In the first and only home track and field meet for Devils Lake this season — after last week’s was canceled — the Firebirds took full advantage of the opportunity. They placed first in both the boys’ and girls’ Devils Lake Rotary on Monday.
It was a bright, sunny day for track, with limited winds compared to the gusts that canceled the previous week’s meet. And the Firebirds soared.
On the girls’ side, they edged out Benson County with 161.5 points compared to the Wildcats’ 158. Devils Lake had two state-qualifying marks: both by the same quartet — Bella Tangedal, Ella Wass, Gabrielle McLaurin and Sara Kraft — in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays.
Kraft also placed first in the 100-meter hurdles, hustling with a determined look in her eyes. She took third in the 100-meter dash as well.
Eighth grader Dottie Goss won the 1600-meter dash. Riley Schmiess was the only contestant in the 3200-meter, so she won by default, but she set a personal record by 26.39 seconds.
It was a triumphant day for the Devils Lake girls, with lots of laughing and fun being had on the sidelines. They brought their serious faces when it came to the competition, though, and proved to be the most successful team of the day.
Benson County had a strong day in its own right, though. Aubrey Kenner won both the javelin and 300-meter hurdles, and also placed second in the 200-meter dash. Evyn Jacobson, Kami Arnston, Kaitlyn Maddock and Keyara Lundstrom were first of two teams in the 4×800 relay, winning by more than a minute and a half.
Lacie Fautsch and Katrina Nelsen both finished within the top five of the shot put results. The duo, along with Haley Scevers, also finished in the top five of the discus throw. Kale Williams took second in the pole vault and fifth in the long jump, while Ella Fossen placed second in the long jump.
Out of the eight teams on the girls’ side, Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich placed fourth and North Star placed sixth. Aubrey Badding won the 400-meter for LA/E/M, while Rogue Stephens placed second in the discus for North Star.
Then for the boys, Devils Lake’s 188 points led the way. Benson County came in second once again with 99, while LA/E/M was fourth and North Star was fifth.
The Firebirds had relay teams win the 4×100 and 4×200, though both groups fell just short of qualifying. Wylee Delorme, Leo Franco, Reggie Cavanaugh and Drew Hofstad had a time of 45.52 in the former event, while Cavanaugh, Hofstad, Adam Sobolik and Oliver Wirth scored 1:34.92 in the 4×200. The first quartet was just 0.08 of a qualifying mark, while the second was 0.68 short. Still, both were good enough to win the events and lead Devils Lake to a team victory.
The Firebirds’ Braxton Rance won the discus, while North Star’s Reuben Clay was second and LA/E/M’s Jacob Lowery was third. Rounding out the top five were two more Firebirds, Joshua Deckert and Brett Mertens.
LA/E/M’s Cody Amble won the 100-meter dash and qualified for the state meet in the process. Benson County’s Macyn Olson placed second in the event, while Devils Lake’s Delorme and Franco came in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Carter Engebretson, from Benson County, won the shot put, while North Star’s Clay came in second. Both recorded state-qualifying marks, though they’d each qualified for state already previously.
Wirth, who was Devils Lake’s first qualifier earlier in the year in high jump, came in third place this time around. He’s yet to match his season-opening mark of 6’2’’, though he’s been consistently posting marks in the upper fives.
Delorme placed second out of 31 finishers in the long jump. The only contestant ahead of him, Benson County’s Logan Fossen, recorded a mark just short of qualifying, but he’d also qualified earlier in the season already. Delorme qualified for the long jump on May 9.
After finally getting a chance to compete at home, next up for Devils Lake is the East Region meet. It’ll take place at North Dakota State University on May 17. The state meet is scheduled for May 23-25 in Bismarck.
