The Worthington High boys track and field team took first place in Tuesday’s 68th annual Trojan Relays. WHS accumulated 151.5 points in outdistancing Marshall, which had 115.5. Jackson County Central was third with 98.
Picking up individual wins for the Trojans were: Filmon Wolday, who was victorious in both the 800 and 1600 meters, Fanuel Wolday, who took the 3200; Marenono Opiew, who won the 3200 meter hurdles; Abagotte Opiew, who took the triple jump; and Mak Lia, who won the long jump. Also triumphant was the 4x400 meter relay team of Mikele Walu, Marenono and Abagotte Opiew and Jacari Swinea.
WHS also picked up 10 additional top-five finishes in individual events and three more top-five placings in relays.
In large school girls action, Luverne came out on top with 148 points and Marshall placed second with 137.5. Jackson County Central was third at 98, followed by Windom at 83 and both Worthington and Pipestone Area at 81.
For the Trojans, Brooklyn Scheitel-Taylor captured the 200 meters and triple jump and Bailey Newman won the 100 meters. The 4x100 meter and 4x200 relay teams – each comprised of New Gora, Newman, Pham Gora and Scheitel-Taylor – both took first-place finishes. The Trojans had two other athletes earn top-five finishes in individual events.
In small school competition, Southwest Christian/Edgerton came out on top among the girls with 171 points, with Murray County Central second at 132 and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton third at 108. Southwest Christian/Edgerton also was best in the boys with 177 points, well ahead of second-place Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda’s 108.5. Hills-Beaver Creek was next with 102 points.
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The Worthington High School softball team lost a pair of games in Jordan on Tuesday, as they were defeated by Jordan 4-2 and then fell to New Prague 9-1.
In the game against the Hubmen, Jordan had just two hits but benefited from three Trojans errors. Worthington had seven hits in the game, but wound up leaving nine runners on base.
Hannah McNab led WHS by going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Olivia Hayenga scored both Trojan runs. Haley Grimmius walked six and struck out nine in six innings of pitching.
Against New Prague, Grimmius went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in Hayenga with the lone Worthington run. The Trojans had six hits as a team and once again committed three errors.
WHS head coach Rosalie Hayenga-Hostikka noted afterward that while she wasn’t making excuses, her team has now played 11 games in the past eight days. That means the Trojans have played 11 of their 19 games this season in a little more than a week, and she said the team is a little tired both mentally and physically. She added that the team is close, but just has to execute the small things.
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The Luverne Cardinals scored five runs in the fourth inning Tuesday and went on to beat visiting Worthington 9-2 in high school baseball.
Isaiah Noble had two of the Trojans’ four hits and also pitched two hitless innings of relief. Tucker Brandner took the pitching loss, as only two of the seven runs he gave up were earned. WHS committed five errors in the game and is now 4-13 this spring.
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In high school boys tennis Tuesday, the Trojans traveled to Shakopee and were defeated 6-1.
The No. 3 doubles team of Steven Adams and Matthew Becker earned a three-set victory in the Trojans' only match win of the day. Each of Worthington's other matches ended in straight-set defeats.
