Bennett Schwenn Breaks MHS School Record and Wins First at State Track

MHS freshman Bennett Schwenn won the triple jump championship at the 2019 South Dakota State A Track and Field Meet for the preliminary events in Tea on May 24 and the finals in Sioux Falls on May 25. Bennett’s jump of 43′ 8.5″ also broke his own school record. In the long jump, Bennett’s leap of 20′ 11.5″ earned him a fifth place trophy. Plus, he contributed to team wins as a member of the fourth-place 400-meter relay team and the tenth-place 1600-meter relay team. MHS Head Coach Eric Townsend said, “Bennett has established himself as one of the top jumpers in the state. The future looks bright for this young athlete in track and field.”

Senior Riley Gauer capped off his final season at the State A meet with a fifth-place finish in the 100-meter dash. He came in at 11.35 seconds. Gauer also ran a leg on the fourth-place 400-meter relay team, and placed 12th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.47 seconds.

Senior Elisabeth Schwenn finished the last meet of her high school career as a member of the fourth-place 1600-meter relay team, the 11th- place 800-meter relay team, and the 12th-place 1600-meter medley relay. Fellow senior Taylor Thue placed fifth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 48.57, and 10th in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.47. Taylor was also a member of the 11th-place 800-meter relay team and the fourth-place 1600-meter relay team. Both girls have competed on the MHS track team since seventh grade.

Coach Townsend said, “Nick Batchelor broke his own ninth grade school record and cracked the varsity honor roll at No. 8 in the 1600-meter run with a time 4:38.58. The 400-meter relay team (Dillon Schneck, Bennett Schwenn, Michael Karges, and Riley Gauer) also cracked the honor roll at No. 5 in the preliminaries with a time 44.24 seconds.”

Coach Townsend added, “The 2019 State A meet was the best state meet in years for both Bulldog track and field teams. The boys’ team just missed the awards stand (top 6 teams). They scored 32 points and placed seventh. The girls’ team scored 15.33 points and placed 16th.

Girls Division

Pole Vault- 2. Greta Snaza, 9’0″, 9. Tori Hooth, 8’0″

100 meter hurdles – 10. Taylor Thue, :16.47

3,200 meter relay – 9. Amaya Street, Madi Thue, Ellie Neugebauer, Maurina Street  10:22.31

100 meter dash – Laney Forrette, :13.87 in prelims.

800 meter relay – 11. Elisabeth Schwenn, Danica Schulte, Madi Thue, Taylor Thue, 1:51.13

400 meter dash – 19. Emily VanHoorn 1:06.92 in prelims

300 hurdles – 5. Taylor Thue, :48.57 (:49.50 in prelims)

1,600 meter medley relay – 12. Laney Forrette, Danica Schulte, Elisabeth Schwenn, Maurina Street, 4:40.70

1,600 meter Bulldog relay – 4. Danica Schulte, Madi Thue, Elisabeth Schwenn, Taylor Thue, 4:15.02 (4:16.05 in prelims).

800 meter run– 18. Amaya Street, 2:40.93, 20. Ellie Neugebauer, 2:43.54

1600 meter run– 17. Maurina Street, 5:53.50

Boys Division

3,200 meter relay – 15. Kaden Krause, Sam Seffrood, Brady Femling, Nick Batchelor  9:02.20.

100 meter dash – 5. Riley Gauer, :11.10 in prelims, :11.35,  22. Dustin Gersema, 12.05

200 meter dash – 12. Riley Gauer, 24.47

400 meter relay – 4. Dillon Schneck, Bennett Schwenn, Michael Karges, Riley Gauer :44.85 (:44.24 in prelims)

1,600 meter Bulldog relay – 10. Noah Steinlicht , Dillon Schneck, Bennett Schwenn, Kaden Krause 3:41.31

1,600 meter run – 7. Nick Batchelor, 4:38.58

3,200 meter run– 4. Nick Batchelor, 10:19.03

Shot put- 7. Ryker Trevett, 47′ 10″

Long jump – 5. Bennett Schwenn, 20′ 11.5″

Triple jump – 1. Bennett Schwenn, 43′ 8.5″ SCHOOL RECORD

Submitted Photos