The 2007 season started out in sweeping fashion as the Detroit Lakes boys' and girls' track and field team each won titles at the Park Rapids Invite Tuesday.
Under sunny skies, a bevy of Lakers took to events for the first time, only to either place high or win. The girls won with 172 points, while the boys held on to victory with 128 points.
"It's the first time in a long time we won our first meet of the season," said boys' head coach Steve Zamzo. "It was a good start and definitely a positive for the team."
Luke Champa is a perfect 2-for-2 in the triple jump, winning his second event in as many meets, this one with a mark of 39-1.5.
The Lakers collected two more wins, as Zach Twigg clinched the 800-meter run with a time of 2:12.09 and the 4x200 squad of Colin Ryan, Brett Mcleod, Chuck Tuck and Dustin Rietsema won with a time of 1:37.56.
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DL also had 19 top six finishes, with three in the 800 alone.
"We put Josh Walker and Dustin Nelson in the 110 hurdles for the first time ever and they placed third and sixth (respectively)," Zamzo said. "We had a lot of first timers in events who placed."
Zamzo said half of the boys' team went to Park Rapids, with the other half going to Bemidji Friday.
For the girls, winning the meet was expected, even though there hasn't been much practice time due to bad weather.
The Lakers had four event winners in Whitney Walter (pole vault), Bre Halbur (300 hurdles) and Hallie Hoganson (800).
The 4x200 team of Macey Bentley, Jena Hanson, Morgan Lof and Corey Lof also was victorious with a time of 1:53.7.
"Our depth showed against the smaller schools," said DL head coach Mike Labine. "Everybody who ran or competed scored."
DL took three of the top six in pole vault, with Courtney Einerson and Dani Labine placing second and fourth, respectively, behind first-place Walter.
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Hanson gained two silvers, running behind Halbur in the 300 hurdles and taking second in shot put at 32-6.5.
Ally Nielsen was second in discus at 100-2.5, while Bentley took silver in the 100 hurdles and Chantel Paquette the same position in the 1,600 run.
The 4x800 team also placed second with a time of 10:23.67.
"We also had two first-timers in the triple jump in Annie Klein and Brianna Posch and each took third and fourth," Labine said. "I'm pleased knowing where we are at without much practice time."
The Lakers will compete in the Bemidji Relays Friday with a start time of 1 p.m.
Laker results
Detroit Lakes at Park Rapids Invite, Tuesday, April 17.
Girls team results -- Detroit Lakes 172, Crookston 105, Park Rapids 99, Nevis 69, Bagley-Fosston 58, UNC 29, CI-Gonvick 20.
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DL top six placers -- 4x800: 2. DL 10:23.67...100 hurdles: 2. M. Bentley 17.57; 5. A. Lindquist 18.28...4x200: 1. DL (M. Bentley, M. Lof, C. Lof, J. Hanson) 1:53.7...Triple jump: 3. A. Klein 31-10; 4. B. Posch 31-0...Discus: 2. A. Nielsen 100-2.5; 3. A. Lee 99-3...Pole vault: 1. W. Walter 8-0; 2. C. Einerson 8-0; 4. D. Labine 7-0...1,600 run: 2. C. Paquette 5:48.3...4x100: 4. DL 55.46...400 dash: 3. Klein 1:06.2; 4. T. Morgan 1:06.5...Long jump: 3. D. Bentley 14-8; 5. M. Bentley 14-5.5...300 hurdles: 1. B. Halbur 48.75; 2. Hanson 49.29...800 run: 1. H. Hoganson 2:33.7; 3. B. Johnson 2:36.8; 4. Paquette 2:39...Shot put: 2. Hanson 32-6.5; 3. Nielsen 32-1.5; 5. B. Thompson 28-0.75...200 dash: 3. D. Bentley 28.01; 5. Posch 29.09...High jump: 3. C. Lof 5-0.
Boys team results -- Detroit Lakes 128, UNC 121, Crookston 81, Bagley-Fosston 67, Park Rapids 64, CI-Gonvick 50, Nevis 24.
DL top six placers -- 4x800: 3. DL 9:44.9...110 hurdles: 3. J. Walker 21.08; 6. D. Nelson 22.17...100 dash: 2. D. Rietsema 11.02...Long jump: 6. M. Kensinger 18-2.5...4x200: 1. DL (C. Ryan, B. Mcleod, C. Tuck, Rietsema) 1:37.56...1,600 run: Leif S. 5:11.65...4x100: 2. DL 47.4...400 dash: 3. E. Taylor 58.17...Triple jump: 1. L. Champa 39-1.5; 5. B. Shane 34-3...300 hurdles: 4. Walker 51.13; 6. N. Duchene 51.44...800 run: 1. Z. Twigg 2:12.09; 3. Baker 2:25.5; 5. Mcleod 2:27.65...200 dash: 2. Ryan 24.14; 4. N. Thompson 24.37...Pole Vault: 2. Taylor 9-6...3,200 run: 2. L. Johnson 11:21.06...4x400: 3. DL 3:55.95.
