). The Burros set a new school record. LFCMC’s 4×800 was section champ last year too (Springer taking Carson Ruen’s place). Luke Ruen is the youngest of five running Ruen siblings (Carson, Brielle, Bailey, Leah) who have all been parts of LFCMC state relay teams. Addie Miner joined Kiehne and the 4×800 in requalifying for state. For a second year, the top two Pole Vaulters were Miner and RPH’s Lauren Honken. Honken (10’2”) took first over Miner (9’8”) this year after Miner (9’8”) bested Honken (9’4”) last year. LFCMC’s third section champion was Lucas Nikoloski. The junior (142’3”) topped C/SG’s Jordan Tornstrom (141’11”) for the Discus crown. Finally, LFCMC’s biggest state surprise was probably guy vaulter Parker Storhoff. Seeded sixth coming in (10’8”), the senior P.R.’ed with a vault of 12’11” to take second behind Pine Island’s Sam Knox (14’0”). Storhoff also took sixth (11.78) in the 100. The girls 4×400 (4:10.4 > Miner, Kinley Soiney, Lillyan Kiehne, Kammry Broadwater) and the 4×800 (10:18.98 > Brooklyn Simon, Kiehne, Sahara Morken, Broadwater) each took fourth. Broadwater (4th Discus >113’7”, 7th T-Jump > 32’8”) added two solo top sevens. Former state qualifier senior Madison Simon (9’8”) and Boston Wright (12’5”) each took fourth in the Pole Vault. The boys 4×400 (3:31.1 > Springer, Snyder, Mason Howard, Ruen) took fifth.