Boys Track & Field: Another team title for Irish

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Competing last week in the Lake Conference Championships, the Rosemount boys track and field team knew it had a chance to post a finish among the top teams.

After winning the True Team section and state titles, and placing second at the Lake Conference relays earlier, the talent was obvious. Coach Jay Hatleli’s only question was how his team would handle the grind of the season.

“It was a great opportunity for our guys,” Hatleli said after the Irish won the Lake Conference Championships. “They came through, won and had a great time doing it. The way the schedule is, with so many important meets in a tight schedule, you’re never sure how the kids are going to respond.

“It’s how we have to put together the schedule. You can’t complain about it. But it’s a lot more doable when you have success at the end of it.”

Rosemount scored 134.50 points to win the team title, besting Eagan’s 129.50 points.

Austin Eliason won the 200-meter dash, placed fifth in the 100 and was ninth in the long jump.

Christian Willman was second in the 400 and seventh in the 200. Goaner Deng added a fourth-place finish in the 400.

Ben Koeppen and Chris Mergens were fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 800.

Chris Massey won the 1,600 and 3,200 races.

Zach Vraa was second in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the 300 hurdles.

Abasher Abasher, Koeppen, Chandler Dye, and Mergens combined to win the 4x800 relay.

Brandt Berghuis won the shot put with Andy Malicki placing second. Joe Bjorklund was sixth.

Berghuis was seventh in the discus.

Brandon Wolff was sixth in the high jump.

“It was a team effort and a lot of guys scored points,” Hatleli said. “But in these later meets, you need those big-point scoring guys too.”

Tags: track and field, sports, rosemount