Westonka Track and Field Competes at True Team Section Meet

The Westonka track and field team traveled to Wilmar, MN to compete in the Section 6AA True Team meet on May 6. Conditions were cold and blustery, making this a challenging meet for athletes to achieve personal best performances. 

The 12 teams represented were able to select two athletes for each individual event and one team for each of the relay events. This unique format highlights the need for teams to be well balanced across all the track & field events. In the end, Orono proved its strength and depth, taking first place for both the boys and girls, and earning their ticket to the True Team State meet.  

The Westonka girls garnered a strong sixth-place finish among a highly competitive field. Junior Sami Christensen took first place in the long jump with a personal best jump of 17’ 9”, earning her way to the new No. 18 distance in Minnesota this season. Senior Erica Johnson took third place in the triple jump with a personal best jump of 35’ 2.5”. 

The White Hawks showed impressive depth in the field events with a flurry of top placers: senior Delaney Parker placed fourth in the shot put, sophomore Grace Schrempp took fifth in the discus, Christensen took fifth place in the triple jump, ninth grader Lexi Thelen took seventh place in the high jump, and seventh grader Riley Rager took eighth place in the high jump. 

In the track events, the White Hawks girls had several top performances: senior Morgan Johnson placed fourth in the 300m hurdles and sixth in the 100m; junior Sophia Engesser took sixth in the 3,200m; seventh grader Raelyn Moslander took seventh in the 1,600m; ninth grader Hadley Hoag placed eighth in the 400m; and the 4x400m relay of H Hoag, R Moslander, E Johnson, and M Johnson raced to a fourth-place finish. 

The Westonka boys teamed together for a ninth-place finish. Senior Andrew Hoisington led the way with a fourth-place finish in the shot put with a throw of 45’ 6”. Senior Mason Merritt took fifth place in the 110m hurdles with a season best time of 16.35. Also racing to a fifth-place finish was the 4x800m relay team of Drew Carlson, Levi Hays, Robbie Chilson, and Rayne Shaeffer. 

The White Hawks boys had four other top 10 placers, with a pair in seventh and a pair in eighth place. Earning seventh place were ninth grader Samuel Santiago in the 100m and senior Mason Merritt in the 300m hurdles. Coming in eighth place were junior Sam Trombley in the high jump and ninth grader Andrew Regenold in the discus. 

Coach Sara Schwartz shared afterwards, “Despite it being a windy and chilly day, the athletes had positive attitudes and performed really well, while cheering each other on from the sidelines. True Team is always a fun look at the spread of different talents and strengths across the team!”

The White Hawks move to the final stretch of their season, competing next in the “Last Chance Meet” held at Rockford High School on May 19.