No champions, but three seniors come home with medals
Staff writer
All three seniors who went to state for Marion High School track and field came home with medals.
Marion didn’t produce any state champions or runners-up, but head coach Grant Thierolf was pleased, saying his athletes had “some very good performances.”
Leading those performances was sophomore Marissa Jacobson, whose third-place finish was the highest of any Marion athlete.
“Marissa followed up a great season with a very strong meet at state,” Thierolf said. “Her jump in the triple jump was actually farther than her winning jump last season.”
Jacobson also took fifth in long jump.
Senior Kyle Palic, who perpetually led the boys in points this season, “probably didn’t have the weekend that he was hoping for,” Thierolf said. He finished fifth in discus and didn’t medal in shot put.
Fellow seniors Seth Snelling and Brad Stone placed fifth in pole vault and sixth in 300-meter hurdles, respectively.
“Seth Snelling just missed out on 13-6 in the pole vault but had a great season in that event,” Thierolf said. “Brad Stone improved as much as any athlete we have had these past four years and worked very hard to earn the medal in the 300 hurdles. We will most certainly miss all of our seniors.”
Kristen Herzet had her best throw ever to place fifth in discus.
“Kristen Herzet had a (personal record) in the discus and it was the right day for it,” Thierolf said. “She had a very good series of throws and will be one of the top returning throwers in the state for next year.”
Thierolf also was proud of junior Marshelle Mermis, who placed seventh in the 400.
“She has been injured all year and she did not let the injury keep her off the medal stand,” he said. “We look to get her healthy for next season.”
Tyler Palic, the only freshman who attended the state meet, achieved a personal record in the discus. It was not enough to medal in the event, but Thierolf took it as a positive sign for the future.
“We look forward to great things from him in the next three years,” he said.