By May 1, 2012, the Cardinal track teams had competed in seven meets. Because of the cold, snowy weather in 2013, the girls have only competed in two meets and one of those was indoors. On Thursday, April 25, the Cardinal girls traveled to Cambridge for their first outdoor event.
The Cardinal girls placed third out of eight teams competing. Cambridge-Isanti took top honors with 132 team points, followed by North Branch 120, Annandale 109.5, Cloquet 95, Chisago Lake 94, Duluth East 93, Proctor 44.4 and Braham 11.
Cambridge, North Branch, Cloquet, Chisago Lake, Duluth and Duluth East are all 2A schools. Proctor and Braham, like Annandale, are smaller A schools.
Individual efforts
"Although it was our first outdoor meet we looked good in some events, and in others it looked like it was our first meet," said head girls track coach Bo Wilke.
Kelly Mendel found the proper timing in the pole vault, clearing nine feet.
"That effort placed her in third in a mostly 2A field," Wilke said.
Ninth grader Elizabeth Schlafke turned in a blistering time in the 3,200, finishing in 11:42.94. That great effort placed her first in that event.
Courtney Alama ran an impressive mile, finishing second with a time of 5:33.82.
Both Alama and Schlafke were members of the first place 4×800 relay, along with team members Marina Chapman and Shanna Grambart. The winning time was 10:22.05.
Angela Orr made the most of her first chance of the season to throw a discus. She won the event with a distance of 99 feet. Orr also placed second in the shot put with a distance of 29 feet 4.5 inches.
"Yesterday’s meet emphasized the need to work on timing in the field events. It is tough for athletes to focus on a jump when they are doubting their approach," Wilke said.
"As was expected, we are sitting in a good spot in the running events. Field events and hurdles is where we will need the greatest improvements in the coming weeks," Wilke added.
Cambridge Invitational Cardinal girls individual results (athletes scoring team points):
100 meter dash: Calisha Norgren, seventh place, 14.18, 2 team points. 200 meter dash: Katelyn Provo, seventh place, 29.61, 2 team points. 400 meter dash: Emmy Whitesell, 8th place, 1:06.19, 1 team point. 800 meter run: Shanna Grambart, fourth place, 2:43.29, 5 team points. 1600 meter run: Courtney Alama, second place, 5:33.82, 8 team points. 300 meter hurdles: Madison Kasper, fifth place, 51.44, 4 team points. 4×100 meter relay: Annandale (Norgren, Provo, Loch, Kasper) third place, 54.47, 6 team points. 4×200 meter relay: Annandale Jacobson, Medvec, Kelly, Norgren) seventh place, 2:01.32, 2 team points. 4×400 meter relay: Annandale (Whitesell, Medvec, Kelly, Kasper), 6th place, 4:28.62, 3 team points. 4×800 meter relay: Annandale (Schlafke, Grambart, Chapman, Alama) first place, 10:22.05, 10 team points. High jump: Katelyn Provo, third place, 4-10.0, 5.5 team points. Pole vault: Kelly Mendel, 9-00, 6 team points. Long jump: Calisha Norgren, seventh place, 14-03.75, 2 team points. Triple jump: Jenna Loch, third place, 32-01.50, 6 team points. Shot put: Angela Orr, second place, 29-04.50, 8 team points; Lisa Neumann, third place, 28-11.00, 6 team points.
Boys showed good effort
The Cardinal boys track team placed seventh at the Cambridge Invitational Thursday, April 25.
"I was very happy with the way the boys performed, expecially considering that it was only the fifth time we had been on a track, including practices," boys head coach Cal Froehlich said.
Froehlich pointed to Teddy Erickson’s second place finish in the 1,600-meter run and a third place finish in the 800-meter run.
Matt Miller came through with an excellent performance in the high jump.
"Matt’s first place jump of five feet 10 inches was amazing, considering it was his first jump this year, including practices," Froehlich.
Froehlich sees a great deal of potential in Andy Russek and Zach Chollett in the sprints.
"I look for a lot from these two," Froehlich said.
"Matt Fliegel, Jamie Kasper and Clayton Neuwenschender are looking good in the distance events," Froehlich praised.
Cambridge-Isanti took first place with 172.25 team points, followed by North Branch, 123.25; Cloquet, 101; Duluth East, 87; Proctor, 84; Chisago Lakes Area, 60; Annandale 52; and Braham 19.25
Cambridge Invitational Cardinal boys individual results (athletes scoring team points):
200 meter dash: Andy Russek, sixth place, 24.9, 3 team points. 800 meter run: Teddy Erickson, third place, 2:08.58, 6 team points. 1600 meter run: Teddy Erickson, second place, 5:01.06, 8 team points. 4×100 relay: Annandale fourth, 5 team points. 4×200 relay: Annandale sixth, 1:41.16, 3 team points. 4×400 meter relay: Annandale, sixth place, 4:00.30, 3 team points. 4×800 meter relay: Annandale, seventh place, 10:21.97, 2 team points. High jump: Matt Miller, first place (tie), 5-10.00, 10 team points. Pole vault: Eric Gilbertson, seventh place, 9-06.00, 1 team point. Shot put: Dwight Moe, seventh place, 37-02.00, 2 team points.
Up next
On Monday, April 29, the boys and girls track teams are scheduled to travel to New London Spicer for a 3:30 p.m. meet.
On Thursday, May 2, the Cardinal track team again travels to New London-Spicer for a 3:30 p.m. meet.
On Monday, May 6, they travel to Hutchinson for a 4 p.m. JV meet. On Tuesday, May 7 the Cardinals will travel to Hutchinson for the Section True Team Meet. Time TBD.