NRHEG track and field boys third among eight schools at Maple River

According to NRHEG boys’ track and field coach Duey Ferber, there hasn’t been much competition for senior distance runner T.J. Schiltz this season. Until last Tuesday, anyway.

So how did he respond?

With two first places and, for good measure, a meet record at the Maple River Invitational.

Schiltz won the 1600 meters in 4:38.9, breaking the old meet record, and clocked 10:08.94 for first in the 3200.

“T.J. is really bringing his times down,” said Ferber. “It was nice to have some competition in his races.”

Overall, Ferber was pleased with the effort of the Panthers, who finished third among eight squads with 85.5 points.

“The boys worked very hard tonight,” said Ferber.

Other NRHEG placewinners: Todd Erickson, second, discus; 4x800 relay, second (Raece Johnson, Tyler Schlaak, John Cole, Spencer Tollefson); Johnson, third, 400; Schlaak, third, 800; Ross Chester, third, long jump; Nick Goette, third, shot put; Keith Maxon, third, discus; Tollefson, fourth, high jump; Kevin Kalis, fourth, shot put and discus; 4x100, fifth (Chester, Aaron Seath, Ethan Borwege, Tollefson); 4x400, fifth (Johnson, Adam Anderson, Schlaak, Schiltz); Schiltz, fifth, high jump; Cordell Peterson, sixth, pole vault.

The Panthers had four firsts at Blue Earth Thursday. Schiltz won the 3200 in 10:10.33, Johnson took the 400 in 55.72 seconds, Kalis won the discus at 125 feet, and Cole, Johnson, Schlaak and Schiltz won the 4x800 in 8:44.2.

Other places: Schlaak, second, 800; Schiltz, second, high jump; Chester, second, shot put; Maxon, second, discus; Kalis, third, shot put; 4x400, third (Johnson, Anderson, Schlaak, Schiltz); Cole, fourth, 3200; Todd Erickson, fourth, shot put and discus; Anderson, fifth, 400.

The home team scored 123 points for first. The Panthers were third with 76. Five schools competed.

“The boys are really starting to come together,” said Ferber. “The throwers scored huge points for us tonight.”