WELLS &045; The USC/AC girls&8217; track team found a way to rise to the occasion Tuesday at the Gopher Conference Track Meet Tuesday holding off a talented team from New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva by four points.

The girls&8217; victory was closer than the 41-point margin from a season ago, but still helped the Rebels to the sweep as the boys were once again dominant beating runner-up Mankato Loyola by over 100 points.

Panther boys finished fourth.

The NRHEG girls&8217; had four first place finishes with Heather Schmit winning the 100-meter dash in 13.3. Krystle Lonning won the discus with a best throw of 111 feet, 1/2 inch.

NRHEG also had a pair of relays take the top spot starting with the 4×200 squad of Bryanna Anthony, Tatum Wacholz, Alearah Neumann and Samantha Hogstad which ran a 1:57.6. The 4×100 team of Anthony, Neumann, Wacholz, Anna Schlaak crossed the line in 54.4.

Cailin Timm gave the Panthers a 1-2 finish in the discus with a throw of 108 feet. Alyssa Kerkhoff was second in the 400 at 1:00.8, Schmit was the runner-up in the 200 (27.3) and the long jump (14 feet, 10 3/4 inches) and Danielle Krueger was second in the 3,200 with a mark of 12:16.7.

Kerkhoff took third in the 100 and 200, Schlaak was third in the 300 low hurdles and Lonning did the same in the shot put.

&8220;We were disappointed to lose by four points, but the girls left everything on the track,&8221; NRHEG co-head coach Duey Ferber. &8220;All-conference honors go to Lonning, Schmit, Anthony, Wacholz, Neumann, Hogstad and Schlaak.&8221;

The Panther boys got two wins from Blake Kerkhoff in the 200 (23.8) and the 400 (52.4) and a second place showing in the 100 (12.1) to lead the way.

Josh Schroeder took the runner-up spot in the 1,600 with a time of 5:02. Travis Wayne was third in the shot put at 43 feet and fourth in the discus with a throw of 123 feet, 7 1/2 feet, and Tim Bartness was fourth in the pole vault clearing 10 feet.

&8220;Blake Kerkhoff is coming around and is looking better each meet,&8221; NRHEG co-head coach Mike Weber. &8220;Travis Wayne was really solid in the throws and is peaking at the right time.&8221;