VALLEY CITY, ND  (Ryan Cunningham, NewsDakota.com)  A quartet of Hi-Liner girls turned in a sparkling performance to head Valley City at the highly-competitive Mike Grandall Invitational at UND in Grand Forks Friday.

The team of Layni Bakalar, Kadie Kocka, Chesney Thomsen, and Morgan Larson won the 4×200 meter relay, with a time of 1:48.65, the Hi-Liners lone championship of the day.  The result was the best of 25 entries into the event.  The meet brought together teams from North Dakota, Minnesota, and Canada.

Bakalar had the top individual performance of the day, adding a runner-up finish in the long jump and an 8th-place finish in the 60 meter event.

Larson added a 7th place in the 60 meters, while Kocka tacked on an 8th-place finish in the long jump.  Brynn Lueck placed 8th in the pole vault, capping the Hi-Liner placewinners.

On the boys side, Derek Shape was the individual leader, placing 3rd in the 200 meter run, and teaming with Hunter Undem, Aaden Stanton Ring, and Zachary Giesler to finish 6th in the 4×200 meter relay.  Owen Hunt added a 6th place finish in the shotput.

Head coach Trevor Bakalar stated that, as a team, the Hi- Liners recorded an impressive 50 personal bests and 14 season bests, calling the results “clear evidence that the hard work in practice is paying off.”

Hi-Liners will return to UND next Friday, March 27.  Coach Bakalar says the event will have even stronger competition, featuring 41 teams registered and over 1000 athletes.