Boys Track: Tigers runner-ups at Wildcat Invite

Tanner Grubb 400-mtere champion (photo by J. Lindquist)

Farmington scored points in all 18 events but it wasn't quite enough to bring home the first place trophy from the talent-rich Wildcat Invitational held Tuesday in Eagan.

Apple Valley won the team title with160 points. The Tigers ranked a solid second with 129.5, followed by Eagan 89, Bloomington Jefferson 71.5, Woodbury 60.5, Cretin-Derham Hall 24 and Park 23.5.

"We are a little like our girls team a couple of years ago," coach Brian Helmstetter said.. "We have some major standouts, just not quite as much depth for the big team meets. We will see though, some young guys are working hard.

"We have work to do, but the boys that are listening to the techniques the coaches are presenting are starting to break through and rise at the right time."

Three Tiger individuals scored first place finishes at Eagan. Tanner Grubb won the 400-meter dash in 50.99 seconds and Justin Hyytinen cruised to an easy win in the 3200-meter run with a finishing time of 9:25.01. Nehemiah Rockett added the third first with a 40.92 clocking in the 300-meter hurdles.

Farmington scored second place points in five events, three individual and two relays. Wyatt Ferm ranked second in both the high jump and pole vault and Rockett was runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles.

Nehemiah Rockett won the 300-meter hurdles (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The two second place relay teams were the 4x 400 foursome of Rockett, Grubb, Ryan Parco and Devon Webb and the 4x800 quartet of Adam Dougherty, Alex Hart, Jared Wolt and Webb.

Four Tiger entrants chipped in with third place points, including Grubb in the 200-meter dash; Sean Dougherty in the 1600-meter run; CJ Wynings in the discus and the 4x200 relay team of Mason Auge, Caleb Bary, Mason Gaylord and Jack Erickson.

Justin Hyytinen 1st at 3200-meters (photo by J.Lindquist)

Other Farmington point scorers:
100 meter dash: 5. Auge; 6. Erickson
200 meter dash: 6. Parco
800 meter run: 4. Webb; 6. Wolt
3200-meter run: 5. Hart
4x100 relay: Bray, Erickson, Auge, Sean McHenry
Pole vault: 6. Garrett Haugen
Long jump: 4. Parco
Triple jump: 4. Rockett; 6. Gaylord
Shot put: 4. Tanner Thode: 5. Alex Swearingen; 6. Josh Patterson
Discus: 4. Brendan King

Next up for the Tigers are the Missota Conference Relays scheduled for next Tuesday at Chaska.