April 23 turned out to be a beautiful day for track athletes in Minnetonka’s annual Rogness/Lane Relays at Einer Anderson Stadium.
Eight schools entered the meet and four scored at least 100 points. Minnetonka won the team title with good performances across the board. The Skippers scored 133.5 points and would have had more if one of their relays had not suffered a disqualification. Prior Lake was second with 111. Shakopee had 106.5 for third and Anoka placed fourth with 102.5.
“It is early in the season and we still have a lot of work to do,” Minnetonka head coach James Finch said. “This was the first time this year that we have had nice weather for a meet. We didn’t have great times in the sprints because of the wind, but our field events were very good.”
Minnetonka’s lineup includes two elite sprinters - seniors Tobias Williams and Will Hairston.
“On almost any other team in the state, Will would be the No. 1 sprinter,” coach Finch said. “Tobias is one of the best in the 100 and 200. Will is able to stretch to the 400. Both of them are key runners on our sprint relays.”
Williams ran 11.25 seconds to win the 100 at the Rogness/Lane Relays. He took second place in the 200 in a photo finish with Totino-Grace star Justin Kuharski, who edged Williams 22.27 to 22.77.
“The question with Tobias and Will is” Where do we put them in the lineup?” coach Finch said. “They are great leaders, who give us good options. Both are cool, calm and mature and encourage their teammates. They help us cover a lot of bases.”
Senior David Allred is the same type of leader for the Tonka hurdlers. He did not run hurdles in the Rogness/Lane Relays.
The Skipper coaches didn’t want to overwork their top runners in the Rogness/Lane because the Hamline Elite Meet was scheduled only three days later.
Minnetonka made a good showing in the 4x800 meter relay April 23 as Tirfe Horvick, Casey Nordstrom, Nolan Wayman and Charles Cummings ran 8:47.94 for third place behind Andover and Maple Grove.
The Skippers placed fourth in the 4x400 relay with senior Parker Barry and juniors Parker Christensen, MacClain Boge and Nick Labadie running 3:34.80.
Ryan Fries gave Minnetonka fourth place in the open 800. Tyler Vos and Sean Fries were first and second in the 1600 and Lloyd Laninga and Ben Kraus of the Skippers were second and fifth in the 3200.
“The Fries brothers and Tyler Vos are phenomenal leaders for our distance runners,” coach Finch said. “Distance coach Jeff Renlund always has his guys prepared.”
Field events
Minnetonka’s field events were solid across the board in the Rogness/Lane Relays.
One of the best highlights was a win in the discus by senior Tanner Smith, whose best throw was 135 feet, 2 inches. He added a fourth place in the shot put with a best of 44 feet, 7.5 inches. Junior Jack Dowley added a fifth place in the discus and a ninth place in the shot put. Sophomore Aiden Zapzalka scored points by placing eighth in the discus and 11th in the shot put.
“We had two juniors clear 10 feet in the pole vault - Henry Doten and Brandon Kellett,” Finch noted.
Tonka freshman Grady Giebenhain took third in the long jump with a season best of 20 feet, 6.5 inches. Junior Parker Christensen added a seventh place with 20-3.5.
In the triple jump, the Skippers had two standout performances. Senior Joseph Brett-Labouchere won with a best of 41 feet, 5.5 inches and junior Marcelo Ortega was third with 40-4.25. Senior Dakota Chou landed in 10th place.
Christensen had a 6-2 high jump for second place and Tonka teammate Hemanth Vangala took eighth place.
Boys Scores
Minnetonka 133.5, Prior Lake 111, Shakopee 106.5, Anoka 102.5, Andover 85, Maple Grove 73, Totino-Grace 65.5, Waconia 55.5.
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