Panthers track and field open season in 2nd
NRHEG junior Will Tuttle flies over the hurdles during the 55-meter high hurdles event at Minnesota State University, Mankato last week. Tuttle won the event with a time of 7.83 before going on to win the 55-meter intermediate hurdles and triple jump as well. PHOTO COURTESY ELI LUTGENS, NRHEG STAR EAGLE
NRHEG’s boys and girls track and field teams kicked off the 2023 season by taking second place over a two-day event held last week at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
The boys team was narrowly edged out 148-120 by JWP while the Panthers’ girls team took second place with 89 points behind JWP’s 172.
“We saw some nice performances tonight and it felt good to be out competing again. The boys team had six first-place and four second-place finishes for a good start to the season. The girls were a bit short-handed due to a band and choir trip,” said NRHEG head coach Duey Ferber.
Both teams highlighted multiple winners, with athletes Will Tuttle and Quinn VanMaldeghem leading the pack for their squads.
Tuttle finished with three wins, topping the podium in the 55-meter high hurdles, 55-meter intermediate hurdles, and the triple jump.
The junior breezed over the hurdles with times of 7.83 and 8.18 seconds and jumped past the pack with a distance of 37-1.5 in the triple jump.
Also winning for the NRHEG boys were Sawyer Prigge in the 55-meter dash (6.82), Devin Nelton in the 1,600-meter race (5:38.97), and Jaylin Raab in the long jump (19 feet, six inches).
Earning second-place finishes for the Panthers were Raab in the 55-meter dash (6.84), Connor Nelson in the 800-meter race (2:26.26), Lucas Hanna in the shot put (38-11.25), and Prigge in the high jump (5-10).
Meanwhile, VanMaldeghem dominated for the girls team by winning the 1,600-meter individual event and participating as a part of NRHEG’s first-place 4x400 relay team.
The freshman and 2022 state participant, no stranger to the top of the podium, crushed the 1,600-meter race with a time of 5:51.60, while also contributing to the 4x400 team’s time of 4:54.18.
Anika Ladlie was the lone other winner for the girls team with a winning height of five feet in the high jump.
Taking second place for the girls team were Malonna Wilson in the shot put (29-7) and Josie Strom in the triple jump (29-3.5).
Both teams will travel to Hayfield High School next for a meet on Tuesday, April 4 a 4:30 p.m. start.