DARLINGTON - Ten area teams gathered Tuesday in Darlington for the Redbird Invitational, where the host Redbirds won the men's overall meet with a score of 169. Cuba City took top honors in the women's team standings (181), while the Darlington girls squad finished third with a score of 92.
For the men's events, Black Hawk's Jayden Rufenacht took first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.11 seconds, along with a second-place finish in the 100 meters with a time of 11.46.
In the 400 meters, Monroe's Alex Koller took the top spot with a time of 55.69. In the 800 meters, Darlington's Tyson Miehe outdueled Monroe's Derek Christiansen to finish first with a time of 2 minutes, 2.08 seconds.
In the 1,600 meters, it was a run for the ages as Monroe's Jake Hirsbrunner finished one second ahead of Miehe with a time of 4:18.65.
"That was an amazing race to watch," Darlington coach Todd Bastian said. "Both (Hirsbrunner and Miehe) are tremendous athletes, and they ran flat-out. It was a sight to see."
Albany's Aaron Johnson collected a second-place finish in the 3,200, finishing with a time of 10:33.42. Dalrington's Kyle Jonhson took first in the 110-meter hurdles (15.86), while the Redbirds 800- (1:38.14) and 1,600-meter (3:40.62) relay teams each finished second and first, respectively.
In the 3,200 meter relay, Albany finished first with a time of 8:56.65, while Darlington finished second. In the high jump, Darlington's Mitchell Wagner finished second with a height of 5 feet, 6 inches.
Monroe's Mitch Kieth took the top spot in the pole vault, finishing with a height of 11-0. Albany senior Isaiah Shell finished first in the triple jump (39-8), while fellow teammate Logan Webb won the discus (138-11). In the shot put, Darlington's Cruz Bahena (45-5 3/4) and Brett Erickson finished first and second, respectively.
On the girls side, Black Hawk's Jen Wellnitz put on an all-around show. The senior finished first in the 100-meter dash (12.56), 200-meter dash (27.03), triple jump (33-04.50), and second in the long jump (16-5). Her fellow teammate Olivia Holland finished second in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 49.51.
In the 400-meter dash, Darlington's Johanna Meister (1:03.13) finished just ahead of Pec-Argyle's Josie Penniston to take second place. Redbirds teammate Claire Cullen took the top spot in the 3,200 meters with a time of 12:43.06.
Albany's Bailey Hlavachek and Lauren Blumer each finished first and third in the 1,600 meters with times of 5:39.25 and 6:06.15, respectively. Collecting third-place finishes for Pec-Argyle were the 400-, 800-, and 1,600-meter relay teams. Pec-Argyle's 3,200-meter relay team finished second to Darlington's relay team, who finished with a time of 10:45.71. Collecting a second-place finish for the Redbirds was Saide Fitzsimons in the high jump, with a height of 4-4.
For the men's events, Black Hawk's Jayden Rufenacht took first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.11 seconds, along with a second-place finish in the 100 meters with a time of 11.46.
In the 400 meters, Monroe's Alex Koller took the top spot with a time of 55.69. In the 800 meters, Darlington's Tyson Miehe outdueled Monroe's Derek Christiansen to finish first with a time of 2 minutes, 2.08 seconds.
In the 1,600 meters, it was a run for the ages as Monroe's Jake Hirsbrunner finished one second ahead of Miehe with a time of 4:18.65.
"That was an amazing race to watch," Darlington coach Todd Bastian said. "Both (Hirsbrunner and Miehe) are tremendous athletes, and they ran flat-out. It was a sight to see."
Albany's Aaron Johnson collected a second-place finish in the 3,200, finishing with a time of 10:33.42. Dalrington's Kyle Jonhson took first in the 110-meter hurdles (15.86), while the Redbirds 800- (1:38.14) and 1,600-meter (3:40.62) relay teams each finished second and first, respectively.
In the 3,200 meter relay, Albany finished first with a time of 8:56.65, while Darlington finished second. In the high jump, Darlington's Mitchell Wagner finished second with a height of 5 feet, 6 inches.
Monroe's Mitch Kieth took the top spot in the pole vault, finishing with a height of 11-0. Albany senior Isaiah Shell finished first in the triple jump (39-8), while fellow teammate Logan Webb won the discus (138-11). In the shot put, Darlington's Cruz Bahena (45-5 3/4) and Brett Erickson finished first and second, respectively.
On the girls side, Black Hawk's Jen Wellnitz put on an all-around show. The senior finished first in the 100-meter dash (12.56), 200-meter dash (27.03), triple jump (33-04.50), and second in the long jump (16-5). Her fellow teammate Olivia Holland finished second in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 49.51.
In the 400-meter dash, Darlington's Johanna Meister (1:03.13) finished just ahead of Pec-Argyle's Josie Penniston to take second place. Redbirds teammate Claire Cullen took the top spot in the 3,200 meters with a time of 12:43.06.
Albany's Bailey Hlavachek and Lauren Blumer each finished first and third in the 1,600 meters with times of 5:39.25 and 6:06.15, respectively. Collecting third-place finishes for Pec-Argyle were the 400-, 800-, and 1,600-meter relay teams. Pec-Argyle's 3,200-meter relay team finished second to Darlington's relay team, who finished with a time of 10:45.71. Collecting a second-place finish for the Redbirds was Saide Fitzsimons in the high jump, with a height of 4-4.
