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| Nadia Lorencz 3 1sts, 2nd (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
"I was hoping for the top three going in," coach Tom Hart said of Farmington's best-ever finish at the conference meet. "But we got some some amazing performances today. Nadia, Izzie and Alyssa just keep getting better and better and Megan Graham, Alicia Hett and Jessica Arey helped get us some valuable points."
A well-balanced Northfield squad took home the championship hardware with 171.5 points. The Tigers scored 147, followed by Shakopee 140, Shakopee 130, Red Wing 97, New Prague 87.5, Chaska 72 and and Holy Angels 48.5.
The Big Three had a hand in an incredible 113 points. Lorencz led the way with three firsts and a second. She won the 100-meter hurdles (15.38), triple jump (36-9.5) and high jump (5-2) and was a half inch away from a win in the long jump.
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| Alyssa Parco 2 1sts. 2nds (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
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| Izzie Ferm 2 1sts, 2 2nds (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
Parco, who will run for Brigham Young University next year, won the 300-meter hurdles in 44.65, breaking her own league record set last year. She took second in the 100-meter dash and ran the opening leg for the winning 4x400 relay team that set another conference record. Parc also picked up a point for a ninth place finish in the long jump.
Ferm claimed the 400-meter run in a breeze in 58.2, beating teammate and runner-up Graham by almost five seconds. She also ranked second in the 200-meter dash and triple jump and anchored the recording-breaking 4x400relay team.
"What can you say about those three," Hart said. "The big thing they all bring is their competitiveness. Whether it's practice or a meet, they lay it all out there every day.
"They set the tone and example for the younger athletes. The younger girls like Megan (Graham) see that work ethic and it becomes contagious. They are amazing to work with."
Graham had a breakout meet, scoring a second place finish in the open 400 and running an outstanding third leg of the 4x400 that broke up a close race with Northfield. She also scored fifth place points in the 4x200 meter relay.
"Megan has come so far the last couple of meets," assistant coach Lisa Lippold said.
Hett ran the second leg of the 4x400 and also picked up eighth place points in the 1600-meter run.
Arey ran a personal best in the 300-meter hurdles to pick up eight-team points and also ran on the seventh place 4x100 relay team..
"I am so proud of Jessica and her race today," Hart said. "What an effort."
Other Farmington point-scorers:
4x200 relay: 5. Jennifer Miller, Courtney Johnston, Graham, Laura Steege
4x100 relay: 7. Kelli Elmer, Kayla Watne, Arey, Elizabeth Okikolu
4x800 relay: 7. MacKenzie Vermeire, Maricella Pacheco, Alex Frost, Sarah Cummings
High jump: 7. Bekah Lippert
Shot put: 8. Aly Grebner
Long jump: 9. Destiny Schmitz
Next Saturday the Tigers make the short trip to Lakeville South for the Section 1AA Championships where the first and second place finishers in each event (as well as those meeting the state standard) advance to the Class AA state.
Last year Farmington scored a school record 72 points at state and ranked fourth in the team standings.
