Tigers repeat in Missota in record fashion

Justin Hyytinen: three first place finishes (photo by J. Lindquist)

Missota Conference records fell, school records went by the wayside and most importantly, the Tigers defended their team title at the last-ever Missota Conference Championships held Thursday  in Chanhassen.

Farmington amassed 211 points to win the 2014 conference hardware in dominant fashion. Shakopee was well back in second with 170, followed by New Prague 117, Chaska 114 5, Chanhassen 106, Red Wing 87, Holy Angels 74 and Northfield 18.

"Shakopee and Chanhassen were the teams to beat and it all depended on where our second and third runners were going to place," Tiger coach Brian Helmstetter said. "Our relays performed well despite not having the usual names which was also a crucial piece.

"This was one of the better conference meets in recent years when you look at the times and distances which makes it even more rewarding. We needed things to fall into place and we took care of business."

The Tigers broke two conference records and two school marks at the meet. Versatile Justin Hyytinen out-kicked Chaska's Joey Duerr to win the 3200-meter run and break former Tiger Ben Kampf's league and school mark in a 9:18.61 finishing time.

Tanner Grubb set 400-meter school record (photo by J. Lindquist)

Hyytinen also cruised to an easy win the 1600-meter run in 4:32.43 and closed the meet by anchoring the winning 4x400 relay.

That quartet of team of Nehemiah Rockett, Ryan Parco, Devon Webb and Hyytinen established the other new conference mark, running 3:26.21, breaking the old standard set by Northfield in 1985.

Tanner Grubb, who won the 200 and 400-meter dashes and took sixth in the 100-meter dash, broke 50 seconds in the 400 (49.64) to erase the old school mark of 50.1 set by Rob Vetell back in 1981.

Rockett, Webb and Parco also had big days for the conference champs.

In addition to leading off the record-setting 4x400 relay, Rockett won the 300-meter hurdles, took second in the 110-meter hurdles and placed fourth in the triple jump.

Parco, meanwhile ran the second leg of the 4x400 and ranked fifth in the open 400, fifth in the long jump and sixth in the 200-meter dash.

For his part, Webb logged the third leg of the 4x400, took third in the open 800 and anchored the winning 4x800 relay team of Hunter Sevenich, Jared Wolt and Adam Dougherty.

Sophomore distance runner Alex Hart turned in a fourth place performance in the 1600-meter run and ranked sixth in the 3200. Wolt was fourth in the open 800.

In the field events, CJ Wynings won the discus with a throw of 150-2. and teammate Brednan King placed second.

Nehemiah Rockett 300-hurdles conference champion (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Wyatt Ferm placed among the leaders in two events, taking second in the high jump and fourth in the pole vault.

Two Tiger relay teams finished fourth: the 4x100 foursome of Caleb Bary, Jack Erickson, Sean McHenry and Mason Auge and the 4x200 quartet of Auge, Bray, Mason Gaylord and Erickson.

Auge also took eighth in the 100-meter dash and Erickson was seventh in the 200. McHenry and Gaylor were fifth respectively in the long jump and triple jump. Zach Herrera scored eighth place points in the high jump and Tanner Thode placed ninth in the shot put.

Ryan Parco placed in four events (photo by Jim Lindquist)

"Early in the meet we had some athletes with some big performances and not just from our first place finishers," Helmstetter said. "But the guys that scored personal bests to get into the top nine. Those are the guys that helped win this meet.  It was great to see new faces make the podium."

Saturday the Tigers travel to Lakeville South for the Section 1AA Championships with the goal to qualify as many athletes as possible for the following week's state meet.