Complete performance earns Streeters conference title

With a trip to the Class A Minnesota State True Team Track and Field Meet already secured, the Sauk Centre Streeters boys track and field team had one item on the agenda before traveling to Stillwater: the West Central Conference Championships May 16.

Behind 10 All-Conference finishes, the Streeters locked up the conference title for the second time in three seasons, earning 179 points as a team at Montevideo High School in Montevideo.

“The boys have been solid all season and they have come to expect nothing less than the best,” said Kellie Wehrman, coach. “I am so happy for them as a team and individually as they continue to work toward their goals.”

Sauk Centre steamrolled the triple jump event, with Jeric Schloegl, Nathan Lahr and Ben Anderson taking first, second and third, respectively. Schloegl’s 40-foot, 5-inch leap and Anderson’s 39-0 1/2 mark were personal records.

“In this event, the boys have exchanged best days at meets but continue to be each other’s biggest fan,” Wehrman said. “They are all extremely excited for one another when it is their day to shine.”

Jumping success was prevalent for the West Central champions, as Jacob Robischon reached a new best with a 5-6 attempt in the high jump, a point of emphasis for the Streeters.

“As a coaching staff, we have talked about high jump as one of the events we need to improve on for team points, especially in the true team format,” Wehrman said. “Jacob has given us those points we have been looking for. “

Regarding points, no Streeter was more important to the team score than senior Brandon Kampsen, who registered times of 1 minute and 57.74 seconds and 4:48.79 to take first place in the 800-meter and 1,600-meter runs, respectively. Kampsen also anchored a first-place 4x400 relay that also included Reese Blondin, Derick Sorenson and Lahr. 

Blondin’s efforts in the 4x400 also translated to the individual 400, where the soon-to-be graduate compiled a second-place finish.

“Reese has a lot of grit,” Wehrman said. “He ran a wonderful race tonight and had a PR of 53.08. He is such a strong runner that has put the time in during the offseason and in the weight room.”

Sauk Centre showed endless depth to outpace the conference competition, from Lahr and Jacob Drevlow taking third in the 800 and 1,600 respectively to Aaron Kerfeld and Spencer Marthaler snagging top-five spots in both hurdling events. Talented senior Corey McCoy, who broke into the top three with a third-place long jump try, was the conference bronze discus thrower at 130-09.

“Corey was hoping to throw a 130-footer today and he did it,” Wehrman said. “Complimenting that with a PR in the long jump is a solid day for him.”

Every Streeter relay completed their races in the top-three in the balanced effort.

The Class A True Team Meet begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, at Stillwater High School in Stillwater.

Team scores: 1. Sauk Centre 179, 2. Montevideo 137.5, 3. BOLD/BLH 98, 4. Minnewaska Area 81, 5. Benson/KMS 59, 6. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 52.5, 7. West Central Area 52 and 8. Melrose 42.

Individual results: 100: 5. Alex Helgeson 11.75 seconds, 6. Jeric Schloegl 11.89 and 21. Austin Helgeson 13.07. 200: 4. David Gilmore 24.33, 7. Alex Helgeson 24.48 and 9. Zander Kuhlmann 24.54. 400: 2. Blondin 53.08, 5. Sorenson 54.41 and 10. Zander Olmschenk 54.71. 800: 1. Kampsen 1:57.64, 3. Lahr 2:10.48 and 9. Jackson Kerfeld 2:22.00. 1,600: 1. Kampsen 4:48.79, 3. Jacob Drevlow 4:55.16 and 7. Jackson Kerfeld 5:05.56. 3,200: 4. Logan Wiehoff 11:16.96, 8. Harry Dunn 11:49.96 and 12. Sevrin Anderson 1:55.27. 110 hurdles: 2. Aaron Kerfeld 16.30, 3. Marthaler 17.00 and 10. Anderson 18.87. 300 hurdles: 1. Aaron Kerfeld 42.47, 4. Marthaler 43.35 and 7. Anderson 45.37. 4x100: 2. Schloegl, Austin Helgeson, Gilmore and Alex Helgeson 46.10. 4x200: 2. Schloegl, Austin Helgeson, Blondin and Gilmore 1:36.10. 4x400: 2. Blondin, Sorenson, Lahr and Kampsen 3:30.30. 4x800: 3. Olmschenk, Wiehoff, Jacob Drevlow and Devin Crawford-Klinnert 8:53.42. High jump: 5. Robischon 5 feet, 6 inches and 10. Andrew Drevlow 5-2. Pole vault: 7. Owen Christians 10-0 and 9. Robischon 9-0. Long jump: 3. McCoy 19-6, 6. Anderson 18-5 3/4 and 12. Gilmore 16-7 1/2. Triple jump: 1. Schloegl 40-5, 2. Lahr 39-0 3/4 and 3. Anderson 39-0 1/2. Shot put: 7. Carter Schuster 37-11 1/2, 10. Kyle Sayovitz 35-5 3/4 and 12. McCoy 33-10 3/4. Discus: 3. McCoy 139-09, 6. Schuster 114-08 and 19. Sayovitz 85-03. 

