The Worthington High School boys and girls track and field teams both competed at the six-team Fairmont Invite on Tuesday.
In boys action, Fairmont came out on top with a team total of 239 points, and Worthington was second at 126. It was a good day for the Trojans’ Tethlouch Gach, who captured the 110-meter hurdles in a time of 16.35 seconds and won the 300 hurdles in a time of 43.53 second. The WHS 4x400 relay team of Permeye Okony, Josiah Banegas, Isaac Kinser and Austin Kinser took first with a clocking of 3:31.26, and the Trojans' relay team of Isaac Kinser, Addis Tiruneh, Austin Kinser and Fanuel Wolday was also first with a time of 8:37.35.
Also taking individual events for the Trojans were Caleb Meyer, who won the high jump with a leap of 6-0, and Okony, who posted a triple jump victory with an effort of 40 feet, 11.5 inches. Earning top-three finishes were: Wolday, second in the 1600 meters; Christian Kleve, second in shot put; Welbaka Morke, second in the triple jump; and Banegas, third in the long jump.
In girls competition, Fairmont also took first by 196.5 points. Worthington was fifth with 65.
New Gora captured the triple jump for the Trojans with a leap of 33 feet, 1.75 inches. Earning top-three finishes were: Grace Bates, second in the long jump, third in the 200 meters and third in the high jump; Kenadie Thiner, third in the 1600 and third in the pole vault; and Pham Gora, third in the triple jump.
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The Minnesota West softball team hosted a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon against Ridgewater and was defeated in both games. The Lady Jays were beaten 9-1 in five innings in the opener and then lost 11-6 in the nightcap.
In the first contest, Ridgewater took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Minnesota West answered with a run in the bottom of the first when Alayna Wingate led off with a single and scored on a Keytin Elser RBI. That would be the lone run in the game for the Lady Jays, who had two hits from Wingate along with one each from Elser, Makenzie Allen and Sondra Rindfleisch. Chloe Ramthun pitched for Minnesota West.
In the second game, the Lady Jays scored three runs in the bottom of the first to jump out in front, but Ridgewater wound up scoring four runs each in the fourth and fifth innings. Wingate, who was the pitcher in the game, tripled and scored two runs while driving in one. Elser and Ava Parrish each had a pair of base hits; Ramthun had two RBIs.
The Lady Jays are now 3-10.
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In boys tennis Tuesday afternoon, visiting Blue Earth Area beat Worthington 7-0. All of the matches were decided in straight sets with the exception of No. 1 singles, at which the Trojans’ Ian Barber lost by scores of 6-2 2-6 10-6. Worthington will be action on Thursday afternoon when it hosts New Ulm.
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In high school softball, the Worthington Trojans played host to Marshall and were beaten by the Tigers 12-2. Brielle Riess went 5-for-5 plate for Marshall and Naya Grahn was 4-for-4.
For the Trojans, Marin Pederson had a single, double and RBI. Bailey Ponto contributed a pair of singles, and Emma Hietbrink had a double and RBI. WHS coach Avery Wysong credited her team for playing a full game and said Trojan hitters did a good job of going up to bat swinging and being competitive. The Trojans, now 3-4, entertain New Ulm on Thursday.
