Off to a fast start

With many new faces on the Brainerd Warriors boys' track and field team, a rebuilding year might have been expected.

Now nearly a month into the season, the Warriors have scrapped the rebuilding phase and jumped into contending mode, evidenced by their dominating victory over Bemidji and Detroit Lakes at the Brainerd Triangular Friday.

The Warriors scored 94 points with Bemidji second and Detroit Lakes third.

"By rebuilding I meant that we're starting with a lot of new kids," said Reuer. "Now the kids have found their niche and they're figuring out where to perform. We have good athletes so it's just a matter of learning the events. We had great performances across the board."

Brainerd won 11 of 18 events with Riley Cullinane (200-meter dash, long jump), Justin Grunewald (1600, 800) and Will Kassulker (shot put, discus) picking up two individual wins each.

James Strand won the 300-meter hurdles with an honor roll time of 41.1 and missed winning the 110 hurdles by a hair. The Warriors could have added to their win total in the 4x200 relay but were disqualified. Nick Lesmeister had an honor roll performance in the pole vault.

"I wasn't feeling too good about the 110s," said Strand. "I had two Bemidji guys to both sides of me and I was focused more on them so I four stepped and that cost me. In the 300 the Bemidji guy was still there but I just focused better on the hurdle ahead of me."

In the 1600 and 800 runs, Grunewald led after the first step he took, winning both races in dominating fashion. Grunewald's time of 4:23.0 in the 1600 made the Warrior honor roll.

"Justin has not been in a race where he's been pushed yet," said Reuer. "To be out in the front the whole race and try to run school record races is pretty hard to do. If there's anybody that can push themselves Justin can do it. He's got a lot of self motivation."

With young runners like Strand and Cullinane stepping up, the Warriors thoughts of rebuilding are a distant memory.

"James is just all out," Reuer said. "A guy his size is probably not a hurdler but he runs so hard and so aggressively and that makes him good.

"Riley's a first-time track guy and is a good athlete. He's bought into the system and has some good things to add. The thing with Riley and James is that they're both sophomores. Sprints wise they're our future."

Boys results

1-Brainerd 94, 2-Bemidji 64, 3-Detroit Lakes 28

100 dash -- 1. Zach Ruport, Bemidji, 11.8; 2. Riley Cullinane, Brainerd, 12.0; 6. David Beilke, Brainerd, 12.3; 7. Matt Posch, Brainerd, 12.4; 8. Korey Horn, Brainerd

200 dash -- 1. Riley Cullinane, Brainerd, 23.8; 4. Jordan Herwig, Brainerd, 25.5; 6. Austin Lesmeister, Brainerd, 26.3;

400 dash -- 1. John VanLandschoot, Brainerd, 53.9; 5. Gabe Solseth, Brainerd, 9. Justin Anderson, Brainerd, 57.6.

800 run -- 1. Justin Grunewald, Brainerd, 2:06.0; 2; 4. Blake Alguire, Brainerd, 2:21.7; 5. Aric Anderson, Brainerd, 2:25.7

1600 Run -- 1. Justin Grunewald, Brainerd, 4:23.0; 3. Blake Alguire, Brainerd, 5:04.9; 4. Derrek Matson, Brainerd, 5:05.2.

3200 run -- 1. Chris Woodard, Brainerd, 10:24.9; 2. Travis Rose, Brainerd, 10:48.7; 6. Justin Tyner, Brainerd, 11:07.9

110 hurdles -- 1. Chris Appicelli, Bemidji, 16.6; 2. James Strand, Brainerd, 16.6; 4. Mike Giese, Brainerd, 17.1; 5. Mike Elder, Brainerd, 17.8

300 hurdles -- 1. James Strand, Brainerd, 41.1; 4. Mike Giese, Brainerd, 45.0; 5. Mike Elder, Brainerd, 45.4

4x100 relay -- 1. Brainerd (Strand, Nick Lesmeister, David Beilke, Sam Gervais) 45.9

4x200 relay -- 1. Detroit Lakes 1:38.7; Brainerd DQ.

4x400 relay -- 1. Bemidji 3:41.0; 2. Brainerd (VanLandschoot, Joe Anhalt, Matt Posch, Grunewald) 3:43.1

4x800 relay -- 1. Brainerd (Derrek Matson, Justin Tyner, Travis Rose, Woodard) 8:51.3

High Jump -- 1. Andrew Lindemann, Detroit Lakes, 5-08; 2. Sam Gervais, Brainerd, J5-08; 4. Joe Anhalt, Brainerd, J5-06; 5. Mike Giese, Brainerd, 5-03;

Pole Vault -- 1. Travis Haman, Bemidji, 12-07; 3. Nick Lesmeister, Brainerd, 11-07; 4. Nick Edwards, Brainerd, 9-07; 5. Jordan Herwig, Brainerd, 9-01

Long Jump -- 1. Riley Cullinane, Brainerd, 18-10.50; 2. Nick Lesmeister, Brainerd, 18-00; 3. Matt Posch, Brainerd, 17-11.25

Triple Jump -- 1. Chris Appicelli, Bemidji, 40-03; 2. Matt Posch, Brainerd, 37-00; 3. Tim Yeh, Brainerd, 36-05; 5. Korey Horn, Brainerd, 35-08;

Shot Put -- 1. Will Kassulker, Brainerd, 43-05.25; 3. Nate Welliver, Brainerd, 42-11; 6. Pete Hiltner, Brainerd, 39-11

Discus Throw -- 1. Will Kassulker, Brainerd, 119-07; 4. Nate Tyner, Brainerd, 109-10; 6. Pete Hiltner, Brainerd, 100-06;