Hi-Liner Track & Field - South East Regionals
The postseason push is here for the Hi-Liners, and Valley City turned in another strong showing Saturday at the Southeast Regional Meet with the girls finishing 5th as a team and the boys placing 9th against a deep and competitive regional field. The headline of the day belonged to junior sprinter Morgan Larson, who etched her name into the Valley City record books with a school-record performance in the 200-meter dash.
Larson clocked a blistering 26.14 to finish runner-up in the event, breaking the previous VCHS school record while also qualifying for state. She added another huge performance in the 100-meter dash, placing third in 12.86 as the Hi-Liners continued to show elite sprint depth heading into the biggest stretch of the season.
This Valley City girls squad has quietly built itself into one of the more balanced teams in the region. They’re not relying on one athlete or one event. The points are coming from everywhere — sprints, hurdles, jumps, distance, relays, and field events — and that’s why they continue climbing team standings late in the year.
Senior Kadie Kocka once again delivered in a major moment, winning the regional pole vault championship by clearing 10-foot-6 while also placing sixth in the loaded 200-meter finals. Brynn Lueck qualified for state in the 300 hurdles with a second-place finish in 48.63 and also placed sixth in the 100 hurdles.
Distance standout Cadence Fetsch continued her outstanding postseason run by winning the 1600-meter title in a personal-best 5:37.94 while also placing ninth in the 800 meters. That performance may have flown under the radar regionally, but internally it says a lot about the growth of Valley City’s girls distance program. Winning a regional title in North Dakota track is hard. Doing it with a PR at the right time of year matters even more.
The Hi-Liner girls also got major contributions from their relay teams. The 4x100 relay squad of Layni Bakalar, Kadie Kocka, Chesney Thomsen, and Morgan Larson placed third in 50.91 to qualify for state competition.
On the boys side, Derek Shape once again proved he belongs among the region’s elite sprinters. Shape placed third in the 200-meter dash with a 22.96 and added a sixth-place finish in the 100-meter finals. The senior continues to anchor nearly every major sprint relay for Valley City and has been one of the most consistent point scorers all spring.
The Hi-Liner boys 4x400 relay team may have produced one of the most impressive performances of the entire meet. The quartet of Aaden Stanton Ring, Derek Shape, Hunter Undem, and Jack Sorby ran a 3:34.38 to finish third in a brutally competitive field and punch a state berth.
Sorby also had a strong individual meet, placing ninth in the 800 meters and 11th in the 400-meter dash. Finn Dockter delivered a massive jump series in the long jump, finishing fourth overall at 20’10.75”, another state-qualifying caliber performance in one of the deepest events at the meet.
And once again, sophomore thrower Owen Hunt continued to show why he’s becoming one of the top young field athletes in the state. Hunt placed third in shot put with a throw of 47’7.25” and followed it with a seventh-place finish in discus at 127’7”.
What stands out most about this Valley City team right now is timing. This isn’t a group fading late in the season — they’re peaking. Personal bests are showing up everywhere. Relay chemistry is improving. Younger athletes are gaining confidence. Veterans are delivering under pressure.
That’s exactly what coaches want entering state week.
Hi-Liner Regional Stat Pack:
Girls Team Finish: 5th — 62 points
Boys Team Finish: 9th — 33 points
Girls Highlights
Morgan Larson — 2nd, 200m (26.14, NEW SCHOOL RECORD) 🏆
Morgan Larson — 3rd, 100m (12.86)
Cadence Fetsch — Regional Champion, 1600m (5:37.94 PR)
Kadie Kocka — Regional Champion, Pole Vault (10’6”)
Brynn Lueck — 2nd, 300m hurdles (48.63)
4x100 Relay — 3rd place (50.91)
Boys Highlights
Derek Shape — 3rd, 200m (22.96)
Derek Shape — 6th, 100m (11.45)
4x400 Relay — 3rd place (3:34.38)
Finn Dockter — 4th, Long Jump (20’10.75”)
Owen Hunt — 3rd, Shot Put (47’7.25”)
Owen Hunt — 7th, Discus (127’7”)
All Regional results and event data sourced from meet results: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/641408/results/all
