Panthers at full strength as post-season approaches

   The goal is always to be at your best when the biggest events arrive. The Monticello girls track and field  team appears to be well on its way.

   “We are finally at full strength and healthy,” Monticello coach Vallerie Lynn said. “We are ready to put our best team together for the conference and state qualifying meets.”

   As a test of this, the Panthers competed in what coach Lynn called “a dress rehearsal” in the Anamosa co-ed meet April 29.

   While Monticello finished in a tie for seventh place from a team standpoint, with 47 points, it helped them prepare for the River Valley Conference Meet May 8 at Tipton, and the State Qualifying Meet May 15 in Monticello.

   “The Anamosa meet was sort of a dress rehearsal to see how well the girls are going to be able to handle competing in three and/or four events,” Lynn said. “It was a great group effort.”

   Monticello had one win at Anamosa, from Leah Koehler in the 1,500-meter run, in 4:59.12. Teammate Brianna Kearney was sixth in that event.

   The Panthers also double-scored in the 3,000, with Kaitlin Kunde seventh and Katherine Stadtmueller eighth.

   Monticello finished second in both the 4x800 and distance medley relays.

   “I feel that the girls are peaking at the right time of the season and ready to get after it,” Lynn said.

April 29

Anamosa Co-Ed

TEAM SCORES

     1, Mount Vernon 151; 2, Mid-Prairie 141; 3, Maquoketa Valley 91; 4, Anamosa 64.5; 5, Bellevue 59; 6, Springville 52; 7 (tie) Monticello 47 and North Linn 47; 9, Lisbon 43; 10, Independence 37; 11, Midland 22; 12, Easton Valley 17.5.

MONTICELLO RESULTS

     1,500: 1, Leah Koehler, 4:59.12; 6, Brianna Kearney, 5:54.94.

     3,000: 7, Kaitlin Kunde, 13:03.62; 8, Katherine Stadtmueller, 13:35.87.

     400 hurdles: 6, Addison Norton, 1:14.32.

     4x100: 8, Monticello (Addison Norton, Avery Jurgens, Phoenix Knapp, Ava Zimmerman), 55.95.

     4x200: 7, Monticello (Laila Atkinson, Addison Norton, Avery Jurgens, Ava Zimmerman), 1:56.39.

     4x400: 4, Monticello (Peyton Ries, Brynn Schmit, Ava Capron, Laila Atkinson), 4:25.28.

     4x800: 2, Monticello (Peyton Ries, Brynn Schmit, Ava Capron, Leah Koehler), 9:56.09.

     Distance medley: 2, Monticello (Laila Atkinson, Ava Zimmerman, Brynn Schmit, Leah Koehler), 4:27.14.

     Shuttle hurdle: 5, Monticello (Charlett Smith, Macy Dusanek, Karley Tobiason, Addison Norton), 1:17.76.