The Merrill girls track team mixed up a stale indoor season with last Tuesday’s Tiger Relays, and it provided a fresh fifth-place finish out of eight teams.
Morgan Marnholtz captured the special Quad Athlete competition behind three firsts in the long jump, 60- and 440-yard dashes.
“This evening was the most excited I have seen our team,” MHS coach Bethany Martinovici said. “They were cheering for each other, encouraging difficult decisions, and jumping in for events that needed an alternate. In this case, Paige Sondelski, our freshman thrower, put herself out there and competed for an ill athlete in the last event of the night – the 4×4 (relay). She fought for all that it was worth.
“Some of the impressive feats for evening started in the field events. Morgan Marnholtz competed in the Quad Athlete, an event designed for an upperclassmen with a lot of athletic ability. The fourth event was shot put and although she didn’t take first, she had a fun time trying it.
“Morgan Wardall, who has been battling a minor injury, high jumped for the team. Despite having to scissor kick, she managed to do it gracefully at 4’4”. Rylee and McKenna Folz were her other teammates that helped earn this event a gold medal.
“Kennedy Soderberg was busy competing in two 400s and a one lap relay. Kennedy is very coachable. She wants to compete and win. That is the best kind of athlete to have on your team. I only hope that her demeanor and dedication to the team continues to spread to others around her.
“Autumn Schenzel had another wonderful night of sprints as well. She takes off and doesn’t like it when others are close. Her determination is unlike many and she has improved small parts of her race already before the outdoor season hits. I am very lucky to have such a powerful sprinter to add to the mix.
“Finally, the thrower’s relay was the hit of the night. Here three throwers and one field event participant had to compete in a 4-lap relay, each girl running one lap.”
The Bluejays won the 800 medley (Kait?lin Berry, Wardall, Schenzel, Soderberg) in 2:48.38), the regular 400 (Soderberg, Berry, M. Folz, Schenzel) in 1:24.71, the high jump (M. Folz, R. Folz, Wardall) at 13’ 10”,
That 4-lap group (Morgan Pettit, Melanie Monnot, Sondelski, R. Folz) ranked 2nd in 1:39.60, and the shot putters (Pettit, Monnot, Sondelski) were, too (78’ 9”).
Others: 1600 (5th, Schenzel, Soderberg, K. Berry, Ashley Berry, 5:51.82); Christa Schleif (6th, PV, 8’ 0”); 8-lap (Miranda Jahnke, Sarah Ranta, Schleif, M. Folz, 3:29.38); dist. medley (6th, Ranta, A. Berry, Sarah Gessler, Pettit, 13:21.09); 2-lap (6th, Jahnke, Wardall, Bryanna Block, Brenna Hawkins, :46.90).