Tuesday night was the first of two home meets for the Minnewaska track and field teams this week. The Lakers took care of business in the five-team field, and head coach Jennifer Johnsrud is happy her athletes are staying on course for later success.
"I think we had a good day," Johnsrud said. "The wind was a little bit of a factor on the home stretch, but the kids handled it well."
Down the final straightaway, heavy winds gusted against the runners as they crossed the finish line.
"It plays a huge factor, especially when it's on the home stretch," Johnsrud said. "I think it makes a big difference on where their times would've been. Temperature-wise, it was perfect. We could've done without the wind."
ADVERTISEMENT
The Minnewaska girl rolled on Tuesday– scoring 290.5 team points. Kristen Glover won the 400-yard dash with a time of 1:04.45, while MaKenzie Luetmer took second in the 800 (2:35.08). Glover and Luetmer ran with Olivia Danielson and Ava Chevalier in the first-place 4x400-yard relay 4:22.93.
"They continue to improve with each meet," Johnsrud said. "They're running really well. They're also triple jumping really well. It has been really good for our team for those two to lead by example so far."
Johnsrud has also been impressed with Emily Kaiser. She took third in the 100-yard dash (28.85). She also ran in the 4x100 (56.65) and 4x200-yard relays (1:58.00) with Mya Lindemann, Maise Jordan, Brooklyn Meyer and Emma Kvorak. Both relays took second place.
"She placed in the 100 and 200 at the state meet two years ago," Johnsrud said. "She's starting to come around now that we're at midseason. We're seeing those times drop. We also have girls like Mya Lindemann, who was in junior high two years ago. She has been running really well in the 100 and 200 for us."
Lindemann won the 100-yard dash with a time of 14.26 and took second in the 200 (28.61).
On the boys side, freshman Maeson Tank is having a breakout season. He's part of Minnewaska's young core as he anchored the first-place 4x400-yard relay (3:46.99).
"He's leading the pack for distance runners," Johnsrud said. "Anything from the 400 to the mile he's been really strong in so far. He's coming off a really strong cross country season and has a ton of potential to continue improving as he gets older."
ADVERTISEMENT
Earlier this season, senior Peyton Johnsrud broke the school record in the high jump in Morris at 6-feet, 9-inches. On Thursday, his twin brother Connor broke the school triple jump record (44-06).
"For kids to hit those milestones this early in the season, it really surpassed our expectations," coach Johnsrud said. "You hope kids can still perform that well at the end of the season."
Johnsrud wants her athletes to be at their best at the end of the season, and she believes they're headed in the right direction.
"On the girls side of things, they have a lot of confidence," Johnsrud said. "They had a very strong season two years ago. You get the sense they have the mentality of wanting to do that again. They're driven to do that. We haven't had the opportunity to see as many teams at this point, but each meet, they're excited to compete against new teams and see where they stack up against other strong athletes."
BOYS TEAM SCORES
1st- Minnewaska 166.92, 2nd- A-B-E 151.25, 3rd- Holdingford- 108.25, 4th- Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 99, 5th- Browerville-Eagle Valley 66.25
ADVERTISEMENT
GIRLS TEAM SCORES
1st- Minnewaska 290.5, 2nd- Holdingford 151.50, 3rd- Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 96, 4th- A-B-E 69.50, 5th- Browerville-Eagle Valley 1.5
MINNEWASKA GIRLS TOP THREE FINISHERS
100Y DASH- 2nd- Mya Lindemann 14.26; 200Y DASH- 2nd- Lindemann 28.61; 3rd- Emily Kaiser 28.85; 400Y DASH- 1st- Kristen Glover 1:04.45; 2nd- Teagan Stark 1:05.00; 800Y RUN- 1st- Olivia Danielson 2:32.00; 2nd- MaKenzie Luetmer 2:35.08; 3rd- Stark 2:50.62; 100Y RUN- 2nd- Lauren Ankeny 5:56.00; 3200Y RUN- 1st- Kiearra Wimes 13:11.00; 2nd- Sydney Hagen 13:24.00; 3rd- Elsey Hagen 13:39.00; 100Y HURDLES- 1st- Ava Chevalier 17.76; 2nd- Emma Kovarik 18.02; 300Y HURDLES- 2nd- Kovarik 51.86, 3rd- Chevalier 53.23; 4X100Y RELAY- T2nd- Mya Lindemann, Masie Jordan, Brooklyn Meyer, Emily Kaiser 56.65; 4X200Y RELAY- 2nd- Luetmer, Jordan, Kovarik, Kaiser 1:58.00; 4X400Y RELAY- 1st- Danielson, Chevalier, Glover, Luetmer 4:22.93; 4X800Y RELAY- 1st- Ankeny, Danielson, Glover, Makena Thoen 10:29.00; HIGH JUMP- 1st- Addyson Kath 8-00; T2nd- Chevalier 6-00; POLE VAULT- 1st- Stephanie Langman 7-00; 3rd- Phemie Oeltjen 6-00; TRIPLE JUMP- 1st- Glover 32-03; SHOT PUT- 1st- Mataya Jergenson 29-05; DISCUS- 1st- Jergenson 111-10;
MINNEWASKA BOYS TOP THREE FINISHERS
200Y DASH- 3rd- DeShon Boyd 26.43; 400Y DASH- 1st- Noah Danielson 55.40; 3rd- Isaac Koenig 58.53; 800Y RUN- 2nd- Colby Sorenson 2:17.56; 1600Y RUN- 1st- Maeson Tank 5:09.00; 3rd- Colby Sorenson 5:27.00; 3200Y RUN- James Ward 13:05.00; 4X100Y RELAY- Gage Rogers, Zach Morton, Isaac Meyer, Boyd 2nd- 49.47; 4X200Y-RELAY 3rd- Morton, Rogers, Boyd, Meyer 1:46.33; 4X400Y RELAY- 1st- Danielson. Sorenson, Koenig, Tank 3:46.99; 4X800Y RELAY- 1st- Danielson, Connor Nester, Koenig, Tank 9:29.00; HIGH JUMP- 3rd- Danielson 4-00; LONG JUMP- 1st- Connor Johnsrud 19-03; TRIPLE JUMP- 1st- Connor Johnsrud 42-08;
