WILLMAR -- Willmar's Abdi Awale came from behind on the last lap to overtake Marshall's Dahir Yumale and win the 1,600-meter run in 4:29.11. Awale flew down the home stretch to the cheers of his teammates gathered trackside for one of the best races of the Optimist Relays on Thursday.
Awale's teammate, Mike Switzer, was third in 4:40.06. Awale showed his speed in winning the 800 in 1:58.65, a fraction off his school record.
The Cardinals won both the boys and girls divisions in a six-team field. Usually, the meet is eight to 10 teams but three teams dropped out, two earlier and one on the day of the meet due to the uncertain weather.
A soft shower fell at Hodapp Field just before the 4 p.m. start, but after that, the sun outmuscled the clouds much of the time and the coolish day proved perfect for running.
Willmar easily dominated the meet with its numbers and depth of talent. Senior Paul Kimpling won the 110 high hurdles in 15.50 after Ashley Lensing of BBE took the girls 100 highs in 17.23. Kimpling also won the 300 hurdles.
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Willmar swept the 100 dash behind Zak Kjoling (11.25) and Brianna Fernholz (12.47). Those two repeated in the 200 dash and Fernholz added the 400, too, and high jump (5-4). The Willmar boys 4x200 of Andy Boersma, Erik Hillenbrand, Brandon Jahnke and Josh Aslesen scorched the track in 1:34.39.
Wade Powers of New London-Spicer repeated in the shot put hitting 45-1 on his final throw. Powers also took the discus here a second straight year (140-7).
Kjersten Karlsgodt of ACGC won the discus in 104-5 and another Falcon, Ryne Berg-strom, took triple jump in 38-0¼. Marshall's Brooke Wyffels, one of the state's premier distance runners, won the 1,600 and 3,200.
Optimist Invite
At Willmar
Boys results
Individual leaders
(Top 3 ... Willmar in top 8)
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Hurdles
110 highs: (1) Paul Kimpling, Wil, 15.5 (2) Ryne Bergstrom, ACG, 16.35 (3) Andy Boersma, Wil, 16.53 ... 300 intermediates: (1) (1) Paul Kimpling, Wil, 42.96 (2) Andy Boersma, Wil, 43.08 (3) Justin Hanson, ACG, 44.35 ... (6) Erik Hillenbrand 47.57
Sprints
100: Zak Kjolsing, Wil, 11.25 (2) Jordan Weller, BBE, 11.43 (3) Alex Statz, Roc, 11.29 ... (5) Andrew East 11.87 ... 200: (1) Zak Kjolsing, Wil, 23.4 (2) Mike Bonynge, NLS, 23.98 (3) Branden Jahnke, Wil, 24.15 ... (6) Andrew East 24.87 ... 400: (1) Ben Sletta, NLS, 53.6 (2) Mustafa Yusuf, Wil, 55.02 (3) Jafar Bihi, Wil, 57.11 ... (4) Andrew Nicklawsky, 57.66
Runs
800: (1) Abdi Awale, Wil, 1:58.65 (2) Mike Switzer, Wil, 2:07.78 (3) Scott Fischer, Rock, 2:12.91 .... (8) Dustin Geselius 2:18.7 ... 1600: (1) (1) Abdi Awale, Wil, 4:29.11 (2) Daher Jumale, Mar, 4:36.62 (3) Mike Switzer, Wil, 4:40.06 ... (5) Dustin Geselius, Wil, 4:53.62... 3200: (1) Mohammed Bedel, Wil, 10:17.91 (2) Mustafa Yusuf, Wil, 10:20.88 (3) Matt Calvin, Mar, 10:34.098 .... (5) Jeff Sawatzky 11:02.69
Relays
4 x 100: (1) Willmar: Andrew East, Paul Kimpling, Zak Kjolsing, Erik Hillenbrand; 45.09 (2) ACGC 49.16 (3) BBE 49.94 ... 4 x 200: (1) Willmar: Andy Boersma, Erik Hillenbrand, Brandon Jahnke, Josh Aslesen; 1:34.39 (2) Willmar B 1:38.47 (3) New London-Spicer 1:39.62 ... 4 x 400: (1) Willmar: Zach Coquyt, Abdi Awale, Andrew Nicklawsky, Josh Aslesen; 3:38.2 (2) New London-Spicer 3:42.75 (3) Marshall 3:49.94 ... 4 x 800: (1) Willmar: Mustafa Yusaf, Zach Coquyt, Mo Bedel, Andy Nicklawsky; 8:37.0 (2) New London-Spicer, 9:03.0 (3) Rocori 9:05.0
