Huskies win true team title
Owatonna’s Justin Gleason, Keanan Larson, and Luke Webber compete in the 100-meter dash event at the team’s home triangular last week. Gleason took first with Larson and Webber coming in second and third behind him. Staff photo by Sevy Enter
The Owatonna Huskies’ boys’ track and field team earned another Section 1AAA true team title last week when the team edged out hosts Lakeville South 969-926.
Owatonna’s girls' team also competed at the event and earned a fifth-place finish in a 10-team field.
“Right now, we are performing well. One key that we will need back is our section champion hurdler, Carter Johnson. We’re looking forward to the state true team tournament on Friday,” said Owatonna boys’ head coach Kevin Stelter.
The Huskies’ boys’ team benefitted from some major performances, but none shone as bright as those of Justin Gleason and Trever Schirmer had.
Both athletes were able to win multiple field events with Gleason topping the podium in the long jump and triple jump, and Schirmer taking first in the discus and shotput events.
Gleason’s winning distances were 22 feet, 2.75 inches in the long jump and 42 feet, 10 inches in the triple jump.
Meanwhile, Schirmer blew away the competition in the throwing events with final distances of 176 feet, nine inches in the discus and 54 feet, 5.25 inches in the shot put.
Schirmer’s discus throw firmly separated him from the pack in the event with the next closest distance coming from Rochester Mayo’s Ethan Kramer at 148 feet and one inch – a whole 28 feet and eight inches shorter than Schirmer’s throw.
Also winning for the boys was the team’s 4x200-meter relay squad with a final time of 1:29.98.
The girls' team featured no winners at the true team event, however, Carsyn Brady was narrowly edged by less than two seconds for first place in the girls’ 800-meter event with a time of 2:21.14.
The team’s 4x800-relay team also took second place behind Lakeville North.
Later in the week, Owatonna held a triangular meet with Mankato East and Austin where both teams took first place.
The boys’ team was dominant with a 100-71 edge over the Cougars, while the girls’ team scored a decisive 92-78 win over the Cougars as well.
Boys’ team member Cole Piepho also broke a 28-year school record with a new personal best height of 14 feet, two inches in the pole vault.
Owatonna’s next meet will be on the road at Red Wing High School on Thursday, May 18, at 4:30 p.m.