Northfield boys compete at state track; Feig earns All-State honor

Stephen Feig led Northfield High School at the 2024 MSHSL Class AA boys track and field state championship with an eighth-place finish in the pole vault.

In the meet, which was held at St. Michael-Albertville High School’s track complex June 7-8, Feig gained All-State status with a top vault of 13-6. Brian Schloeder of Rockford gained top honors in the event at 15-7, while Feig tied for eighth place along with Nathaniel Bear of Chicago Lakes at 13-6.

Feig’s performance was all the more impressive as he took time out from the vault competition to compete for the Raiders in the 4x200 relay preliminary race. Of note, the NHS relay 4x200, which was seeded fourth going into the race, dropped the baton during the last exchange of the relay leading to a DNF (did not finish) result.

“Our coaches, athletes, and relay alternates were all pretty stunned by the outcome but Feig had little time to gather himself needing to return directly to the pole vault to compete,” NHS coach Tyler Balow said. “I am really proud of how he responded to this moment of disappointment and rallied himself to focus on the vault. Coach Karl Viesselman deserves a ton of credit for getting Stephen (Feig) to stay calm and focus in on his event, and nearly setting a personal best on his last attempt of the competition.”

Balow added, “Being just a junior, Stephen (Feig) will have a chance to return next year to this same meet. Many athletes in the field were seniors so he will be hoping to finish even higher next year.”

Along with the 4x200 relay team of Gavin Novotny, McCoy Weitz, Feig and Simon Lippert, which set a new team record time of 1:28.91 at the recent Section 1AA meet, the Raiders also sent their 4x400 relay team of Sam Swedin, Weitz, Feig and Novotny to the state meet.

The 4x400 relay team placed 19th at the state meet with a time of 3:34.70, while the team from Big 9 rival Mankato West won the race with a time of 3:23.82.

In the team scores, Fridley placed first with a score of 59 followed by Mankato East with 57 and Rockford with 47 in third place. Northfield finished the meet with 1.5 points and placed 50th in the team standings.

“While our relay teams were hoping for stronger performances this weekend, we are proud of all they accomplished this spring. Some of our younger athletes will have a great opportunity to use this experience to their advantage next year,” Balow said.