The Bluejay girls took advantage of a beautiful Friday, finally reaching the outdoors in the Panther Invite where they ranked a solid fourth.
The Jays racked up 64 points in the nine-team meet to best Wausau East (55.5), Wis. Rapids (53), Appleton East (52), Rosholt (40) and Antigo (13). D.C. Everest edged host SPASH 163-161.5 for the title and Appleton West (97) was third.
“Friday evening’s Panther Invite in Stevens Point was full of missing links, bumps, and bruises for our team,” MHS coach Bethany Martinovici. “Despite some athletes getting injured, we pulled off a tough meet. We scored a total of 64 points earning us a 4th place finish.
“Throughout the meet we had a lot of substitutions and alternates that needed to fill in the gaps. It was great to see so many of them ready and able to do so-senior Sarah Cournaya being one. She has been a great silent leader who is able to perform under pressure, in part, due to her veteran standing.”
Morgan Marnholtz staged a double win in the triple jump (35′ 2.5″) and 400M (1:02.30). Hannah Marrier was a dual runner-up in the 100 (:17.15) and 300 hurdles (:51.87).
The 1600 relay team of Anna Finnell, Ashley Berton, Lauren Hojan and Marnholtz ranked 4th in 4:25.47. Berton backed up Marnholtz in the TJ for 5th at 32′ 6.5″.
“With all the fumbling going on, Morgan Marnholtz was a star performer with a first place finish and PR for this year in triple jump as well as a first place finish in the open 400,” Martinovici said. “She also competed on the 4-by-4 team.
“Hannah Marrier tackled both hurdle events with second-place finishes and was a team member on the 4-by-4.
Placing 6th were: Christa Schleif (pole vault, 7′ 0″); Svetlana Heinsinger (3200, 13:13.20); and the 400 relay team (Marrier, Schleif, Finnell, Kaitlin Berry, :55.23). The 3200 squad (Kate Williams, Morgan Pettit, Heisinger, Sarah Ranta) rated 7th in 11:29.57.
In the 200, Merrill placed 8th, 10th and 11th with Kennedy Soderberg (:29.22), McKenna Robbins (:29.74) and Sierra Smith (:29.88). Smith (long jump, 14′ 3″) and Pettit (1600, 6:17.39) also scored 8th.
Other top finishes came from: Rylee Folz (HJ, 4′ 6″); Robbins (11th, LJ, 13′ 4″); Ranta (11th, 800, 2:47.50); Lisa Krueger (11th, discus, 68′ 2″); Hojan (12th, HJ, 4′ 4″/12th, TJ, 30′ 1″); Williams (13th, 800, 2:48.94); and Nyssa Graap (14th, 100 H, :21.06).
“Kennedy has been dropping her times consistently in the 200 and we are anxious for her to continue her hard work,” Martinovici said. “She is going to be a strong asset to our team as we end the season. McKenna Robbins and Sierra Smith also dropped their times in the 200 dash. Svetlana Heisinger had a great finish in the two-mile race. She will continue to drop her time with more strategy built into her race.”