Returning to the Minnesota State University, Mankato field house for the second time in six days on Tuesday, both the Loyola/Cleveland boys and girls teams took fourth place.
But the young Crusaders were more in control at the Valley Conference indoor compared to last week, said head coach Dale Compton.
“Last week there were a lot of nerves because there were a lot of new athletes who have never been in a meet before. This week having a meet under their belts helped a lot. They just looked a lot more comfortable out there. I think they felt a little better about themselves, knowing what they can do.”
For the girls, LCWM/Nicollet was first with 115.50 points. St Clair/Immanuel Lutheran was second with 112 points. Martin County West was third with 40.50 points. The Crusaders totaled 32 points. Madelia/Truman/GHEC/Martin Luther had 27 points.
On the boys side LCWM/Nicollet was first with 182 points. Madelia/Truman/GHEC/Martin Luther was second with 41 points. St Clair/Immanuel Lutheran was third with 40 points. The Crusaders had 33
Running the first leg of the 4x800, the first race of the evening, freshman Savannah Meyer got the Crusaders off to a good start, Compton said. The relay ended up in third place.
Meyer was back in action for the girls last race too when she ran the second leg of the 4x400. Maddie Huiras got the Crusaders off to a lead, and Meyer held on, but LCWM/Nicollet came on strong halfway through the final lap to push the Crusaders back to second place.
“That was exciting,” Compton said. “Last year we didn’t have a girls 4x400, so it was good to see those girls come together and run a good race.”
Lauren Yenish ran her best time ever in the low hurdles for the Crusaders' only first-place finish.
James Younge had the highest individual finish for the boys with a second place in the 800. He also lead off the second place 4x800. Nick Huisken took third in the pole vault.
Junior Henry Strobel handed the baton off to his sophomore brother Nathan Strobel in the 4x400 (above), where Nathan was anchor. That relay came in third.
“It was fun to see Henry and Nathan run together in a relay,” Compton said. “It was competitive against each other. Nathan was looking at his time afterward, but Henry edged him out. It was a really good effort to end the day.”
Gavin Selly took third in the 3000 meter while TJ Fogel was fifth.
The Crusaders head outdoors for their next meet, Monday in Sleepy Eye.
Girls results
55: 10th Abby Moses 10.07; 12th Mercedes Hernandez 10.33
200: 8th MaKenzie Smith 33.51; 9th Maria Lombardia 34.53; 10th Mercedes Hernandez 37.15
400: 8th Kathryn Huisken 1:17.76
800: 4th Molly Koester 2:58.46
55LH: 1st Lauren Yenish 10.06; 3rd Maddie Huiras 10.18
55HH: 3rd Maddie Huiras 10.26; 4th Loren Yenish 10.54
4x200: - Maddie Cooney, Kylie Kolars, Grace Stoffel, MacKenzie Smith DQ
4x400: 2nd Maddie Huiras, Savannah Meyer, Lauren Yenish, Maddie Cooney 4:44.13
4x800: 3rd Savannah Meyer, Molly Koester, Kathryn Huisken, Grace Monson 12:26.92
HJ: 6th Kylie Kolars 4-04; 7th Lauren Yenish 4-02
SP: 4th Elaine Ludvik 26-02; 10th Natalie Jandara 22-07; 13th Alexa Bolstad 18-09
Boys results
55: 11th Denny Wood 8.45
400: 8th Sam Vetter 1:03.88
800: 2nd James Younge 2:21.41; 7th Mathew Soupir 2:42.66
1500: 5th Nathan Strobel 4:55.67; 8th Soren Kelly 5:14.06; 10th Thomas Soupir 6:15.30
3000: 3rd Gavin Selly 11:17.25; 5th TJ Waldron 11:50.28
55LH: 4th Casey Fogal 10.24; 5th Chase Kijenski 11.31; 6th Taiton More 11.98
55HH: 4th Casey Fogal 10.35
4x200: 4th Josh Kann, Nick Huisken, Taiton Moore, Henry Strobel 1:48.91
4x400: 3rd Josh Kann, Nick Huisken, Henry Strobel, Nathan Strobel 4:06.42
4x800: 2nd James Younge, Chase Kijenski, Corbin Deichman, Sam Vetter 9:56.84
HJ: 6th Casey Fogal 4-08; 6th Chase Kijenski 4-08
PV: 3rd Nick Huisken 9-00
SP: 9th Christian Barker 27-00; 10th Danny Wood 27-00; 11th Davon Wolff 26-10
MaKenzie Smith runs down the stretch in the 200.
Gavin Selly (center) runs in the 3000. Just behind him is teammate TJ Waldron.
Savannah Meyer takes the baton from Maddie Huiras in the 4x400.