The Oconto Falls High School boys track team ended the Oconto Falls Invitational’s run at Memorial Field in style Thursday.
The Panthers placed first among 10 teams in the 65th annual meet, the oldest high school invitational in Wisconsin. Next year, the meet moves to the district’s new football stadium, which will include a multi-lane track, being built south of the high school between North Farm Road and County Road I.
The Panthers finished 13.5 points ahead of second-place Kewaunee. Algoma finished third.
“We were able to score multiple points in events that we were entered,” Oconto Falls boys track coach Lon Ludemann said. “We are not a very big team; it was all quality performances. That was the key.”
Oconto Falls won two relays and recorded six second-place finishes.
Seniors Luke Vrooman, Mike Friedman and Michael Fifield joined sophomore Aaron Kurth to win the 1,600 relay (3:36.05). Kurth, Sam Fletcher, Jared VanHaren and Jacob Yatso won the 4x100 relay in 47.3, 0.03 seconds ahead of Peshtigo.
“I got to give most of the credit to (Yatso),” said Fletcher, who also collected three of the Panthers’ second-place finishes. “He was our anchor, and he did a really good job in that. We also got a sprinting coach, Dean Jensen. He has helped us a lot this year.”
Mishicot’s Jack Ribley edged Fletcher in both the 100- and 200-meter finals. The Oconto Falls junior also fell just an inch shy of first in the long jump, trailing only Kewaunee’s Travis Squires (18-02.25).
Ludemann said Fletcher has improved throughout the season.
“He had a great day. He has come on and has been much better than last year,” Ludemann said.
“I have definitely improved,” Fletcher said. “Last year I placed eighth at an event, and this year I was second.”
Other second-place finishers for the Panthers were Friedman in the 1,600 (4:33.96), Fifield in the high jump (5-10) and the 4x800-relay team of Brett Markiewicz, Dylan Kasper, VanHaren and Drake Rowland (8:56.29).
Oconto Falls Invitational
Boys team scores: 1. Oconto Falls, 110; 2. Kewaunee, 96.50; 3. Algoma, 95; 4. Peshtigo, 72; 5. Coleman, 71; 6. Bonduel, 63; 7. Hilbert-Stockbridge, 59.50; 8. Sturgeon Bay, 58; 9. Mishicot, 45; 10. Oconto, 21.
Oconto Falls results (top three):
100 dash - 2. Sam Fletcher, 12.02; 5. Brett Markiewicz, 12.25.
200 dash - 2. Sam Fletcher, 24.33; 3. Aaron Kurth, 24.41
800 run - 3. Mike Friedman, 2:05.16; 6. Michael Fifield, 2:09.85
1,600 run - 2. Mike Friedman, 4:33.96
4 x 100 relay - 1. Oconto Falls (Sam Fletcher, Aaron Kurth, Jared VanHaren, Jacob Yatso), 47.30.
4 x 200 relay - 2. Oconto Falls (Brett Markiewicz, Dylan Kasper, Jared VanHaren, Drake Rowland), 1:40.58.
4 x 400 relay - 1. Oconto Falls (Luke Vrooman, Mike Friedman, Aaron Kurth, Michael Fifield), 3:36.05.
4 x 800 relay - 3. Oconto Falls (Liam Spillane, Luke Vrooman, Matt Vervelde, Michael Fifield), 8:56.29.
High jump - 2. Michael Fifield, 5-10.00
Pole vault - 3. Dylan Kasper, 9-06.00
Long jump - 2. Sam Fletcher, 18-01.25; 4. Aaron Kurth, 18-00.50.
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