by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
The Thief River Falls track and field teams collectively had their most complete meet of the season so far Friday night with 20 first-place finishes.
The Prowlers won both team championships as well, keeping the girls’ traveling trophy in-house and bringing the boys’ trophy home after it was won by the BGMR/Northern Freeze co-op last year.
“Since we first started the Twilight meet back in 2021 the meet has continued to grow and this year it officially doubled in size from the first year,” said Co-Head Coach Nathan Hruby. “There is something special about a track meet under the lights and our kids I would think have this as their top meet of the year. Last year, the boys were edged out by BGMR/NF for the traveling trophy and this year they were all business on getting that back. They knew right from the get go what they all needed to do in order to make that happen. Across the board we had multiple season bests from all areas of competition.”
Event winners for the Thief River Falls boys team included William MacLean in the 200 meter dash; Everett Nelson in the 400 and high jump; Curtis Griffin in the 1600; Ian Hruby in the 300 hurdles; Clayton Rudy in the wheelchair 100, wheelchair shot put and wheelchair discus; the 4×400 relay of Briley Olsonawski, Jaxson Tanner, Colin MacLean and Griffin; the sprint medley relay team of Tallon Vorderbruggen, Tanner, Nelson and William MacLean; and the distance medley relay team of Colin MacLean, Nelson, William MacLean and Griffin.
“Our relay teams that we normally do not run which are the Sprint Medley and Distance Medley relays shined Friday night,” Hruby said. “Both relays broke the established school records from last season. It was really special to get our four seniors – Will, JT, Everett, and Tallon – a school record as pay off for their years of hard work and determination. The distance medley boys -Will, Everett, Curtis, and Colin – also had a chance to break the school record.
“Much like the girls having fun in their grandma dresses, both boys relays came out rocking some wrestling singlets. Katie and I very much let the kids have fun with this meet, however, in the fun, the kids still know what was necessary for both teams to take home the traveling trophy, break some records, and set new PRs.”
Other high finishers for the Thief River Falls boys team included Colin MacLean placing second in the 400; Ian Hruby placing second in the 110 hurdles; Tobias Sobotta finishing eighth in the 400, third in the 800 and third in the 1600; Lincoln Davis finishing fourth in pole vault; Caleb Mauch finishing fourth in the 300 hurdles and fourth in triple jump; Bruggeman placing fourth in shot put; Carsen Walseth placing sixth in long jump; Olsonawski placing sixth in the 200, third in the 400 and fifth in the long jump; Wyatt Novak placing fifth in the 800 and fourth in the 1600; Vordebruggen finishing seventh in the 100, fifth in the 200, and fourth in long jump; Kasprowicz placing seventh in the discus; Dylan Lane placing seventh in the 800 and fifth in the 1600; Luke Smith placing eighth in the 800 and eighth in the 1600; and a fourth place finish from the 4×100 relay team of Cash Reynolds, Kolton Ahlmjeld, Clay Nelson and Mauch.
The Thief River Falls girls track team has won the Twilight Meet every year since it debuted in 2021. This year, they were almost 30 points better than runner-up BGMR/Northern Freeze.
“This year was the biggest our Twilight Invitational has been since starting it in 2021,” said Co-Head Coach Katie Nelson. “The meet has doubled in size and the teams have a lot of fun running under the lights and having a couple different events like the medley and throwers relays. The girls team had won the trophy last year and wanted to keep it around for another year and they accomplished that goal.”
The Prowlers dominated the running events with wins in five of the eight individual races and four of the five relays.
Gwen Wojciechowski won the 100 and 200-meter dash. Kayla Peterson won the 400. Elory Mossestad won the 800. Evelyn Griffin won the 3200. The Prowlers got relay wins from the 4×400 team of Jordyn Skjerven, Mossestad, Livia Harbott and Peterson; the sprint medley relay of Mackenzie Lee, Janaya Albers, Wojciechowski and Kenzie Reynolds; the distance medley relay team of Griffin, Peterson, Livia Harbott and Mossestad with a school record-breaking performance; and the mixed throwers 4×100 relay team of Lila Dalager, Kasprowicz, Brianne Ellison and Joey Bruggeman.
“It was a team effort to take it home and the girls really worked hard while also having a little fun,” Nelson said. “We had multiple season best times and personal bests times achieved. Our relays worked together to come out on top or place high to win us points. Some highlights of the meet were watching the distance medley relay win and set a new school record, watching our ‘grandmas’ have a little fun in the sprint medley relay while also winning it. We let our athletes have fun during this meet, choosing to change up their uniforms, wearing sunglasses and being a little goofy while still showing us their athletic ability and working together to win the trophy.”
Along with non-traditional relays like the sprint medley relay and distance medley relay, the Twilight Meet is unique for its format, which has all the field events run to completion before the first running event. That, in turn, pushes the running events later into the evening.
“It is a different feeling running under the lights as well which is why we start the meet later and complete all field events so we can do as many events under the lights as possible,” Nelson said.
