Girls Track: Relays shine at Shakopee

Tiger sprinter Emma Record (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Farmington loaded up its relay teams at Friday's four-team invitational meet at Shakopee and the move produced big results as the Tigers won three of the four relay races and finished runner-up in the other.

Defending Missota Conference champion Chanhassen won the meet with 110.5 points, followed by Shakopee 81.5, Farmington 72.5 and Holy Angels 17.5.

"It was a lot of fun to see so many kids competing and giving it their all," Farmignton coach Tom Hart said. "It was a great day to be at a track meet."

The Tigers scored six first place finishes in the 18 events. Three of them came in individual events with Ashley Ellefson taking honors in the pole vault (8-0); Isabelle Ferm leading the pack in the triple jump (33-10.5) and Aly Grebner winning the discus (95-1).

But it was the relays where coach Tom Hart's team really stood out. The first win came from the 4x800 quarter of Alicia Hett, Lauren Peterson, Sofia Chadwick and Maricia Pacheco who clocked 10:09.51 to win by 30 seconds.

The 4x200 team of Jennifer Miller, Emma Record, Megan Graham and Ferm brought home the second winner with a finishing time of 1:48.07. The third blue ribbon relay performance of the day came from the 4x400 grouping of Hett, Graham, Miller and Ferm who punched the clock in a good early season time of 4:08.28.

A fourth relay entry, the 4x100 foursome of Record, Kelli Elmer, Nicole Doran and Amanda Flanscha  ranked second.

Distance runner Maricia Pacheco (photo by J. Lindquist)

Hett took second in the in the 800-meter run as did Jordan Walls in the long jump. Destiny Schmitz tied for the runner-up spot in the high jump.

Three Tigers scored third place points: Grebner, shot put; Pacheco, 800-meter run and Elizabeth Welter, long jump.

Four more Farmington performers took fourth place, including Cecchittini, 100-meter dash; Peterson, 1600-meter run; Maricella Pacheco, 3200-meter run and Makayla Ford, 200-meter dash.

Leah Kiage ranked fifth in the 300-meter hurdles as did Welter in the triple jump and Jessica Bowens in the discus.

Next Thursday the Tigers host their annual invitational meet at Tiger Stadium. Other participating teams include Lakeville South, New Prague, Prior Lake, Red Wing and Woodbury.