A winning relay, two individual first-place finishes and placing runner-up in six other events helped place the International Falls girls track and field team in first at Saturday’s Mesabi East indoor meet held at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

Of the eight teams competing, the Falls had the top score of 130.5 points, followed by Esko (94), Hibbing (92.5), Mesabi East (87.5) and Eveleth-Gilbert (47.5) rounding out the top five.

“With all the outdoor meets canceled this (past) week, Mesabi East organized an indoor meet at UWS, inviting only eight teams,” said Broncos head coach Jen Erickson. “We saw several improvements in times and distances, but the real test will come (this) week when we move from indoor to outdoors and add an extra three events to the meet schedule. 

“The team is looking forward to getting outside (this) week, even if it means running through wet spots on the track or trudging through a little snow to pick up throwing implements. The girls did get a chance to compete against Esko, but unfortunately they were missing some of the their athletes.”

Falls’ 4X800-meter relay team comprised of senior Amber Harms, freshman Abby Kostiuk, sophomore Tayler Hebner and eighth-grader Lexi Erickson placed first in 11 minutes and seven-tenths of a second, almost 15 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor.

“I was really proud of my teammates and the effort everyone put into their events (Saturday),” said Kostiuk, who also won the 400 dash in 1:06.1.

Broncos junior Hailey Fentem won the 55 hurdles (9.1), while junior teammate Lexi Owen came in third (9.8) and freshman Jessie Foreman tied for sixth (10.4).

Fentem added a trio of fourth-place finishes in the high jump (4 feet, 4 inches), long jump (14-8) and triple jump (30-5).

Broncos sophomore Maddie Filipiak placed runner-up in the triple jump (32-3.5) and seventh in the long jump (13-7).

Broncos junior Breanna Shofner finished runner-up in both the 55 dash (7.4) and 200 dash (27.5). Hibbing’s Sammi Argir won both events in respective times of 7.1 and 27.1.

Falls eighth-grader Valandre Butler tied for sixth in the 55 dash (7.9), while freshman Madeline Dahle placed sixth in the 200 dash (29.5).

Shofner, who added a fifth-place finish in the long jump (14-0), was also part of Falls’ 4x200 relay team, along with Owen, Filipiak and Dahle, that finished second in 1:52.3, three-tenths of a second behind Esko’s winning time.

“It has been tough competing indoors, but I’m proud of how our team has performed (Saturday),” Dahle said.

Harms placed second in the 800 run (2:40.8), three-tenths of a second behind Hibbing’s Hannah Baird. Falls eighth-grader Lexi Edwards added an eighth-place finish in 2:53.6.

Lexi Erickson added a second-place finish in the 1600 run (5:42.5), 4.8 seconds behind South Ridge’s Emma Blom.

Falls’ 4X400 relay team comprised of Owen, Kostiuk, eighth-grader Claire Herzig and Lexi Erickson placed third in 4:42.5.

Bronco boys third

In the boys competition, the Falls came in third among the eight teams.

Hibbing topped the team standings with 135 points, followed by Esko (109.5), the Falls (74) Mesabi East (73.5) and Eveleth-Gilbert (44.5) in the top five.

“This was a good meet for us,” said Broncos head coach Paul Hjelle. “The boys were able to try some new events and we showed (Saturday) that we can be competitive. We were encouraged to see some good times, heights and distances in most events.”

Falls senior Jason Pumper finished second in both the high jump (5-4) and triple jump (38-3.5) and also came in fourth in the long jump (18-9).

In the shot put, the Broncos had two top-four finishes from two sophomores with Gary Harala placing second (37-10) and Austin Ruport coming in fourth (37-6.5).

Falls junior Paul Skoglund placed third in the 55 hurdles (9.0).

The following three Bronco boys relay teams all finished in the top five:

• Seniors Logan Veillieux, Corin Wenger and Marco Griffith and seventh-grader John Cowman placed third in the 4X800 relay (9:56.5).

• Junior Jake Piekarski, sophomore Cole Tatsak, Griffith and Pumper finished fourth in the 4X400 relay (3:50.4).

• Junior Cody Hallin, eighth-grader Shane Nicholson, Skoglund and Piekarski placed fifth in the 4X200 relay (1:44.9).

Hallin added a fifth-place finish in the 200 dash (26.1) and also placed eighth in the 55 dash (7.1).

Three Falls runners placed in the top eight in the 400 dash with Piekarski coming in fourth (57.5), freshman Peter Griffith seventh (58.9) and sophomore Colton Greenlee eighth (59.2).

Veillieux added a fifth-place finish in the 800 run (2:23.7), while Marco Griffith came in sixth in the 1600 run (5:18.2).

First outdoor meet Friday

The Bronco boys and girls teams are now scheduled, weather permitting, to have their first outdoor meet of the season Friday at Lake of the Woods.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to get outside (this) week,” Hjelle said. “I’ve been impressed with our attitudes. The boys have been very patient and have continued to work hard in practices.”

 

Mesabi East (UWS) Indoor Meet

GIRLS

Team scores: International Falls 130.5, Esko 94, Hibbing 92.5, Mesabi East 87.5, Eveleth-Gilbert 47.5, South Ridge 32, Chisholm 26, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 17.

 

BOYS

Team scores: Hibbing 135, Esko 109.5, International Falls 74, Mesabi East 73.5, Eveleth-Gilbert 44.5, South Ridge 42, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 31, Chisholm 24.5.