Saxony Lutheran adds to arsenal for state bid

~ The fifth-place team in Class 1 last year showed its field prowess at Chaffee Open.

Those expecting the Saxony Lutheran boys track team to show up at the Class 1 state track meet with the usual weapons -- top-flight distance runners -- might be in for a bit of a surprise this May.

The Crusaders finished fifth last year, just three points from a fourth-place trophy and five points out of third. And last year, they did score most of their points in distance events with the 3,200-meter relay team placing first and Brandon Etzold finishing second in the 1,600 meters.

Considering the school has won back-to-back state championships in Class 1 cross country, the distance success is not a surprise and is to be expected again this year.

But Saxony Lutheran showed off a few other weapons Wednesday in winning the team championship at the Chaffee Open.

The Crusaders had three wins in field events -- Trey Maevers in the high jump, Clay Obergoenner in the long jump and Tim Lorenz in the shot put -- to go along with wins by Alex Jauch in the 200-meter dash and the 300 hurdles.

"We're expected to have distance kids," Saxony Lutheran coach Larry Cleair said, "but to come up with the points we're coming up with in the field events and sprints has been a godsend. This is Obergoenner's first year of running track and he's done a nice job. Alex Jauch in the 200 has done well.

"I'm real pleased with how the kids have been working."

Jauch won the 300 hurdles in 41.31 seconds Wednesday, bettering the state time of 42.37 he ran last year. "It was the best time of his life," Cleair said.

Saxony Lutheran's distance runner also showed top form.

The Crusaders' 3,200-meter relay team of Etzold, Maevers, Grant Lehmann and Max Wieser won in a time of 8 minutes, 35 seconds, the best time in the area this year.

Saxony Lutheran also won the 1,600 relay. And Etzold swept the 800- and 1,600-meter runs.

Maevers, who was unable to make the start of the 800 while winning the high jump, slid into the 3,200-meter run instead and won that in a time of 11:31.

Results from Wednesday's meet in today's high school roundup, Page 4B