(photos by Jim Lindquist)
The 2011 season was literally one for the books, the record books, that is. All in all, eight school records fell this season, including the best-ever finish at the state meet (fourth place).
"It was a great season," coach Tom Hart said. "The ladies really finished strong. The weather didn't cooperate very much but our kids competed very hard no matter what the conditions were. As a coach, that makes me very happy."
Twenty-seven athletes earned varsity letters for their season's efforts, including the team's six seniors: Devyn Alberts, Jordan Bridges, Nicole Clifton, Mary Cline, Erin Hickey and Kayla Long.
Underclassmen letters went to juniors Jessica Arey, Elizabeth Okikolu, Bailey Opsal, Alyssa Parco and Shelby Schillerstrom; sophomores Alex Frost, Courtney Johnston, Maria Kiminski, Kelsey Lindell, Nadia Lorencz and Kassy Seegert; freshmen Kathryn Beckett, Kelli Elmer, Izzie Ferm, Alysha Grebner, Kelly Kornmann, Hannah Seitzinger and Maddie Strid, eighth-graders Meghan Graham and Victoria Jacoby and seventh-grader Marciello Pacheco.
Hickey, Lorencz, Parco, Kiminski, Ferm and Elmer each won all-Missota Conference honors while Hickey received honorable mention.
Izzie Ferm (right) Most Improved; Erin Hickey (below) Tiger Award
(photos by Jim Lindquist)
At the state meet, Lorencz finished second in both the long jump and 100-meter hurdles while Parco took third in the 300-meter hurdles and the 4x400 relay team of Parco, Hickey, Ferm and Kiminski placed fourth.
Lorencz, who established new school marks in the long jump, triple jump and 100-meter hurdles, was named the team's Most Valuable Player and Ferm was tabbed as Most Improved. Hickey and Parco shared the the Tiger Award for dedication and work ethic.
In addition to Lorencz's three new individual school records. Parco set a new standard in the 300-meter hurdles and three relay records fell: the 4x400 (Parco, Hickey, Ferm and Kiminski); the sprint medley (Cline, Ferm, Hockey and Kiminski) and the shuttle hurdle (Parco, Arey, Lorenz and Beckett).
"Many of our new records are going to be very tough to break as we go forward," Hart said.
As for the future, Hart said the picture remains bright.
"We graduate some seniors who have contributed a lot of points through the year," he said. "They helped make us a recognized team each and every week and we will need to replace them...But the good thing is that we have a lot of returning athletes who gained valuable experience this year."
Season-Best Performances:
4x800 relay: Maria Kiminski, Maddie Strid, Bailey Opsal, Nicole Clifton, 10:16.6
100-meter hurdles: Nadia Lorencz, 15.28
100-meter dash: Mary Cline, 13.23
4x200 relay: Alyssa Parco, Kelli Elmer, Izzie Ferm, Erin Hickey, 1:42.4
1600-meter run: Opsal, 5:35.2
4x100 relay: Cline, Jessica Arey, Elmer, Kelly Kornmann, 50.42
400-meter dash: Ferm, 59.66
300-meter hurdles: Parco, 44.81
800-meter run: Kiminski, 2:29.9
200-meter dash: Ferm, 27.75
3200-meter run: Opsal, 12:42.3
4x400 relay: Parco, Hickey, Ferm, Kiminski 3:54.51
Short sprint medley: Elmer, Kornmann, Courtney Johnston, Meghan Graham, 1:53.5
Sprint medley: Cline, Ferm, Hickey, Kiminski, 4:21
Distance medley: Kayla Long, Strid, Hannah Seitzinger, Victoria Jacoby, 13.29.4
4x1600: Marciella Pacheco, Sarah Cummings, Jacoby, Long, 24:51
Shuttle hurdle relay: Parco, Arey, Lorencz, Kathryn Beckett, 1:11.8
Intermediate hurdle relay: Parco, Kassy Seegert, Arey, Beckett, 3:31.1
High jump: Lorencz, 5-0
Long jump: Lorencz, 18-7
Triple jump: Lorencz, 36-10
Pole vault: Lorencz, 9-3
Shot put: Alysha Grebner, 30-11
Discus: Grebner, 98-0
