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Leo Stalmer, Silas Solum and Eli Olson have consistently led the Ely Timberwolves this spring.
But they had unexpected company during the final meet of the regular season.
Eighth-grader Blake Houde had a breakout performance at Saturday’s Kerzie Invitational, placing third in the 3,200 meter run during the event at Rock Ridge.
Houde had a personal- best time of 12:35.87, and joined Stalmer, Solum and Olson as the Wolves’ only top-three individual finishers.
The meet served as a prep of sorts for the Section 7A North Subsection competition, which was held Thursday, after deadline, at Aurora.
A young Ely boys team took fifth at the Kerzie, placing behind larger schools including champion Hibbing, runner-up and host Rock Ridge, as well as Hermantown and Barnum. The Wolves were in front of Class A counterparts Chisholm and Mt. Iron-Buhl.
While Houde broke into the top-three, Ely’s best individual outing came from Stalmer.
The senior was the runner- up in the 300 hurdles in 44.41 seconds.
Olson had a triple jump of 38-2.5 to take third in that event, while Solum came in third in the 800 run with a time of 2:14.42.
Solum, Olson and Stalmer joined forces to give the Wolves their best relay finish of the day. They combined with freshman Caleb Larson to take third in the fourby- 400 event (3:54.29).
It was junior Milo Mc-Clelland teaming with freshmen Brooks Brenny and Oliver Hohenstein and eighth-grader Wyatt Devine to place fourth in the fourby- 800 (9:30.37) relay.
Other Ely top-10 finishes were:
• 400 dash - 6. Olson, 56.8;
• 800 run - 7. Devine, 2:24.17;
• 1,600 run - 8. Hohenstein, 5 :15.75; 9 . B renny, 5:28.95;
• 110 hurdles - 6. Stlamer, 18.14;
• Four-by-100 relay - 7. Larson, Tory Hughley, Wyatt Mattson, McClelland, 51.34;
• Shot put - 6. Mattson, 35-0;
• Long jump - 8. Olson, 17-6;
• Triple jump - 7. Solum, 36-0.
