The Hastings Raiders wrapped up the regular season in dominant fashion, clinching both the boys and girls team titles at the Metro East Conference Championships, hosted this year at Two Rivers High School. It was a statement meet for Hastings, which not only topped the team standings but also produced record-breaking performances, personal bests across events, and strong finishes from athletes at every level. With 184.5 points from the girls and 153.5 from the boys, Hastings emerged as the clear champion in a field of eight competitive schools.

The girls edged out Two Rivers by 11.5 points to take the crown, while the boys held off a dual challenge from St. Thomas Academy and Two Rivers, who tied for second at 128.5 points. The overall team depth, anchored by standout sprints, dominant relays, and solid performances in field events, helped Hastings lock in its position as the top team in the conference.

Girls Highlights: Magnus Sets Record, Erickson and Kordosky Shine
Leading the charge for the Raider girls was junior Ellie Magnus, who broke the Metro East Conference record in the 100 meters with a blazing time of 11.81 seconds. Magnus doubled down in the 200 meters, winning in 24.58 seconds, and added a runner-up finish in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 17 feet, 10 inches.

Olyvia Erickson continued her stellar season, winning the 400 meters in 56.66 seconds and finishing third in the 200 meters at 25.84. Her time in the 400 meters broke the Metro East Conference record, a mark previously held by her teammate Ellie Magnus. She also anchored the winning 4x400 relay team that featured Carlee Kordosky, Jordan Leos, and Ellie Magnus, clocking a fast 4:02.40.

Kordosky added individual wins in both hurdle events. She took first in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 45.23 and finished second in the 100 meter hurdles at 15.14 seconds. She also contributed a top ten finish in the triple jump.

In the field events, Lauren Whitfield was a force. She won the shot put with a throw of 39 feet, 1 inch and claimed the discus title at 134 feet, 7 inches. Teammate Rylee Kimmes added a second-place discus finish at 109 feet even, giving Hastings a major points boost in the throws.

Additional standout performances came from Linnea Ronning, who was second in the 1600 and third in the 3200, and pole vaulter Olivia Schuster, who cleared 9 feet, 6 inches to win the event. Ninth-grader Mya Bauer also delivered in the jumps, placing fourth in the triple jump and sixth in high jump.

The relay teams rounded out the Raiders’ scoring with a win in the 4x400, a third-place finish in the 4x200, and a fourth-place finish in the 4x100. Across the board, the girls' team showed experience, youth, and depth.

Boys Highlights: Hoffman Nearly Breaks Record, Sprint Crew Delivers Sweep
For the boys, junior Lane Hoffman nearly made history in the 100 meters, winning in 10.77 seconds, just one hundredth of a second off the conference record. Hoffman also took first in the 200 meters and anchored the victorious 4x200 relay squad, helping lead a sprint sweep that defined the Raiders’ day.

Hoffman’s teammates were right behind him. Sebastian Strauss took second in the 200 and came back to win the 400 in a personal-best 48.09. Gunner Hanstad added a third-place finish in the 200 and a runner-up spot in the 400. The 1-2-3 sweep in both the 200 and 400 set the tone for a dominating day on the track.

The relay units kept the momentum rolling. Hastings won the 4x200 with Hoffman, Cole Zeien, Matthew Jelks, and Johnathan Vickney in 1:30.10. The 4x400 team also took first, clocking 3:24.19 with strong splits from Hanstad, Strauss, Vickney, and Aven Johnson. The 4x100 finished third, adding more valuable points.

In the distance races, Tristan Herbst placed fifth in both the 1600 and 3200, while Aiden Reuter cracked the top ten in both events with personal bests. The 4x800 relay team finished third behind strong efforts from Gabriel Peterson, Finn Cullen, David Tireman, and William Carry.

Isaac Clark was another top contributor, winning the 300 hurdles in 41.49 and placing sixth in the 110 hurdles. He also finished seventh in the triple jump and was part of the scoring 4x100 relay team.

The throwers added power points behind senior Lukas Foss, who won the shot put with a toss of 48 feet, 4 inches and finished second in the discus at 139 feet, 1 inch. Jacob Reuter placed top five in both events as well.

Depth across the board
What stood out most was the depth of both squads. Nearly every event featured multiple Hastings athletes placing and earning personal bests. From young freshmen and eighth-graders making their presence felt to seniors stepping up in their final conference meet, the Raiders had contributors across every discipline.

For the boys, 11 different athletes scored in individual running events. For the girls, at least 14 athletes recorded top-10 finishes, and nearly every relay team finished in the top four.

What’s next
With the conference titles in hand and momentum at their backs, the Hastings Raiders now turn their attention to the Section 3AA Championships. The preliminary round begins Tuesday, May 28, followed by finals on Thursday, May 30. The meet will feature top competition from Apple Valley, Bloomington Kennedy, Burnsville, Eagan, East Ridge, Eastview, Park of Cottage Grove, and Rosemount. Field events begin at 3:30 p.m. with track events starting between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m. on both days.

Expect Hastings to show up ready. After what they just accomplished, no one will be overlooking