Murray County Central’s junior high track and field teams turned in a dominant performance at the Red Rock Conference “C” Squad Meet, highlighted by a conference championship for the boys team and a runner-up finish for the girls squad.
The MCC boys piled up 140 team points to easily outdistance second-place Hills-Beaver Creek (110.5), while the Rebel girls scored 129 points to finish just behind conference champion SW Minnesota Christian/Edgerton (132).
MCC athletes claimed multiple individual conference titles and delivered strong performances across the track and field events.
On the boys’ side, eighth grader Carter Larson was a double winner in the distance races, capturing the 800-meter run in 2:27.79 and the 1600 meters in a personal-best 5:26.16. Connor Pieske added runner-up finishes in both races, clocking 2:32.14 in the 800 and 5:37.81 in the 1600.
Henry Hause led a strong showing in the sprint and jumping events. Hause finished second in the 400-meter dash with a personal-best 58.60 seconds, then cleared a personal-best 5-foot-5 to win the high jump. He also took third in the long jump at 16-6.
MCC’s relay teams also excelled. The Rebels won the 4x400 relay as Wesley Biegler, Carter Larson, Cyril Zenk and Henry Hause combined for a time of 4:10.61. The 4x100 relay team of Deacon Pieske, Wesley Biegler, Garrett Reith and Tatum Molitor added a third-place finish in 58.41.
Cyril Zenk dominated the throwing events for MCC, sweeping both titles. Zenk won the shot put with a throw of 40-6 and uncorked a personal-best 146-1 to capture the discus title. Solomon Wolske added points in both events by placing fifth in discus (77-1) and 11th in shot put.
Additional strong finishes for the Rebels included Tatum Molitor placing sixth in the 200 meters in a personal-best 28.73 and fourth in the 100-meter hurdles in 19.75. Wesley Biegler added a fifth-place finish in the 400, while Deacon Pieske captured the pole vault title by clearing 8-0.
Connor Pieske also finished third in the triple jump with a leap of 33-4, and Wesley Biegler placed seventh in the long jump at 14-11.
For the MCC girls, Charley Holm turned in one of the top performances of the meet. Holm sprinted to conference championships in both the 100 meters (13.58) and 200 meters (28.57), while also winning the pole vault with a personal-best 8-0. She added a runner-up finish in the long jump at 15-0 1/2.
Isabela Schreier added another runner-up effort for the Rebels in the 400-meter dash, running 1:07.78, and later anchored MCC’s winning 4x400 relay team. Schreier teamed with Cassie Scandrett, Kenslee Bobeldyk and Jada Jackels to win the event in 4:45.83.
MCC distance runners also delivered key points. Ainsley Pieske placed second in the 1600 meters in 6:42.02 and sixth in the 800 at 3:01.71. Sophia Hamersma added a fourth-place finish in the 1600 with a personal-best 7:06.23 and was eighth in the 800.
In the hurdles, Kenslee Bobeldyk finished third in the 100-meter hurdles with a personal-best 19.07, while Aleigha Schroeder placed seventh and Jada Jackels finished 10th.
The Rebels also showed strength in the field events. Olivia Heard finished second in the shot put at 25-3 and won the discus with a throw of 871. Kiana Platt added points in both throws, taking 12th in discus with a personal-best 52-9 and 21st in shot put.
MCC’s jumpers contributed valuable points as well. Aleigha Schroeder placed sixth in the long jump with a personal-best 13-2 1/2, while Cassie Scandrett finished fourth in the triple jump at 29-6 and Bobeldyk added a sixth-place finish with a personal-best 28-3.
The Rebels also received contributions from their sprint relays, as the 4x100 team of Cassie Scandrett, Alaina Bonnstetter, Madi Stelter and Jada Jackels finished fifth in 59.86.
With numerous personal bests, conference titles and strong relay performances, the MCC junior high teams capped off an impressive day at the Red Rock Conference meet.
