The TMB/WWG runners were put to one of their biggest tests of the season in the Redwood Valley Invitational last Thursday.
Some of the teams in the race included Redwood Valley, Luverne, Wabasso and Canby/Minneota — teams that are generally looked at as some of the best in the region.
“It’s a really tough meet, with a lot of tough teams,” TMB/WWG coach Billy Dean said. “I am very proud with how our athletes competed today. They ran hard and they were motivated.
The Panthers had 17 out of their 26 runners PR, and another five achieved a season-best time.
The Panther girls’ varsity consisted of Lainey Jackels (21:17), Miranda Mischke (22:14), Evelyn Rentschler (25:09), Allie Duscher (25:39), Stella Munson (28:22), Jayda Snyder (29:49), Jaeda Nelson (29:56) and Payton Daniels (31:28). Jackles was 15th overall and Mischke placed 20th; she, along with Rentschler and Munson each ran season-best times.
Duscher, Snyder and Daniels all had new PRs.
“The girls ran hard, and they really pushed themselves,” Dean said. “I feel like I keep saying the same thing over and over again, but it is so much fun watching them continue to work as a team and get better together as the season moves closer to our postseason.”
Thirteen boys competed in the varsity/JV run: Taylor Squires (18:19), Weston Marten (18:39), Owen Beier (19:15), Jackson Jenniges (19:39), Noah Schmidt (19:41), Zach Jones (20:01), Sam Wiborg (21:47), Colin Nelson (22:10), Gatlin Struchen (22:51), Karson Schneider (23:16), Jaxter Pfarr (25:27), Xander Brinkley (28:07), and Trajan Swanjord (28:10). Squires, Marten, Beier, Jenniges Wiborg, Nelson, Schneider and Wwanjord all ran a new PR time, and Struchen and Brinkley ran a new season-best time.
“These boys have been improving so much as the year has gone on,” Dean said. “They continue to work hard in practice, they push each other to get better, and they believe in themselves. This group of kids, boys and girls, are very coachable. They are willing to work hard, listen to feedback, and we have good team chemistry. It is also very helpful to have six great senior leaders — Taylor, Jackson, Weston, Miranda, Evelyn, and Payton — who help lead our team during meets, in practice, and in our community.”
Ellah Barker ran a PR of 15:39 as the only Panther runner to compete in the C race, which was 1.68 miles. In the boys’ C race, Trenton Daniels (11:31), Keagan Jenniges (12:26), Vincent Munson (16:08), and Justin Hernandez (17:26) all PR’d and Daniels came home with a 14th-place ribbon.
“These four have been working hard all year, and I can see the improvement every time they run,” Dean said.
TMB/WWG has two regular-season meets left: in Olivia on Thursday and then in Adrian on Oct. 13 before gearing up for the conference meet and then sections.
“We are down to about four weeks left in our season, and I know the kids will work hard these last four weeks,” Dean said. “They are all very determined to continue to get better as we near the conference (Oct. 20) and section (Oct. 29) meets.”
