Mankato East’s distance crew had another record-setting afternoon Thursday as the Cougars boys dominated the annual Cougar Relays track and field meet at Wolverton Field.
East set the tone in the first event, winning the 4×800-meter relay. The foursome of Evan MacLean, Jackson Henkels, Isaiah Anderson and Luke Scholtes turned in a meet-record time of 7:56.83.
Midway through the meet, the quartet of Anderson, Scholtes, Dayton Clobes and MacLean broke a 19-year-old meet record in the 4×1,600 relay, which was previously held by Marshall. They combined for a time of 17.52.74.
“That was our main mission today, to break the record in the four-by-mile,” Scholtes said. “We wanted to bring the record back to East.”
It has been a year of redemption for Scholtes, who got hurt early in the 2023 season and could not participate in any postseason events.
“I want to get to state in at least two events – the 4×8 relay and in the two-mile,” he said. “That would be a great way to close out my senior year.”
The Cougars also set a meet mark in the 4,000 distance medley relay. The foursome of Andrew Stoltman, Isaac Luethmers, Dominic Wolle and Audi Thom recorded a time of 10:52.57.
East also won the 800 sprint medley relay in 1:39.57, 1,600 sprint medley relay (3:44.17), 4×300 hurdle relay (2:56.53), high jump relay, long jump relay (77-8), triple jump relay (158-3 3/4), shot put relay (174-9 1/2) and 4×400 relay (3:30.67).
St. Peter senior Corbin Herron also had a good day. He was the top runner in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.43, and he joined with Ramiro Alcantara Alvarez, Derek Guth and Morales Isai Bocanegra to win the 4×200 relay in 1:30.79.
Herron was one of a small contingent of St. Peter athletes who competed in the Hamline Elite earlier this year for the first time in more than 10 years. He won the 300-meter hurdles event.
“I was in the 110 hurdles too, but I fell down,” he said. “Ironically, the 110 is probably my strongest event.
“I’ve just always loved running track. I like competing against other people.”
Herron plans to attend Western Washington University in the fall where he will continue his track career.
East won the meet with 236 points. St. Peter was second (175), followed by Belle Plaine (165), Jordan (153), Faribault (142), New Ulm (102), Waseca (57) and Marshall (48).