Ely’s high school boys track team took fourth in its last tune-up before subsections, but it was against high-level competition.
The Timberwolves’ fourth-place showing came at Saturday’s Steve Kerzie Invitational, held at the Rock Ridge school.
Senior Eli Olson and freshman Blake Houde had the team’s highest individual showings - second-place finishes in the triple jump and 3,200 meters respectively - but the Wolves were up against athletes from several larger schools.
“We had some very strong competition,” said Ely head coach Will Helms. “There were some AA schools, like Hermantown and Rock Ridge and Hibbing. It was good to run against that level.”
The meet was the last for the Wolves before the Section 7A North Subsection event, held Thursday after deadline in Aurora.
“We still have to work some things out with our relays,” said Helms. “The strength of our team is probably our depth and not individuals so we will try our best in the relays.”
Olson was part of a firstplace four-by-800 relay that won at the Kerzie, with Otto Devine, Oliver Hohenstein and Wyatt Devine also part of the foursome. They finished in 9:01.49 and Ely may have a leg up on section foes in that event.
“We’re pleased with the time,” said Helms. “I think they’re still holding the top time going into sections, but I think other teams will put together some strong relays.”
Olson was also the runner- up in the triple jump in 36-3.5, and was part of a fourth-place four-by-400 relay with Oliver Hohenstein, Milo McClelland and Silas Solum.
Houde, mea nwh i le, took second in the 3,200 in 11:22.72 and Hohenstein came in fourth in the 1,600 (5:03.85).
Senior Dylan Durkin came up with a third-place finish in the 200 dash with a personal-best time of 23.84, and was part of a fourthplace four-by-200 combination with McClelland, Wyatt Mattson and Aksel Skustad.
Mattson had another big day in field events, taking fifth in the discus and sixth in the shot put.
Ely is looking to advance both individuals and relays out of the subsection and move them on to the 7A meet, slated for Wednesday, May 28 at Duluth.
Ely finishers at the Kerzie were:
• 100 dash - 15. McClelland, 12.41; 4. Jack Rintala, 13.33; 28. Max Cochran, 14.46; 29. Brady Strange, 14.54;
• 200 dash - 3. Durkin, 23.84; 20. Noah Anderson, 28.51; 22. John Schiltz, 29.85; 23. Noah Axlesson 29.94;
• 400 dash - 11. Skustad, 1:05.22; 13. Axlesson, 1:09.27; 14. Brian Cook, 1:11.97;
• 800 run - 6. Silas Solum, 2:11.79; 7. Wyatt Devine, 2:12.98; 15. Brooks Brenny, 2:22.59; 21. Mason Kurnava, 2:49.85;
•1,600 run - 4. Hohenstein, 5:03.85; 10. Kurnava, 5:39.39; 11. Oren Solum, 5:39.97;
• 3,200 run - 2. Houde, 11:22.72;
• 300 hurdles - 9. Otto Devine, 51.67;
• Four-by-100 relay - 7. Noah Anderson, Mattson, Skustad, Rintala, 52.37;
• Four-by-200 relay - 4. Durkin, McClelland, Mattson, Skustad, 1:41.86;
• Four-by-400 relay - 4. Olson, Hohenstein, McClelland, Silas Solum, 3:52.48
• Four-by-800 relay - 1. Olson, Otto Devine, Wyatt Devine, Hohenstein, 9:01.49;
• Shot put - 6. Mattson, 37-8; 24. Cochran, 25-7;
• Discus - 5. Mattson,109-4; 17. McClelland, 86-2.5; 19. Cochran, 82-11; 24. Cook, 68-10.
• Long jump - 8. Durkin, 18-5; 12. Olson, 17-2.75;
• Triple jump - 2. Olson, 36-3.5; 6. Silas Solum, 35-1; 11. Kurnava, 30-8.25.
