Griswold dominates district track
The Griswold boys track team claimed their 4th consecutive district title May 15 with a win at Audubon. The win was by the biggest margin ever as the Tigers tallied 153.5 points to outpace runner-up Treynor who ended the night with 77 points in the 14 team field.
“The Audubon district was one of the toughest in the state and we went in knowing we’d have to perform well. Our guys accepted the challenge. (When) it was all over and done we had scored points in every single event. I can’t ever remember this happening at the district meet,” said Coach Bergstrom after the meet.
The points came from a very strong senior class along with a group of talented and enthusiastic underclassmen. Senior Jared Hoffman’s experience showed as he earned two individual berths to the state meet by winning the 800 (2:03) and 1600 (4:34) and anchoring both the top 4x800 (8:17) and runner-up 4 x400 (3:33) relays.
Seniors Tyler Mosier and Jake Vetter both had stellar performances on the winning shuttle hurdle team (1:01) and the second place 4x100 relay (45.11). Vetter also finished third in the 110 high hurdles (15.85). It was more senior power with Keith Rush and Brandon Ridlen running the 200 legs to help propel the distance medley relay to victory and state. Rush also ran on the qualifying 4x400 squad and earned points by finishing 6th in the 400 hurdles (59.68). At the conclusion of the night Brandon Ridlen had helped advance four events. In addition to his role on the winning medley he earned berths on the silver 4x100 and with runner-up finishes in the 100 (11.2) and 200 (22.99) behind Coon Rapids-Bayard speedster Bryce Deeth.
“Five seniors earned state meet berths, but we had a bunch of other seniors that helped make this happen,” according to Coach Bergstrom. Austan Haynes placed 4th in the 3200 in 10:58.25 and Anthony Drogo finished the 800 in 2:12 for 5th place. Dylan Newell, who has served as a “utility runner” all season, didn’t score at districts but ran a strong 400. “There is no doubt having a battery of strong distance runners this season has helped push everyone to get faster and keep legs fresh,” assistant Coach Jane Chaillie added.
The seniors led for the Tigers, but the cast of outstanding underclassmen kept the points coming. Jamie Meek, the 4th place 1600 finisher at last year’s meet, helped qualify three events for state. Meek, ran on the winning 4x800 and anchored the top medley. He had to dig deep in the last 80 meters of the medley to leave St Alberts behind and edge out Guthrie Center at the finish line for a season’s best of 3:43. Meek finished second to Hoffman in the 1600 in a time of 4:35, only a second behind his 4th place finish at state last season. Meek came out of a rain delay to claim 3rd in the 3200 run in a time of 10:20.79.
Landon Cousins, also a junior, ran on the gold shuttle hurdle and the silver 4x400 relay. Cousins also placed 8th in the 400 hurdles (59.85). Junior Zac Schoning teamed up with Mosier, Rush and sophomore Jacob Wetterlind to capture 5th in the 4x200 (1:37.79). Schoning also took 7th in 200 with a time of 24.45.
Josh Ridlen was the lone sophomore to help move an event on to the state meet. He ran an exceptional first leg on the 4X800 team to help position the squad for victory. The team ran their best time of the season and now holds the 3rd and 4th spots on the top 10 best performances in school history. Ridlen also placed 8th in the open 400 (56.72).
Freshman Chase Jahnke burst on to the scene to help qualify four events for state level completion. Jahnke collected two golds (4x800 and distance medley) and two silvers (4x100 and 4x400) to wow spectators at his first district meet. Classmate Jared Schoning is fast making a name for himself and providing optimist about the future by contributing to the winning shuttle hurdle, placing 4th in the high jump (5’8”), and 4th in the high hurdles (16.27).
Another freshman, Zak Doty, came close to a state berth by earning his way into a jump off. Doty ultimately took 3rd in the high jump with a leap of 5’8”. The field events competitors who have contributed points throughout the season continued to give the team a boost.