ROCHESTER — Without skipping a beat, Bryce DeBoer took first place in shot put at the Big Nine Conference meet at Rochester Mayo on Friday with a distance of 54 feet, 1 inch.

DeBoer has won every meet he’s participated in this year.

According to Tigers coach Kevin Gentz, of the six times DeBoer got to throw in preliminaries and finals, all landed past the 50-foot mark.

“It’s a great blessing,” DeBoer said. “I never knew I would be this successful at track.”

The next closest distance was 49 feet, 8 inches.

DeBoer said he knew if he threw well he would be able to beat the other competitor.

Gentz said DeBoer is in excellent shape heading into sections.

“He has worked hard all year to become stronger and more consistent,” Gentz said. “He is confident in his throws and is convincingly the Big Nine champion.”

DeBoer, who has already thrown over the state qualifying mark of 54 feet, 4 inches this season, is excited for the stronger competition next week.

On the track, Albert Lea High School junior Chrissy Monson raced toward two conference titles for the fourth year in a row.

Not only did Monson take first in both the 1,600-meter run and the 3,200-meter run, she was also named All-Conference.

“She led both races from beginning to end, wire-t0-wire,” Tigers coach Margo Wayne said. “It’s a tremendous feat to win one event at our conference, but to win two events in the manner she did was just incredible.”

Monson ran personal best times in the races with times of 5 minutes and 8.71 seconds in the 1,600-meter and 11:12.81 in the 3,200-meter.

“It was one of those things you see in track meets that you’ll remember forever,” Wayne said.

Monson beat her competitors in the 3,200-meter race by 24 seconds and by 7 seconds in the 1,600-meter.

“She was still pulling away right to the finish,” Wayne said. “She ran two incredibly smart races.”

Monson is excited for next week’s sections as the competition becomes tougher and the stakes get higher.

“I’ve got to get faster still, but we’re on track,” Monson said. “I wish everyone the best of luck, I just hope my best is better.”

 

Boys’ track
and field
1. Rochester Mayo 316
2. Owatonna 201
3. Mankato East 197
4. Mankato West 132
5. Faribault 121
6. Rochester Century 120
7. Winona 105
8. Albert Lea 70
9. Austin 63
10. Rochester John Marshall 61

Albert Lea individuals
First Place
Shot put: Bryce DeBoer, 54-01

Third Place
4×400-meter relay: Sean Laurie, Tate Tufte, Clay Bratten, Isaac Staat, 3:33.39

Fourth Place
300-meter hurdles: Brody Sundblad, 41.27

Fifth Place
4×200-meter relay: Dylan Anderson, Laurie, Bratten, Tufte, 1:35.04
400-meter dash: Staat, 54.42

Sixth Place
800-meter run: Laurie, 2:02.95

Girls’ track
and field
1. Rochester Century 339.33
2. Mankato West 193
3. Owatonna 145
4. Austin 135.33
5. Winona 132
6. Rochester Mayo 128.33
7. Albert Lea 88
7. Rochester John Marshall 88
9. Mankato East 73
10. Faribault 63

Albert Lea individuals
First Place
1,600-meter run: Chrissy Monson, 5:08.71
3,200-meter run: Monson, 11:12.81

Fifth Place
100-meter dash: Becca Dup
300-meter hurdles: Larissa Hacker
800-meter run: Anna Englin

Sixth Place
4×100-meter relay: Colleen Thompson, Danielle Staat, Sarah Savelkoul, Becca Dup
Pole vault: Karli Kriewall

Seventh Place
400-meter dash: Sam Stanley
4×400-meter relay: Stanley, Thompson, Sydney Rehnelt, Monson

Eighth Place
4×800-meter relay: Englin, Kelsey Thomas, Rachel Kenis, Ashley Tewes
200-meter dash: Dup

Ninth Place:
Shot put: Kelly Nelson