The Osakis and Minnewaska girls track and field teams competed against the deepest programs in their class on Saturday in Stillwater as Minnewaska (558.5) finished third and Osakis (360) was ninth at the Class A state true team meet.
Grand Meadow-LeRoy-Ost/Kings won the team title with 568.5 points, and Luverne was a close second at 564.5.
“Before the meet, we talked about the opportunity that we have to compete at this level,” Osakis head coach Lee VanNyhuis said. “Not every person or team has that opportunity. We talked about how it would be a disservice to those that want to be in our position if we didn't give it everything that we had. I truly feel we did that. Being able to say that we are the ninth best track and field team in the state is something these girls should be very proud of.”
Junior Kiley Kranz had Osakis’ top individual finish as she took third in the shot put and added a fourth-place finish in the discus. Eighth-grader Bella Weisser took fourth in the triple jump, and Osakis’ 4x800 relay team of Ally Boyer, Hatti Schmidtbauer, Lexi Spychalla, and Kaia Fiskness also finished fifth.
“The seniors did a great job of leading this team,” VanNyhuis said. “Hatti and Mara (VanNyhuis) had their best times of the season (4x800 split for Hatti, and both hurdles for Mara), along with Lexi (Spychalla) running a tough triple and high jumping.”
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Osakis had a lot of young athletes getting their first taste of a state meet, and coach VanNyhuis was proud of how they stepped up.
“We had to make multiple switches in events, and the alternates did a great job,” he said. “Some of those girls weren't used to competing at big meets. Even though they were young and/or inexperienced at competing on a big stage, they didn't blink. They did exactly what was asked of them. That was huge. That's what good teammates do.”
Minnewaska stayed within striking distance of winning a true team title behind six runner-up finishes. Eighth-grader Olivia Danielson had two of those individually in the 800- and 1600-meter runs. McKenzie Luetmer was second in the 400-meter dash. The Lakers’ 4x100, 4x200 and 4x800 relay teams all finished as the runner-up as well.
GIRLS CLASS A STATE TRUE TEAM MEET
TEAM SCORES - Grand Meadow-LeRoy-Ost/Kings - 568.5; Luverne - 564.5; Minnewaska - 558.5; Lanesboro/FillmoreC/Mabel Canton - 453; Paynesville - 451.5; Concordia Academy-Roseville - 434.5; Jackson County Central - 418; Lake City - 378; Osakis - 360; Pierz - 352; Canby-Minneota - 314.5; West Marshall Fusion - 281
OSAKIS RESULTS - 100 DASH - Kiana Kendall - 13th, 13.67; Shiann Holmquist - 14.74; 200 DASH - Kiana Kendall - 12th, 28.24; Addison Roering - 29.89; 400 DASH - Kaelyn Walker - 15th, 1:06.56; Ally Boyer - 18th, 1:07.15; 800 RUN - Bella Weisser - 12th, 2:37.72; Lexi Spychalla - 18th, 2:41.44; 1600 RUN - Kaia Fiskness - eighth, 5:45.27; Bella Weisser - ninth, 5:45.74; 3200 RUN - Katie Collins - 21st, 14:41.03; Larissa Hoffarth - 23rd, 15:09.02; 100 HURDLES - Mara VanNyhuis - 10th, 17.83; Bria Hoffarth - 24th, 20.67; 300 HURDLES - Mara VanNyhuis - seventh, 51.52; Bria Hoffarth - 24th, 1:00.34; 4x100 - Shiann Holmquist, Hailey Walker, Mara VanNyhuis, Kaelyn Walker - 10th, 54.93; 4x200 RELAY - Addison Roering, Kaelyn Walker, Hailey Walker, Kiana Kendall - 10th, 1:54.85; 4x400 RELAY - Ally Boyer, Lexi Spychalla, Addison Roering, Kaia Fiskness - sixth, 4:28.46; 4x800 RELAY - Ally Boyer, Hatti Schmidtbauer, Lexi Spychalla, Kaia Fiskness - fifth, 10:48.25; SHOT PUT - Kiley Kranz - third, 37-06; Madison Douvier - sixth, 33-07.25; DISCUS - Kiley Kranz - fourth, 111-08; Mara VanNyhuis - 11th, 94-01; HIGH JUMP - Kaia Fiskness - 13th, 4-06; Lexi Spychalla - 21st, 4-02; POLE VAULT - Eva Van Acker - t-12th, 7-00; Emma Nobles - t-12th, 7-00; LONG JUMP - Kiana Kendall - ninth, 15-02; Kaelyn Walker - 19th, 14-05.25; TRIPLE JUMP - Bella Weisser - fourth, 32-01; Bria Hoffarth - 24th, 25-05
MINNEWASKA FINISHERS - Emily Kaiser - sixth, 13.28; Mya Lindemann - ninth, 13.59; 200 DASH - Emily Kaiser - seventh, 27.82; Mya Lindemann - 14th, 28.41; 400 DASH - McKenzie Luetmer - second, 59.63; Teagan Stark - 12th, 1:05.16; 800 RUN - Olivia Danielson - second, 2:23.97; Makena Thoen - 13th, 2:38.42; 1600 RUN - Olivia Danielson - second, 5:20.36; Lauryn Ankeny - fifth, 5:39.84; 3200 RUN - Kiearra Wilmes - sixth, 12:54.23; Sydnie Chevalier - seventh, 12:57.15; 100 HURDLES - Ava Chevalier - fifth, 17.49; Emma Kovarik - seventh, 17.68; 300 HURDLES - Emma Kovarik - sixth, 51.06; Dacia Fleury - ninth, 52.07; 4x100 RELAY - second, 52.99; 4X200 RELAY - fourth, 1:52.66; 4x400 RELAY - Minnewaska - second, 4:11.58; 4x800 RELAY - second, 10:11.69; SHOT PUT - Jayda Kolstoe - ninth, 30-04.25; Olivia Danielson - 14th, 28-10.50; DISCUS - Jayda Kolstoe - seventh, 103-10; Olivia Danielson - 13th, 84-06; HIGH JUMP - Ava Chevalier - 11th, 4-06; Sydnie Chevalier - 17th, 4-04; POLE VAULT - Kendra Wilmes - 12th, 7-00; Phemie Oeltjen - 17th, 7-00; LONG JUMP - Brooklyn Meyer - 13th, 14-09.75; Mya Lindemann - 17th, 14-06; TRIPLE JUMP - Emma Kovarik - fifth, 31-11.75; McKenzie Luetmer - 15th, 30-05
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