The Bemidji High boys track team welcomed new head coach Ryan Aylesworth in style Tuesday, taking the title at the 19th annual Lions Invitational at the Gillett Recreation and Fitness Center on the BSU campus.
It was the first of four meets in eight days. Tomorrow will find the Little Amik-I with the Paul Bunyan Saturday and the Little Amik-II Tuesday.
The Bemidji girls gave a good showing taking third place behind state ranked Grand Rapids and Red River.
Both plan to enter basically junior varsity units tomorrow though they may use several varsity performers in scattered events.
The full varsities will return to action Saturday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The boys showed great balance, scoring in most events during the day.
They won with 102.5 points to 95 for Grand Rapids. Red River had 90 with Grand Forks Central 82. Roseau, Thief River Falls, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton and International Falls rounded out the field.
They opened with a win in the 4 x 800 relay with Jake Sorby, Robbie Jenson, Andrew Papke-Larson and Jared Davis breaking the field house record with an 8:17.37.
Nate McGriff was his usual self taking second in the long jump and 200 and fifth in the 55 meters for 18 points.
Tyler Phillips and Derek Davis went 1-3 in the high jump for 12 more and Sorby added another first in the 800 in 2:08.23.
Bemidji's distance crew dominated the 3,200 where Erik Truedson, Jared Davis and Zac Oelrich finished 2-3-5 for 14 more points.
In addition to its win in the 4 x 800, Bemidji had seconds in the 4 x 200 from John Thompson, McGriff, Travis Greenwaldt and Trace Jahner and the 4 x 400 from Sorby, Jen son, Papke-Larson and Thompson. The 4 x 800 B team finished sixth with Oelrich, Truedson, Greg Moriarty and Alex Schoneberger for another point. Greenwaldt added the half point with a tie for sixth in the long jump.
Luke Bruns was third in the pole vault, clearing 10-6 and narrowly missing at 11 while Casey Orgon claimed fourth in the shot at 43-9.
ADVERTISEMENT
Girls score well
The girls also scored freely but could not match Grand Rapids, the state's No. 2 rated team.
The Hawks won with 112 points to 88 for Red River and 70 for Bemidji.
Well back were Grand Forks Central, Roseau, Crookston, Bagley-Fosston, Thief River Falls and International Falls.
The win was the third straight for Grand Rapids and their fourth overall.
Sophomore Abby Hendricks led the way, winning the hurdles in 9:.47, taking second in the triple jump and third in the 200 for 18 points.
Bemidji scored 12 more in the relays, with the team of Kelsey Heisler, Stephanie Marsh. Ashley Erickson and Bailey Drewes second in the 4 x 800 and fifth in the 4 x 400. The 4 x 200 B Team of Ashley Long-, Jenna Sagedahl. Amanda Hunt and Tiffany Mason was also fifth.
Sagedahl was sixth in the 200 behind Hendricks. Heisler, Sagedahl and Jessy Bruns came in 3-4-6 in the 400 for 11. Drewes was third in the 800.
ADVERTISEMENT
Eighth Grader Kim Truedson was fifth in the 1600. Ali Hougen added a third in the triple jump.
Tessa Comstock and Mason were 2-5 in the pole vault.
LIONS INVITATIONAL
Team totals
Boys Division: Bemidji 102.5, Grand Rapids 95, Red River 90., Grand Forks Central 82.5, Roseau 37. Thief River Falls 19, .DGF 17, International Falls 14
Girls Division: Grand Rapids 112, Red River 88, Bemidji 70, Grand Forks Central 47,. Roseau 42, Crookston 36, Bagley-Fosston 35, Thief River Falls 20, International Falls 15