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Weights
Shot put: Wade Powers, NLS, 45-1 (2) Jason Terrres, Roc, 44-5 (3) Jared Peterson, ACG, 43-4 ... (4) Kent Underland, Wil, 39-11 ... Discus: (1) Wade Powers, NLS, 140-7 (2) Michael Amor, ACG, 119-1 (3) Lee Nobel, Mar, 118-8 ... (4) Adam Klebel 116-1 (7) Tom Boike 112-2
Girls results
(Top 3 ... Willmar in top 8)
Individual leaders
Hurdles
100 intermediates: (1) Ashley Lensing, BBE, 17.23 (2) Angie Feldhege, Roc, 17.83 (3) Courtney Malikowski, Roc, 18.26 .... (4) Kjerstin Knutson, Wil, 18.41 (8) Lesley Christianson, Wil, 20.27 ... 300 lows: (1) Courtney Malikowski, Roc, 51.49 (2) Angie Feldhege, Roc, 42.02 93) Kjerstin Knutson, Wil, 53.21 ... (4) Greta King, Wil, 54.38 (5) Brin Hanson, Wil, 54.71 (7) Shelby Morton, Wil, 57.03 (8) Gayle Swanson, Wil, 57.29
Sprints
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100: (1) Brianna Fernholz, Wil, 12.47 (2) Ally Roberts, Wil, 13.39 (3) Alyssa Christianson, Mar, 13.44 ... (5) Abby Switzer, Wil, 13.75 (6) Ashley Hutton, Wil, 13.83 ... 200: (1) (1) Brianna Fernholz, Wil, 12.47 (2) Ally Roberts, Wil, 27.79 (3) Hannah Okins, Wil, 28.94 ... (5) Ashley Hutton, Wil, 29.64 ... 400: (1) Brianna Fernholz, Willmar, 1;00.9 (2) Nicole Flock, Mar, 1:01.9 (3) Dana Guetter, Wil, 1;03.2 ... (5) Erin Sheehan, Wil, 1;04.4 (6) Hannah Okins, Wil, 1;06.0 (7) Sarah Hund, Wil, 1:06.2
Runs
800: (1) Nicole Flock, Mar, 2:27.65 (2) Caitlin Schnetler, Roc, 2;31.86 (3) Laura Johnson, Mar, 2:33.5 .. (5) Rachel Nelson, Wil, 2;41.78 (7) Jayne Cole, Wil, 2:45.22.... 1600: (1) Brooke Wyfells, Wil, 5:30.4 (2) Laura Johnson, Mar, 5:35.8 (3) Rachel Nelson, Wil, 5:55.8 ... (4) Jayne Cole, 5:57.8 (6) Jackie Johnson, Wil, 6:02.8 ... 3200: (1) Brooke Wyffels, Mar, 11:58.33 (2) Ashley Bach, Wil, 13:08.25 (3) Danielle Erickson, Wil, 13.22..43
Relays
4 x 100: (1) Willmar: Ally Roberts, Christy Boros, Abby Switzer, Ashley Hutton; 53.2 92) Rocori 5546 (3) Marshall 57.18 ... 4 x 200: (1) Rocori 1:57.4 (2) Marshall 2;00.09 (3) New London-Spicer 2:05.5.... 4 x 400: (1) Willmar: Dana Guetter, Greta King, Sara Hund, Erin Sheehan, 4:18.13 (2) Rocori 4:24.78 (3) Marshall 4:29.31 ... 4 x 800: (1) Rocori 10:26.9 (2) Willmar 10:44.9 (3) New London-Spicer 10:49.9
Weights
Shot put: (1) Britta Jacobson, Mar, 35-10 (2) Shelly Tippelt, Roc, 35-6 (3) Jess Onken, Mar, 34-8 .... (6) Lisa Bredeson 30-4 (8) Ashley Hutton 27-10 ... Discus: (1) Kjersten Karlsgodt, ACG, 104-5 (2) Teresa Galvan, ACG, 100-9 (3) Sarah Erickson, Wil, 99-10
Jumps
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Long: (1) Greta King, Wil, 14-6 (2) Heidi Lensing, BBE, 14-5 (3) Emma Schott, Roc, 13-1 ... (7) Abby Switzer, Wil, 12-4 (8) Gayle Swanson, Wil, 12-2 ... Triple: (1) April Hanson, BBE, 30-5¼ (2) Brin Hanson, Wil, 29-2 (3) Kjersten Knudson, Wil, 28-11 ... (5) Tianna Ekhart, Wil, 28-8 ... High: (1) Brianna Fernholz, Wil, 5-4 (2) Kjersten, Karlsgodt, Wil, ACG, 5-0 (3) Ashley Lensing, BBE, 4-10 ... (6) Mary Sussenguth 4-10 (8) Kelsey Evans, 4-6, Shelby Morton 4-6 ... Pole vault: (1) Ashley Lensing, BBE, 8-0 (2) Kristin Whitcomb, ACG, 8-0 (3) Caitlin Cooreman, Wil, 7-6 ... (4) Gail Swanson 7-0
