Rugby’s first outdoor track and field meet of the season, held in Rugby on Tuesday, April 26, was a huge success.

Both the boys and girls teams came away with first place wins. The boys won with 152.50 points which was almost double what second place Harvey-Wells Co. earned at 88 points. The girls took first with a score of 126 points. Carrington was second with 105.5 points. Rolette/Wolford girls ranked 17th at this meet.

“For the first outdoor meet of the year we were pretty happy,” said Boys Coach Scott Grochow. “Not only for those who qualified for state, but others who did very well.”

Five Rugby athletes qualified for state in their chosen events at this meet. The two boys were: Eric Kuntz – 110 M Hurdles, 300 M Hurdles, Long Jump, and Pole Vault; and David McAtee – Javelin. On the Lady Panthers Team, those qualifying for state in this meet are: Crystal Hovland – 100 M Hurdles, 300 M Hurdles, and as a member of the 4×100 Relay and 4×200 Relay; Molly Koenig – Shot Put; and Aubrey Hovland – High Jump and as a member of the 4×100 Relay and 4×200 Relay.

Kyle Volk added to the boys’ team total with an impressive first place finish in the 800 M Run. Volk achieved a second place finish in the 1600 M Run and was a member of the winning 4×400 Relay Team along with Chris Hamilton, Kent Schmaltz, and Andrew Hershey.

Erik Wangler placed second in the 3200 Meter Run. Levi Schaan brought home a third place finish in the Long Jump, a third place finish in the High Jump and a sixth place finish in the Triple Jump.

Senior Jason Goetz placed in the top six in a few events. He placed fifth in the 110 High Hurdles, fifth in the 300 M Hurdles, and sixth place in the Pole Vault.

Josh Tank took fourth place in the Triple Jump. Jarett Lovcik came home with a sixth place in the 300 M Hurdles. Tyler Larson won seventh place in the 3200 M Run. Chris Hamilton took seventh in the Triple Jump.

DJ Wilke threw the discus 121’4″ to win 7th place. Mackenzie Koenig pole vaulted 9′ and tied for 7th place with Clemens Zeiler of Benson County.

For the girls’ team; Junior Sydney Kraft brought home a second place finish in the 800 M Run, and a third place finish in the 1600 M Run. She was followed in the 1600 M Run by Lauren Christenson with a fourth place finish.

Senior Rachel Hoffert ran to a fourth place finish in the 200 M Dash and was a team member of the 4×100 Relay which took second place and the 4×200 Relay which took first place.

In the 3200 M Run, Chandra Yankton took fifth place and Alexis Thompson took a seventh place finish.

Aubrey Hovland finished fifth in the 100 M Hurdles. Anja Selland placed seventh in the Long Jump and fifth in the Triple Jump. Abby Paul added to the team total with an eighth place finish in the Triple Jump. Jessica Blessum placed fifth in the High Jump.

Emily Stier finished in second place behind Crystal Hovland in the 300 M Hurdles.

Molly Koenig took a fourth place in Javelin to go with her second place, state-qualifying throw in the Shot Put.

Senior Crystal Hovland in the last season of her high school track career did an outstanding job in the meet.