Helmet and all, BHS vaulter improves
A helmet didn't stop Jorgen Hartje from soaring to new heights.
The senior pole vaulter for the Brainerd Warriors boys' track and field team vaulted into second place at the Brainerd triangular Tuesday.
Hartje cleared 12 feet for a personal best and a spot on the Brainerd honor roll. He did all of that despite only vaulting in his second meet.
"These guys had the advantage in that they vaulted indoors," Hartje said. "I've only vaulted twice. I wasn't sure how high I could get and I proved myself wrong. It looks good so far. I can't complain. I got my personal best.
"My goal is to break the school record (13-0). I think I can get it. It looks in sight now."
Hartje and the other vaulters donned helmets, which are a requirement this year.
"They're real light," said Hartje. "They're like nothing. You don't notice them after a while. It's kind of reassuring to have them."
The senior also won the triple jump and finished third in the long jump.
"Jorgen had his best day ever as a pole vaulter," said Warriors coach Rod Reuer. "He can see the strides that he's made. He hasn't vaulted a lot this year. I think he's got a long way to go before he's going to peak."
Sophomore Justin Grunewald also had a standout day. He won the 1600-meter run at 4:43.27 and the 3200 in 10:28.
"We have senior veterans and people coming back with experience and they need to take charge," said Reuer. "That responsibility falls on their shoulders and they came through (Tuesday).
"Devin O'Reilly is another one who runs the sprints and anchors the relays. We had a couple of mishaps in some relays where we dropped the baton, but still won it.
"The kids gave me a good effort and I'm really happy with our returning kids. They performed."
O'Reilly won the 100 dash. Zach Toms topped the competition in the 800 while Tom Zelinske won the 200. Brainerd also swept all four relays.
In field events, Jason Roberts won the long jump while Darren Clabo won the discus.
"I was really pleased," said Reuer. "I thought the kids competed. It was really a free for all. We let kids sign up for events. We gave them some direction, but most of the kids were on their own.
"It was just fun to get everybody out on the track and compete. Now we have a starting point. We use this meet also as a workout. A lot of kids doubled and tripled events.
"It's a workout as well as a time trial. It's only the second day we've been on the track so at least this gives a starting point."
4x800 -- 1-Brainerd 8:48.98, 2-Little Falls, 4-Brainerd, 5-Brainerd, 6-Brainerd
110 hurdles -- 1-Derek Monnier (LF) 15.52, 2-Josh Anderson (B), 4-Mike Elder (B), 5-Matt Schmitz (B) , 6-Brock Clough (LF)
100 dash -- 1-Devin O'Reilly (B) 11.5, 2-Darin Eller (B), 4-Tom Zelinske (B), 5-David Heilman (B)
4x200 relay -- 1-Brainerd (Jason Roberts, Sam Gervais, Zach Toms, O'Reilly )1:38.23, 2-Little Falls
1600 -- 1-Justin Grunewald (B) 4:43.27, 2-Jonathan Stoltman (LF), 4-Louis Bedard (B), 5-Chris Woodard (B)
4x100 -- 1-Brainerd (Heilman, Luke Furda, Eller, O'Reilly ) 46.59, 3-Little Falls, 4-Brainerd
400 -- 1-Nicholas Lahr (SCA), 3-Wes Schiller (B), 4-Brandon Kliber (LF), 5-Evan Tougas (B)
300 hurdles -- 1-Monnier (LF) 42.50, 2-Anderson (B), 3-Schmitz (B), 5-Elder (B)
800 -- 1-Zach Toms (B) 2:11.83, 4-Brian Losos (B), 5-Tim Wasland (LF) 6-Josh Gold (LF)
3200 -- 1-Justin Grunewald (B) 10:28, 2-Brady Rutman (B)
200 -- 1-Tom Zelinske (B) 3-Heilman (B) 25:14, 2-Anderson (B), 3-Richard Backhens (LF), 4-Schmitz (B)
4x400 -- 1-Brainerd (Roberts, Gervais, Schiller, Toms ) 3:44.01, 2-Little Falls,
Long jump -- 1-Roberts (B) 19-3, 2-Koby Olson (LF), 3-Jorgen Hartje (B ), 4-Gervais (B), 5-Dustin Olejnicak (B)
Triple jump -- 1-Hartje (B) 39-6 1/2, 2-Olejnicak (B), 3-Olson (LF), Eric Sirrine (LF), 6-Grunewald (B)
High jump -- 1-Sirrine (LF) 5-6, 2-Tony Wasland (LF), 4-Nick Dahlman (B), 5-Kyle Hoggarth (LF), 5-Eric Engelhardt (LF)
Pole Vault -- 1-Quentin Plumski (LF) 13-0, 2-Hartje (B), 4-Tougas (B), 6-Rod Schmett (LF)
Shot put -- 1-Blake Smith (LF) 46-3 3/4, 4-Dan Thomas (B), 5-Josh Woolen (LF)
Discus -- 1-Darren Clabo (B) 128-5, 2-Woolen (LF), 3-Josh Gold (LF), 4-Zach Preble (LF)
Next meet -- Brainerd hosts dual meet vs. Rosemount 4 p.m. Thursday.