Other high finishers on the Prowler girls team include: Kelsey Baltes with a first place finish in the high jump; Harbott placing second in the 400; Kayla Peterson placing second in the triple jump; Avah Waldal placing second in shot put; Dalager placing third in the shot put; Adrian Solheim placing fourth in high jump; Kennedy Bakke placing fifth in the shot put and seventh in discus; Madelyn David placing sixth in high jump, fifth in long jump and third in triple jump; Ellison placing fifth in discus; Skjerven placing fifth in the 100 and eighth in the 400; Albers placing sixth in the 100 and fourth in the 200; Alyssa Foster finishing fourth in 100 hurdles, fifth in 300 hurdles and seventh in triple jump; Dicken placing fifth in the 200 and sixth in the high jump; Lee placing fourth in the 400 and eighth in the 200; Natalia Zoller placing sixth in the 800 and fourth in the 1600; Gabby Zoller placing sixth in the 1600; Sam Zoller placing seventh in the 1600; Ella Giffin placing eighth in the 100 hurdles and sixth in the 300 hurdles; and Aveah Hanson placing seventh in the 300 hurdles.
Team Scores
• Girls – 1. Thief River Falls 205; 2. BGMR Freeze 179; 3. Ada-Borup-West 75; 4. Goodridge/Grygla 73; 5. Red Lake County 43; 6. Win-E-mac 38; 7. Climax-Fisher-Sacred Heart 17.
• Boys – 1. Thief River Falls 174; 2. Ada-Borup-West 142; 3. Climax-Fisher-Sacred Heart 75; 4. Goodridge/Grygla 73; 5. BGMR Freeze 69; 6. Red Lake County 44; 7. Win-E-Mac 15.
Winner/TRF Places-Girls
100 – 1. Gwen Wojciechowski, Thief River Falls, 12.86; 5. Jordyn Skjerven 13.75; 6. Janaya Albers 13.82; 9. Bella Dicken 13.90; 11. Lila Dalager 14.21; 20. Nora Bruggeman 15.24; 29. Kennedi Kalinowski 16.11.
200 – 1. Gwen Wojciechowski, Thief River Falls, 26.80; 4. Janaya Albers 28.74; 5. Bella Dicken 28.99; 8. Mackenzie Lee 29.59; 15. Ella Giffin 31.14; 19. Nora Bruggeman 31.87; 27. Kennedi Kalinowski 34.27.
400 – 1. Kayla Peterson, Thief River Falls, 1:02.11; 2. Livia Harbott 1:05.47; 4. Mackenzie Lee 1:08.10; 8. Jordyn Skjerven 1:10.58.
800 – 1. Elory Mossestad, Thief River Falls, 2:33.34; 6. Natalia Zoller 3:04.03; 10. Gabby Zoller 3:12.66; 11. Samantha Zoller 3:15.63.
1600 – 1. Elizabeth Lytle, Red Lake County, 6:27.85; 4. Natalia Zoller 7:04.05; 6. Gabby Zoller 7:14.87; 7. Samantha Zoller 7:45.69.
3200 – 1. Evelyn Griffin, Thief River Falls, 14:47.49.
100m Hurdles – 33″ – 1. Ashlyn Nelson, Goodridge/Grygla, 18.10; 4. Alyssa Foster 20.36; 8. Ella Giffen 23.05; 10. Aveah Hanson 24.15.
300m Hurdles – 30″ – 1. Brianne Myers, Ada-Borup-West, 52.17; 5. Alyssa Foster 56.66; 6. Ella Giffen 59.16; 7. Aveah Hanson 1:07.22.
4×100 Relay –1. BGMR Freeze – A 54:18; 3. TRF A (Bella Dicken, Kelsey Baltes, Adrian Solheim, Madelyn David) 57.47.
4×400 Relay – 1. TRF A (Jordyn Skjerven, Elory Mossestad, Livia Harbott, Kayla Peterson) 4:33.78a.
Sprint Medley Relay 800m – [100-100-200-400] – 1. TRF A (1. Mackenzie Lee, Janaya Albers, Gwen Wojciechowski, Kenzie Reynolds) 2:01.48.
Distance Medley Relay 4000m – [1200-400-800-1600] – 1. TRF A (Evelyn Griffin, Kayla Peterson, Livia Harbott, Elory Mossestad) 13:49.86.
Shot Put – 4kg – 1. Kylee Gust, BGMR Freeze, 27-07.5; 2. Avah Waldal 26-06.00; 3. Lila Dalager 26-06.00; 5. Kennedy Bakke 25-11.00; 9. Natalia Zoller 24-01.00; 11. Brianne Ellison 23-06.00; 15. Kennedi Kalinowski 22-10.50; 16. Cora Jensen 22-06.50; 17. Dawson Colden 22-02.50; 20. Braylin Fish 20-05.00.
Discus – 1kg – 1. Kylee Gust, BGMR Freeze, 76-04; 5. Brianne Ellison 64-00; 7. Kennedy Bakke 59-07; 12. Kennedi Kalinowski 54-11; 17. Braylin Fish 41-10; 18. Cora Jensen 39-11; 19. Dawson Colden 33-01.
