WEST FARGO, N.D. – The Valley City Hi-Liners kicked off their outdoor track and field season at West Fargo Sheyenne with an impressive showing, recording multiple personal and school records and qualifying several athletes for the state meet in May.
For many team members, it marked their first outdoor competition—and for newcomers, their first chance to compete in events not offered during the indoor season. Valley City will continue its campaign at the Oak Grove meet on Thursday, April 17, hosted at Jake Christiansen Stadium on the campus of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn.
Women’s Team
The Hi-Liner girls had 12 athletes place in events, posted nine personal bests, and broke two school records.
Morgan Larson narrowly missed state qualification in both the 100m and 200m dashes. She placed fourth in the 200m and finished ninth in the 100m.
Maddie Wendel placed fourth in the pole vault, tying for second all-time in the VCHS record books and setting a new senior class record.
Greta Goven continued her push toward state qualification, placing second in both the 1600m and 800m runs.
Brynn Lueck, coming off basketball season, placed fifth in the 800m in her first outdoor race of the season.
Chesney Thomsen recorded a personal best and placed seventh in the 200m, showing continued growth from the indoor season.
Cadence Fetsch impressed with a fifth-place finish in the 1600m (PR) and eighth in the 800m.
In the field events, Tessa Anderson (shot put) and Rebekah (discus) each set personal records.
State Qualifiers
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Layni Bakalar – Long jump
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Maddie Wendel – Pole vault
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4×100 Relay (Bakalar, Kinley Larson, Thomsen, M. Larson) – Qualified
New VCHS Records
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Maddie Wendel – Tied 2nd overall in pole vault; set senior class record
Additional Personal Records
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Katie Jones – 200m
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Gabby Wadeson – 200m
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Kinley Larson – 100m
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Courtney Matcha – 1600m
Men’s Team
The boys had 13 athletes place, with 10 personal records and one school record set.
Dylan Hunt led the way, winning the shot put with a personal best and qualifying for state. He also placed third in the discus and now ranks 10th all-time in VCHS shot put history.
Derek Shape placed seventh in the 200m and helped the 4x100m relay team (which also included Jaden Suhr, Isaac Norby, and Jake Anderson) to a fifth-place finish and a state-qualifying time.
Koltyn Grebel placed fourth in the 400m and continues to close in on a qualifying mark.
In the shot put, the boys’ squad showed major improvements with six athletes setting new personal records: Dylan Hunt, Scot Roode, Owen Hunt, Pablo Acosta, Aaron Deaver, and Trever Mathias.
Owen Hunt also set a personal best in discus, following in the footsteps of his older brother Dylan.
Jack Sorby, new to jumping this season, is making strides. He set two personal records at the meet—in the 1600m and long jump.
State Qualifiers
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Dylan Hunt – Shot put
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4×100 Relay (Suhr, Norby, Anderson, Shape) – Qualified
New VCHS Records
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Dylan Hunt – 10th overall in shot put
Additional Personal Records
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Kellen Westman – Triple jump