TCU track and field opens season at MNSU in Mankato

The Tri-City United track and field team began its 2024 campaign Saturday night on the indoor track at Minnesota State University — Mankato. With several first-place finishes and solid performances all around, the Titan girls finished second while the boys team finished fourth.

In the 55 meter dash, Lexi Marcussen finished second with a time of 8:12 before Kaitlyn Hartwig earned first in the 200m dash with a time of 29.27. Defending MSHSL state champion Carly Hartwig finished first in the 400m dash with a time of 1:05.7 with Yasmin Ruiz claiming second with a time of 1:06.19.

Ruiz also finished second in the 600m run with a time of 1:50.23 and in the 800, run, Kaylee Gogert (2:45.01) and Kinsley Mach (3:06.56) finished third and fifth respectively. In the 60m hurdles, Khloe Flicek finished fourth with a time of 10:74.

The 4x200m relay team of C. Hartwig, K. Hartwig, Jillian Houn and Guadalupe Lopez finished second with a time of 1:57.12. The 4x400 relay race saw the team of Lopez, Ruiz C. Hartwig and K. Hartwig claim first with a time of 4:23.97.

In the field, Kaylee Harkins finished third in the shot put with a throw of 30 feet. Kristin Siebsen claimed first in the high jump with a clear of 4’8” while Sophia Smith finished second in the pole vault with a top clear of 7’6”.

Lexi Marcussen finished first in the long jump with a top mark of 15’7” followed by Khloe Flicek (14’11”) and K. Hartwig (14’3”) who earned second and fourth respectively. Marcussen also earned first in the triple jump with a distance of 32’6” and Flicek finished third with a mark of 30’5”.

For the boys, Abram Chimal finished fifth in the 55m dash with a time of 7.20 while also finished fifth in the 200m dash with a time of 25.94. In the 400m run, Gavin Phelps (1:00.19) finished fourth while Eric Borchardt (1:00.54) finished fifth.

Grant Fitterer finished fourth in the 600m run with a time of 1:35.50 and in the 800m run, Eli Viskocil finished fifth with a time of 2:20.53. In the 55m hurdles, Gavin Phelps finished second with a time of 9.73 and in the 60m hurdles, Lucas Holicky claimed third with a time of 9.55.

In the 4x400m relay race, the team of Fitterer, Borchardt, Viskocil and Phelps finished second with a time of 3:57.68.

In the field, Rafael Balcazar claimed third in the high jump with a top clear of 4’9” while Alejandro Mejia finished fifth with the same height and placement being determined by number of attempts.

Holicky finished his afternoon with a second place finish in the long jump, posting a top mark of 18’2.5”.

The TCU track and field team is currently scheduled to return to action Tuesday, April 2, when the team will host JWP, Belle Plaine, Mayer Lutheran and Sibley East, weather permitting. Events are currently scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.