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It was a very exciting and close meet between Paynesville and Cathedral. The Crusaders started scoring big right away. After four events, they led 48-22.

Paynesville made up part of the deficit in the mile run, where they scored 18 points. The Bulldogs also dominated the field events, scoring 71 points to Cathedral's 25.5.

The Bulldogs had the lead going into the last event, the mile relay, but the Crusaders took first and the Bulldogs were edged at the tape for third, taking fourth and dropping into second place for the meet.

"We knew Cathedral had the best mile relay team and we needed to finish third to win the conference," said head coach Dave Randgaard. But the relay team fell short of third place by .07 seconds.

"I was really proud of the effort and determination we showed in trying to repeat as conference champions," said Randgaard. "We lost a tough meet, but it couldn't have been any closer between two outstanding teams."

This is the 11th consecutive year the Paynesville girls track team has finished first or second in the conference.

The team had five champions and six runners-up. Eight girls earned All Conference honors, by placing either first or second in an event.

Senior Heidi Jansen set a new school record in the shot put, throwing 36' 6". The previous record was set by Janet Lang in 1979 at 36' 5".

Jansen also took second in the long jump and ran a leg on the second place 800-meter relay team, along with senior Carla Hemmesch, ninth grader Kendra Johnson, and eighth grader Tara Schmidt.

Senior Missy Bachman took first in pole vault and second in the triple jump, and senior Jen Hess won both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

Eighth grader Brooke Schmitz won the 800-meter run.

Junior Morgan Martinson took second in the discus.

Team Scores
1. Cathedral 154.5
2. Paynesville 154
3. Litchfield 119
4. Long Prairie 104
5. Sauk Centre 87
6. Albany 42
7. Melrose 30.5

Individual Results
100-meter hurdles: Kendra Johnson, fourth, 17.38; Jess Virant, fifth, 17.43;
300-meter hurdles: Johnson, fifth, 51.98;
400-meter dash: Mandy Mayer, seventh, 1:06;
800-meter run: Brooke Schmitz, first, 2:28.11; Jenny Berg, fifth, 2:38.03;
1,600-meter run: Jenny Hess, first, 5:15; Schmitz, third, 5:28; Kacy Nehowig, seventh, 5:46;
3,200-meter run: Jenny Hess, first, 11:11; Nehowig, sixth, 12:56.86;
400-meter relay: Heather Christensen, Heidi Jansen, Missy Bachman, Tara Schmidt, fourth, 54.88;
800-meter relay: Carla Hemmesch, Jansen, Johnson, Schmidt, second, 1:56;
1,600-meter relay: Mayer, Berg, Schmitz, Hess, fourth, 4:27.43;
3,200-meter relay: Sara Lieser, Mayer, Berg, Hannah Braun, fourth, 11:07;
Discus: Morgan Martinson, second, 104' 7"; Bachman, sixth, 87' 7";
Shot put: Jansen, first, 36' 6"(school record); Martinson, seventh, 29' 9.5";
High jump: Brittany Lieser, fourth, 4' 8"; Ashley Wall, fourth, 4' 8"; Johnson, fourth, 4' 8";
Long jump: Jansen, second, 15' 9.5"; Christensen, sixth, 14' 9.5"; Danny Lieser, seventh, 14' 8";
Triple jump: Bachman, second, 32' 6.5"; Mayer, fifth, 31' .5"; Virant, sixth, 30' 11";
Pole vault: Bachman, first, 10' 0".