Track: Tigers win Foley Classic the easy way

Tanner Grubb 3-event winner (photo by J. Lindquist)

Justin Hyytinen broke 800-meter school record (photo by J. Lindquist)

Farmington won Thursday's annual Pat Foley Classic at Carleton College in Northfield by, well, the luck of the draw.

Team points aren't kept at the triangular get-together with section rivals Northfield and Rochester John Marshall but the winner is rather determined by a random drawing of a name of of one of the 36 events (boys and girls).

In this case the "winner" was the boys' 200-meter dash and because Farmington's Jack Erickson was the winner of that event, the Tiger boys and girls teams were declared meet champions.

"It was fun to see the boys and girls run the victory lap together," Tiger boys' coach Brian Helmstetter said.

In addition to the fun format to determine a team winner, the meet also served as a final tune-up for next Thursday's Missota Conference Championships at Chanhassen.

"We had some good times and we figured out a few things tonight," Helmstetter said.

One thing he figured out was that he may face a dilemma in where to run junior Justin Hyytinen in the conference and section meets. Hyytinen, already one of the best 1600 and 3200-meter runners in the state, broke Henry Schneider's 28-year old record in the 800-meter run with a 1:56.01 clocking.

But Hyytinen's second school record run of the season wasn't the only boys' highlight. Farmington won 12 of the meet's 18 events and piled up the lower places as well.

Tanner Grubb was a three-event winner, capturing the 100-meter and 400-meter dashes and joining with Mason Auge, Ryan Parco and Erickson to claim the 4x200 relay.

Five other Tigers won individual events: Jeff Gutierrez, 3200-meter run; Nehemiah Rockett, 110-meter hurdles; Zach Herrera, high jump; Sean McHenry, long jump and Mason Gaylord, triple jump.

The 4x100 relay team of Erickson, McHenry, Auge and Caleb Bray and the 4x400 foursome of Webb, Gaylord, Robin DeCastro and Jared Wolt also put together first place finishes.

Other top three Tiger performances:
100-meter dash: 3. McHenry
200-meter dash: 2. Auge.
400-meter run: 2. Parco; 3. Rockett
800-meter run: 2. Webb
1600-meter run: 3. Roberto Vasquez
3200-meter run: 3. Hunter Sevenich
Pole vault: 3. Wyatt Ferm
Long jump: Parco
Triple jump: 3. Dalton States
Shot put: 2. Mike Husnick; 3. Tanner Thode
Discus: 2. CJ Wynings; 3. Brendan King

Isabelle Ferm was a two-event winner (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Tiger girls won four individual events and one relay at the Foley Classic. Isabelle Ferm was a two-event winner, taking the triple jump and teaming with Jennifer Miller, Morgan Cecchittini and Kelli Elmer to win the 4x200 relay.

Other individual winners included Samantha Kramer, 200-meter dash; Destiny Schmitz, high jump; Jordan Walls, 100-meter hurdles and Leah Kiage, 300-meter hurdles.

"We had some good performances in less than ideal May conditions," Tiger coach Tom Hart said, "Hopefully that transfers over to next week."

Other top three Tigers finishes:
4x800 relay: 2. Maricella Pacheco, Sara Cummings, Anna Palodichuk, Alexis Johnson
200-meter dash: 2. Nicole Doran; 3. Alexandra Hermosa
400-meter dash; 3. Amanda Schmidt
800-meter run: 2. Alicia Hett
3200-meter run: 2. Lauren Peterson
4x100 relay:  2. Elmer, Doran, Cecchittini, MaKayla Ford
High jump: 2. Kaitlyn Besler; 3. Kendall Novak
Pole vault: 3. Walls
Long jump: 3. Megan Graham
Triple jump: 3. Schmitz