Section 5A True Team Meet

The Streeters have won invitationals all spring, but the biggest test of the campaign still remained: the Section 5A True Team Meet, pitting Sauk Centre against its fiercest field of competition to date.

No matter, said the Streeters, who captured their first-ever Section 5A true team crown with a team score of 590.5 points May 9-10 at Sauk Centre High School in Sauk Centre.

Sauk Centre’s prized, perhaps-unparalleled group of upperclassmen made a significant impact on the standings. Kampsen swept the 800 and 1,600 races; Aaron Kerfeld earned PRs in the 100 and 300 hurdles for second and first, respectively; Lahr took second in the triple jump and fourth in the 800; Anderson snagged third-place performances in the long jump and triple jump; throwers Schuster and McCoy logged top-six finishes in both events; and Blondin and Sorenson ended the 400 in back-to-back spots at fourth and fifth, respectively.

Balance also drove the Streeters to historic success, as freshman Jacob Drevlow topped the 3,200 ladder at 10:34.41, Robischon was a fourth-place finisher in the high jump and pole vault and the 4x100 relay team of Schloegl, Austin Helgeson, Gilmore and Alex Helgeson broke a school record with a first-place time of 45.74. 

Sauk Centre will participate in the Class A Minnesota True Team State Track and Field Championships, beginning at 10 a.m. May 20 at Stillwater High School in Stillwater.

Team scores: 1. Sauk Centre 590.5, 2. Montevideo 523.5, 3. Holdingford 522.5, 4. Minnewaska Area 443.5, 5. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 386.5, 6. Royalton 295, 7. Paynesville 196.5, 8. St. Cloud Christian 145, 9. St. John’s Prep 141 and 10. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 19.

Individual results: 100: 2. Alex Helgeson 11.84 and 5. Schloegl 11.98. 200: 4. Gilmore 23.92 and 5. Alex Helgeson 24.18. 400: 4. Blondin 53.95 and 5. Sorenson 54.10. 800: 1. Kampsen 1:55.83 and 4. Lahr 2:05.58. 1,600: 1. Kampsen 4:38.33 and 7. Jackson Kerfeld 5:09.67. 3,200: 1. Jacob Drevlow 10:34.41 and 3. Wiehoff 11:08.31. 110 hurdles: 2. Aaron Kerfeld 16.25 and 4. Marthaler 17.12. 300 hurdles: 1. Aaron Kerfeld 42.50 and 3. Marthaler 43.58. 4x100: 1. Schloegl, Austin Helgeson, Gilmore and Alex Helgeson 45.74. 4x200: 2. Schloegl, Austin Helgeson, Blondin and Gilmore 1:36.20. 4x400: 2. Blondin, Sorenson, Lahr and Kampsen 3:31.82. 4x800: 3. Olmschenk, Wiehoff, Jacob Drevlow and Crawford-Klinnert 8:25.81. High jump: 4. Robischon 5-4 and 6. Andrew Drevlow 5-4. Pole vault: 4. Robischon 9-6 and 11. Owen Christians 7-0. Long jump: 3. Anderson 19-1 and 5. McCoy 18-3 1/4. Triple jump: 2. Lahr 39-3 1/2 and 3. Anderson 38-1 1/2. Shot put: 3. Schuster 40-0 and 6. McCoy 37-3. Discus: 2. McCoy 119-4 1/2 and 6. Schuster 107-5 1/2.