High Jump – 1. Kelsey Baltes, Thief River Falls, 4-08.00; 4. Adrian Solheim 4-06.00; 6. Bella Dicken 4-04.00; 6. Madelyn David 4-04.00; 10. Nora Bruggeman 4-00.00.
Pole Vault – 1. Brooke Bjorgaard, BGMR Freeze, 7-00.00.
Long Jump – 1. Julia Miller, Ada-Borup-West, 15-11.25; 5. Madelyn David 13-11.00; 15. Alyssa Foster 12-03.50; 19. Gabby Zoller 11-07.00;
22. Evelyn Griffin 11-02.25.
Triple Jump – 1. Kylie Snare, BGMR Freeze, 33-11.00; 2. Kayla Peterson 32-02.25; 3. Madelyn David 32-02.00; 7. Alyssa Foster 27-07.50P.
Mixed Results
Mixed Throwers 4×100 Relay – Throwers – 1. TRF A (Kennedy Bakke, Parker Kasprowicz, Brianne Ellison, Joey Bruggeman) 58.44.
Winner/TRF Places-Boys
100 – 1. Grady Hockstedler, BGMR Freeze, 11.51; 7. Tallon Vordebruggen 12.21; 13. Jaxson Tanner 12.82; 19. Keaton Tillett 13.30; 21. William Smith 13.57; 32. Allen Smith 14.85.
100 Wheelchair – 1. Clayton Rudi, Thief River Falls, 32.01.
200 – 1. William MacLean, Thief River Falls, 23.93; 5. Tallon Vordebruggen 25.16; 6. Briley Olsonawski 25.47; 11. Caleb Mauch 26.93; 13. Carson Walseth 27.28; 17. William Smith 27.62; 20. Keaton Tillett 28.03; 33. Allen Smith 32.38.
400 – 1. 1. Everett Nelson, Thief River Falls, 53.89; 2. Colin MacLean 55.66; 3. Briley Olsonawski 55.81; 8. Tobias Sobotta 1:01.78; 9. Michael Rowe 1:01.95.
800 – 1. Eli Nelson, Goodridge/Grygla, 2:21.66; 3. Tobias Sobotta 2:27.97; 5. Wyatt Novak 2:36.40; 7. Dylan Lane 2:39.18; 8. Luke Smith 2:55.92.
1600 – 1. Curtis Griffin, Thief River Falls, 4:50.85; 3. Tobias Sobotta 5:34.28; 4. Wyatt Novak 5:37.13; 5. Dylan Lane 5:50.71; 8. Luke Smith 6:25.75.
110m Hurdles – 39″ – Kelby Kujansen, Ada-Borup-West, 18.37; 2. Ian Hruby 18.67.
300m Hurdles – 36″ – 1. Ian Hruby, Thief River Falls, 46.98; 4. Caleb Mauch 53.25.
4×100 Relay – 1. BGMR Freeze 48.48; 4. TRF A (Cash Reynolds, Kolton Ahlmjeld, Clay Nelson, Caleb Mauch) 49.78.
4×400 Relay – 1. TRF A (Briley Olsonawski, Jaxson Tanner, Colin MacLean, Curtis Griffin) 3:49.48.
Sprint Medley Relay 800m – [100-100-200-400] – 1. TRF A (Tallon Vordebruggen, Jaxson Tanner, Everett Nelson, William MacLean) 1:41.14; 7. TRF B (Cash Reynolds, Clay Nelson, Carson Walseth, Michael Rowe) 1:54.74.
Distance Medley Relay 4000m – [1200-400-800-1600] – 1. TRF A (Colin MacLean, Everett Nelson, William MacLean, Curtis Griffin) 11:18.40.
Shot Put – 12lb – 1. Ayden Peterson, Ada-Borup-West, 42-00.50; 4. Joey Bruggeman 37-07.00; 9. Kolton Ahlmjeld 34-09.00; 15. Parker Kasprowicz 32-06.50; 20. Michael Rowe 28-11.50.
Shot Put – 12lb Wheelchair – 1. Clayton Rudi, Thief River Falls, 8-01.50.
Discus – 1.6kg – 1. Bergen Howard, Win-E-Mac, 127-07; 7. Parker Kasprowicz 96-00; 13. Joey Bruggeman 86-07; 14. Kolton Ahlmjeld 82-00; 20. Michael Rowe 70-10.
Discus – Wheelchair – 1. Clayton Rudi, Thief River Falls, 20-00.
High Jump – 1. Everett Nelson, Thief River Falls, 5-10.00.
Pole Vault – 1. Luke Jalbert, Ada-Borup-West, 11-00.00; 4. Lincoln Davis 8-06.00.
Long Jump – 1. Mason Larson, Ada-Borup-West, 18-00.75; 4. Tallon Vordebruggen 16-04.50; 5. Briley Olsonawski 15-08.75; 6. Carson Walseth 15-04.50; 12. Ian Hruby 14-06.50.
Triple Jump – 1. Landon Nordby, Goodridge/Grygla, 36-02.50; 4. Caleb Mauch 32-00.50.