Twenty three track and field teams from across southwest Minnesota embarked to Montevideo for the Section 3A Track and Field Championships. The top two finishers in each event would automatically qualify for the state meet as anyone that performed at a state standard for that event. The Rebel girls had sixteen entries in the meet while the boys had six.
Not that often over the last couple of years have Ashley and Amanda Overgaauw competed against each other in an event. That changed as they decided before the sub section meet to both enter the 1600 m run where they both qualified for the section meet by placing first and second. At sections, the two senior distance runners separated themselves from the pack after the first lap to place 1-2, ten seconds ahead of third place, to each qualify for the state meet. That was just the start of their day as they each would compete in one more individual event, Ashley in the 800 and Amanda in the 3200. Ashley found herself in a battle, being in third place after the first lap. She would make her move on the second lap, moving up to second place but would be unable to run down the leader, finishing in second place and qualifying for the state meet. Teammates Sophia Nelson and Megan Bakke also ran in the open 800 where Nelson would have a personal best time, placing 4th, while Bakke was 8th. Amanda Overgaauw ran in second place for the first seven laps of her race until deciding to increase the pace on the last lap to push herself into the lead, finishing with a section championship. Seventh grader Holland Vogel also ran in the 3200 where she would finish in 13th place.
Brylei Schreier competed in her second straight section meet running the 400. Despite running a great time, she would finish just out of qualifying by placing 4th. Brealyn Damm competed in two individual events, running the 100 hurdles where she would place 14th and jumping to a 10th place finish in the long jumps. Lindsey Hause also competed in two individual events, placing 8th in the 300 hurdles and 9th in the high jump. Callie Platt was the last girl track athlete to compete in an individual event. Callie would place 13th in the discus throw.
The girls also had three relays that qualified for the section meet. The 4x200 team of Courtney Gengler, Abby Overman, Suttyn Schryvers and Brealyn Damm placed 14th. The 4x800 team placed 5th. Running in that relay was Megan Bakke, Lindsey Hause, Lily Daniels and Sophia Nelson. The final relay on the day was the 4x400. The Rebels would find themselves in the lead through the first three laps but unfortunately were unable to hold on, placing 3rd, just out of state qualifying position. Brylei Schreier, Sophia Nelson, Megan Bakke and Ashley Overguaaw made up that relay team.
On the boys side, Ashton Kalas competed in three events at the section meet. Kalas’s best finish would be in the 110 hurdles where he would place 6th. In the 300 hurdles he would place 15th. He also was the leading leg of the 4x100 relay team that placed 11th. Other relay runners were Carson Engelkes, Dylan Doeden and Thomas Huso. Doeden would also compete individually in the discus throw placing 13th. The last individual competitor was eighth grader Alex Betz who would compete in the 800m run. Betz ran a personal best time on his way to a 14th place finish. Betz would also team up with Beckett Stelter, Wesley Hause and Walker Biren in the 4x800, placing 15th.
Ashley and Amanda will continue their storied career for one last weekend at the state meet. Ashley will run the 800 prelims while Amanda will compete in the 3200 finals on Thursday. Both will run in the 1600 finals on Friday. If Ashley makes the finals in the 800, she will also compete in that on Friday. Live state meet results will be available online through the Minnesota State High School League website. MCC social media sites will provide those links.
Full section results: https:// www.athletic.net/TrackAnd-Field/meet/515776/results
