MAPLETON &045; They didn’t take the championships, but the NRHEG track and field teams are taking plenty of people to section.

The Panthers finished second in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions of the sub-section meet at Mapleton Thursday while nine boys and 15 girls advanced to the section level.

The boys had 134 points to 177 for first-place USC/AC.

Sonny Berg was first in four events, winning both hurdle races and the long jump while combining with Dustin Schriever, Blake Kerkhoff and Geoff Stieglbauer for first in the 4×100 relay.

Schriever won the 200 in a school-record 23.0 seconds, breaking the old mark held by Panther assistant coach Gabe Kofstad. Schriever also won the high jump and took second in the 100.

The Panthers’ other first was by the 4×800 relay team of Brian Bos, Matt Reiter, Tim Rysavy and John Coffield.

Also advancing to section: Kerkhoff, second, 400; Stieglbauer, second, triple jump; 4×400 relay, second (Kerkhoff, Tom Bartness, Rysavy, Coffield); Reiter, third, 3200; Coffield, third, 1600; Bartness, fourth, 400; Bos, fourth, 800.

&uot;It was a great effort by the boys, who have been beaten during the year by Maple River and Faribault Academies, to take second and avenge some earlier losses,&uot; said Panthers co-coach Mike Weber.

The NRHEG girls totaled 146 points while USC/AC won with 179.

Alison Anderson had two of the Panthers’ five firsts, winning the 100 and 200. Karla Lewer won the 1600, Kalisha Anthony the pole vault and Jennifer Grunzke the discus.

Other section-qualifying places: Anthony, second, 100 hurdles and second, long jump; Lewer, second, 3200; 4×100 relay, second (Alyssa Braaten, Anderson, Hillary Johnson, Anthony); 4×800 relay, second (Melissa Maurer, Jessica Brouwers, Jessica Knudson, Melissa Barber); Kyree Wobbrock, third, shot put; Brittney Schwartz, third, discus and fourth, shot put; Ashley Misgen, fourth, 100 hurdles and fourth, 300 hurdles; Sam Davis, fourth, 400; Brouwers, fourth, 800; Anderson, fourth, long jump; Megan Groskreutz, fourth, pole vault.

&uot;We were pleased to come away with the runner-up trophy and edge out Maple River who had beaten us all season,&uot; said co-coach Duey Ferber.

The Section 2A meet is Saturday at Mankato East.