Fergus Falls boys track takes third, wins key events at home meet

Fergus Falls did more than defend its home track. The Otters piled up 124 points April 13 at Otter Stadium, finishing third behind Bemidji’s 157 and Detroit Lakes’ 132 while showing enough balance to stay in the fight from one event to the next.

That kind of spread matters for a program trying to prove it can contend beyond a single star. Quinn Wynn-Sheldon led the way in the field, winning the shot put with a mark of 45 feet, 4 inches and taking the discus at 122 feet, 5 inches. Those two victories gave Fergus Falls a reliable points base and hinted at the kind of throwing strength that can carry into conference and section meets.

The Otters also found valuable points on the track. Max Jensen placed second in the 400-meter dash in a personal-record 54.84 seconds, a break-through run that added speed to the team’s scoring mix. Chasen Stueve turned in one of the meet’s most versatile efforts, taking sixth in the 100 and third in the 200, with both races counted as personal bests. Drew Johnson added another first-place finish, winning the 300-meter hurdles in a season-best 46.4 seconds.

The result gave Fergus Falls a useful early read on its ceiling. The Otters did not need one runaway performance to build their total; instead, the points came from the throws, sprints and hurdles, the sort of depth that usually travels well when the pressure rises later in the season.

The home meet also offered a comparison to last year’s Otter Invitational, when Fergus Falls won on its own track with 184 points, ahead of Detroit Lakes at 131, Bemidji at 112 and Lisbon at 107. This time, Bemidji and Detroit Lakes were again near the front in a six-team field that also included Bertha-Hewitt, Lisbon and West Central Area, underscoring how tight the top of the local field has become.

Fergus Falls will try to build on that base quickly. The next meet was set for April 16 at Otter Stadium, giving the Otters another home chance to turn this balanced start into something that looks more like a section threat.