FARIBAULT &045; The United South Central boys’ track and field team is never one to back away from competition, and the Rebels found some quality foes in Tuesday’s Faribault Invitational.

They finished second among six schools, four of which are in the Big Nine. Their lone Gopher Conference rival finished dead last.

Austin won with 88 points. The Rebels had 78.5, Winona 75, Faribault 64.5, Northfield 43 and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 25.

&uot;It was a good meet for us,&uot; said coach Kent Viesselman. &uot;It’s good for us to run against some different teams. It was also good to get some of our people who were injured earlier back into the lineup.&uot;

Justin Youngblom was the lone individual winner, taking the 3200 meters in a season-best 10:30.12. He was second in the 1600 in 4:47.78.

&uot;Justin is rounding into shape,&uot; said Viesselman. &uot;This was just the second time he’s doubled in the 1600 and 3200 this year, and his 10:30 3200 came after a 4:47 in the 1600, which is real close to his season best in that event.&uot;

The Rebels’ other first came in the 4×100 relay with Shea Kaiser, Callan Pitcher, Jon Voigt and Bob Schmitz.

Eric Melby, Matt Mueller, Eric Youngblom and Jake Stenzel combined for second in the 4×800 relay.

Other USC places: Steven Wood, second, 110 hurdles and second, 300 hurdles; Pitcher, fourth, 110 hurdles; Kaiser, second, 100, third, 400, and second, long jump; Voigt, fourth, 100, second, 200, and fourth, pole vault; Schmitz, fourth, 800; 4×400 relay, fifth (Wood, Melby, Simon Christensen, Schmitz); 4×200 relay, fourth (Melby, Trent Leesch, Christensen, Chris Vondracek); Vondracek, fifth, high jump; Adam Kruger, fourth, shot put.