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Charley Holm -
Ayden Like
The Murray County Central Rebels turned in a dominant performance at the South Sub-Section Track and Field Meet in Luverne, capturing the boys team championship and advancing a large group of athletes to the upcoming Section Meet.
The MCC boys piled up 186 points to easily outdistance runner-up Luverne with 108. SW Minnesota Christian/Edgerton finished third with 104, followed by Hills-Beaver Creek with 101.5. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton scored 77, Adrian/Ellsworth 49, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 35.5, and Pipestone Area 35.
On the girls’ side, Luverne claimed the team title with 205 points. Hills-Beaver Creek was second with 122, followed by SW Minnesota Christian/Edgerton with 99. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton scored 74, Pipestone Area 64, Murray County Central 50, Adrian/Ellsworth 47, and Tracy- Milroy-Balaton 27.
The top four finishers in each event would automatically qualify for the Section Meet, while the next four best performances from across the three sub-sections also earned wildcard spots into the sections.
The Rebels were especially strong in the boys’ relays and distance events. The MCC 4x800 relay team of Brayden Gilb, Beckett Stelter, Henry Carlson, and Alexander Betz captured the title in 8:40.04 to qualify for sections. MCC also qualified its 4x400 relay team as Brayden Gilb, Beckett Stelter, Alexander Betz, and Lucas Kuball finished third in 3:33.57.
Individually, Lucas Kuball had a huge meet for the Rebels. He qualified in four events, placing sixth in the 100 meters in 11.39, third in the 400 meters in 52.91, second in the long jump with a leap of 19-2, and helping the 4x400 relay qualify.
Parker Olson also qualified in multiple events. The sophomore took third in the 200 meters in a personal-best 24.33, was runner-up in the 110 hurdles in a personal-best 16.76, finished second in the 300 hurdles in 45.59, and placed fifth in the long jump at 18-11.
Tyler Reith added a pair of section qualifications in the hurdles, placing third in the 110 hurdles in 17.30 and third in the 300 hurdles in 46.07.
The Rebels dominated the middle-distance races. Alexander Betz placed second in the 800 meters in 2:06.90 to qualify, while teammate Henry Carlson also advanced by taking third in 2:11.15.
In the distance races, Micah Janssen qualified in the 1600 meters with a second-place finish in 5:04.74, while eighth grader Carter Larson was third in 5:22.23 to advance. Larson narrowly missed another qualifying spot in the 3200 meters, taking fifth in 11:51.53. Connor Pieske was sixth in 11:59.59 and Wesley Hause placed seventh in 12:09.03.
MCC also excelled in the field events. Caleb Rosenbrook won the pole vault with a personal- best clearance of 12-3, while Luke Iverson tied for fourth at 10-4 to also qualify. Austin Reese added a seventh-place finish for the Rebels.
In the high jump, Brett Pieske cleared 5-6 to finish second and qualify, while eighth grader Henry Hause also advanced by taking fourth at 5-4.
The Rebels earned additional qualifying performances in the jumps as Dylan Gilbertson took fourth in the triple jump at 36-11.5 and Brett Pieske placed third with a jump of 37-8.5.
MCC’s throwers also had a strong day. Broox Platt finished third in the shot put with a toss of 44-1.25 to qualify, while Gabriel Wolske was sixth at 41-5. Wolske earned a Section berth in the discus by taking second with a throw of 129-2, while Platt was sixth at 116-0. Eighth grader Cyril Zenk added personal bests in both throws, placing seventh in discus and 13th in shot put.
Other notable Rebel boys’ performances included Henry Hause placing ninth in the 400 meters, Kolten Nielsen taking 13th in the 100 and running on the qualifying 4x100 and 4x200 relays, and Ayden Like finishing seventh in the high jump.
The MCC girls were led by several standout young athletes.
Eighth grader Charley Holm qualified in three events. She took fourth in the 100 meters in a personal-best 13.03, tied for third in the pole vault with a personal-best 8-8, and placed fourth in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 15-10.
Isabela Schreier also had an outstanding meet for the Rebels, qualifying for sections with a third-place finish in the 400 meters in a personal-best 1:04.86. Schreier also placed ninth in the long jump.
Seventh grader Kenslee Bobeldyk narrowly missed an individual qualifying spot in the 300 hurdles, taking 10th in a personal-best 53.11, but she helped the Rebels qualify in the 4x400 relay. Bobeldyk teamed with Isabela Schreier, Kora Kremer, and Charley Holm to place third in 4:25.09 and advance to sections.
In the field events, Kora Kremer placed fifth in the pole vault with a personal-best 7-8, while Chloee Kremer qualified by finishing sixth at 7-2. Cassie Scandrett turned in a personal- best triple jump of 29-9 to place ninth, and Holland Vogel was 17th in the triple jump while also taking fifth in the 1600 meters and fourth in the 3200 meters to qualify for sections in the 3200.
Sophia Hamersma added a ninth-place finish in the 1600 meters for MCC.
In the throws, seventh grader Olivia Heard had a strong meet with a 10th-place finish in the shot put and a fifth-place finish in the discus.
The Rebels will next compete at the Section Meet as they continue their pursuit of state tournament berths.
