News editor
The Marion High School track and field teams both took second place in the Heart of America League meet Friday in Marion.
“The HOA is a very competitive track and field league and if we catch a break here or there, we might have been able to pull out a championship,” coach Grant Thierolf said.
Regional track is Friday at Phillipsburg. Field events will begin at 3 p.m.
Girls
Kristen Herzet had an outstanding day in the throwing events. She won discus by more than three feet with a throw of 95 feet, 5 inches. She also placed second in javelin with a personal record throw of 112-5 and sixth in shot put, 29-1.
“What a big day for her,” Thierolf said. “She works hard at her craft, and it is paying off for her.”
Molly Hess placed third in shot put, 31-2, a personal record.
Marissa Jacobson had a strong day jumping, winning triple jump, 35-4½, and placing third in long jump, 16-1½. Kelli Hess placed fifth in long jump, 15-0. Alicia Maloney and Erika Hess took the top spots in pole vault, vaulting 10-0 and 8-0, respectively.
Jacobson and Katey Ehrlich finished in third and fourth places in the 300-meter hurdles in 48.89 and 50.08 seconds.
Marshelle Mermis placed third in the 400-meter dash, 1:02.25, and sixth in the 200-meter dash, 28.15. McKenzee Remmers placed fourth in the 3,200-meter run, 13:41.85, and sixth in the 1,600-meter run, 6:10.51.
The girls scored points in all three relays, winning the 4x400-meters with Jacobson, Ehrlich, Kelli Hess, and Mermis finishing in 4:13.37. Remmers, Erika Hess, Kaylie Waner, and Kaelyn Thierolf combined for fourth in the 4x800-meters, 10:50.37. Emily Schneider, Kelli Hess, Ehrlich, and Maloney placed fifth in the 4x100-meters, 53.41.
Grant Thierolf complimented this year’s seniors — Maloney, Ehrlich, Kelli Hess, and Kaelyn Thierolf.
“Our senior girls have been such a big part of our track team for the past four years that no coach could be prouder of a group of young ladies,” he said. “(They) have represented our school so well that we are hoping that we can send them out with a couple of great days at regionals and state.”
Boys
James Jones led the boys’ team with 24 points, winning triple jump, 40-7, placing second in long jump, 20-5½, and placing third in 200-meter dash, 23.9 seconds.
Also in the jumps, Mason Pedersen placed fourth in long jump, 19-4, Nicholas Stuchlik tied for fifth in high jump, 5-6, and Seth Snelling and Tyler Neufeld placed third and fourth in pole vault, 12-0 and 11-0, respectively.
Pedersen placed third in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles, 16.09 and 43.24. Brad Stone placed fifth in the 300-meter hurdles, 44.04.
Neufeld was the runner-up in the 800-meter run, 2:11.05, and Snelling placed sixth in the 400-meter dash, 56.05.
As usual, the throwing events were a strength for Marion. Kyle Palic won discus with a personal record throw of 160-2. Nick Meyer also threw for a personal best of 153-9 to place third, and Morgan Wheeler placed sixth at 134-0.
John Nordquist placed second in javelin, 160-2, and Palic placed fourth, 144-11. Palic and Meyer placed second and third, respectively, in shot put, 45-7 and 45-4.
The 4x400-meter relay team of Neufeld, Snelling, Stone, and Jones placed third in 3:40.52. Tyler Arocha, Devin Regnier, Bryce Shults, and Stuchlik placed sixth in the 4x800-meter relay, 9:47.42.
Nordquist also volunteered to run the 3,200 in hopes of stealing a point or two that could have made a difference in the standings.
“What a sacrifice for the team and a true indicator of what being a teammate is all about,” Thierolf said.
Nordquist didn’t place, but he set a personal record in the 3,200. Also setting personal records were Pederson in the 110-meter hurdles and triple jump, Arocha in the 100 and 200-meter dashes, Taylor Fahey in the 3,200-meter run, and Snelling in pole vault.