Senior breaks record, wins three events in invitational

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Apparently, nobody talked to Carlie Wagner about peaking too early in the track and field season. Perhaps nobody needed to.

The senior was in midseason — if not postseason — form at the NRHEG Invitational last Thursday, setting a school record and winning three events as the Panthers took second in their only home meet of the season.

“The girls did a fantastic job tonight,” said NRHEG coach Duey Ferber. “It was a total team effort.”

But Wagner was the standout.

Headed to the University of Minnesota on a basketball scholarship, Wagner broke her own school record in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 7 inches for first place. Wagner won the 100-meter dash in 13.28 seconds and joined her freshman twin sisters, Maddie and Marnie, and freshman Gretchen Ramaker for first in the 4x200 in 1:54.3.

Other firsts for NRHEG: Hailey Schuller, 100 hurdles, 17.03; Abby Wacholz, triple jump, 31-3; Emily Eder, shot put, 29-9.5; 4x100 (Schuller, Wacholz, Marnie Wagner, Ramaker), 54.9; 4x400 (Kelly Harden, Wacholz, Maddie Wagner, Marnie Wagner), 4:54.2.

Other NRHEG placewinners: Katharine Lewer, second, 1600; Taylar Tieskotter, second, triple jump and sixth, 100; Harden, second, 800; Shantaya Olson, second, 3200 and sixth, 1600; Maddie Wagner, third, high jump and fourth, 100; Schuller, third, long jump and fourth, 300 hurdles; Sandra Quezada, fourth, 1600; Marnie Wagner, fourth, 300 hurdles; Aubrey Schlinger, fifth, 100; Eder, fifth, discus; Ramaker, fifth, long jump; Crystal Olson, fifth, 3200.

Maple River won the meet with 180 points, followed by NRHEG with 159, Blooming Prairie 77, Minnesota Academy for the Deaf 67.5 and JWP 61.5

Two days earlier the Panthers opened the season at the USC/AC Invitational. Blue Earth Area was first with 87. Martin County West had 71, USC/AC 56 and NRHEG 48.

“It was very cold, but the girls did some very good things,” said Ferber. “Some of our younger girls are stepping up and scoring.”

NRHEG places: Carlie Wagner, first, high jump, first, 100, and first, 200; 4x200, first (Wagner, Ramaker, Wagner, Wagner); Schuller, second, 100 hurdles and third, 300 hurdles; Eder, second, shot put; Wacholz, third, triple jump; 4x100, third (Schuller, Ramaker, Wacholz, Marnie Wagner); 4x400, third (Harden, Wacholz, M. Wagner, M. Wagner); 4x800, fourth (Harden, Kallie Thompson, Lewer, Quezada); Harden, fourth 800; Ramaker, fourth, 200; Maddie Wagner, fourth, high jump.