BHV Track and Field

06/08/2026

06/06/2026

Miller Earns First Individual State Medal with All-State Finish in 3200 Meters

Kendra Miller saved her best performance for the biggest stage of the season.

Competing at the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Championships on June 4, Miller delivered a remarkable race in the girls' 3200-meter run, finishing ninth overall in a time of 11:36.42 to earn All-State honors and capture the first individual state medal of her career.

The accomplishment was especially impressive considering Miller entered the meet seeded 12th among the 19 competitors after running an 11:56.07 at the Section meet just one week earlier. She not only surpassed her seed position but finished less than seven seconds off her personal-best time of 11:29.35.

Running conditions were far from ideal. Temperatures reached 84 degrees with a steady 10-mile-per-hour wind. While challenging, the conditions were still an improvement from the 93-degree heat Miller battled at the Section meet the previous week.

Miller raced with patience and confidence from the opening gun. She found herself in 19th place through the first two laps before beginning a steady climb through the field. By lap three, she had moved into 15th place and continued to methodically reel in competitors.

At the halfway point, Miller crossed the 1600-meter mark in 5:48.80 and had already advanced to 11th place. She continued her surge during the fifth lap, moving into 10th place before taking over ninth on lap six.

With two laps remaining, Miller was gaining ground on the runners ahead of her and appeared poised to challenge for an even higher finish. Over the final stages of the race, she found herself locked in a thrilling three-way battle for seventh, eighth and ninth place. Despite a determined effort down the stretch, Miller was unable to find the final burst needed to overtake the runners in front of her and crossed the finish line in ninth.

The finish secured All-State honors and marked a significant milestone in Miller's outstanding track career.​ While she had previously earned All-State recognition as a member of Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale’s 4x800-meter relay teams that placed eighth at the state meet in 2024 and fourth in 2025, this year’s performance brought home her first individual state medal.

From entering the race ranked 12th to finishing ninth in one of the state's most competitive distance events, Miller showcased the determination, patience and competitive spirit that have defined her season. Her All-State performance stands as a fitting conclusion to an exceptional year and cements her place among Minnesota's top Class A distance runners.

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06/02/2026

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️STATE BOUND! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

We have a handful of Raiders heading to the State Track Meet this week, and we couldn’t be more proud!🫶

🎉 Huge congratulations to:
🏅Kendra Miller — 3200
🏅Henry Lockwood — 3200
🏅Brady Rach — 800
🏅Boys 4x800 Relay — Henry Lockwood, Gunnar Barthel, Jakub Stovicek, & Nolan Rach

These athletes have put in the work, shown incredible grit, and earned their spot on the big stage!💙💚

📣 STATE SENDOFF 📣
Join us Thursday at 12:15 PM in the 2000 parking lot as we cheer them out of town!
Everyone is invited — bring your future athletes and show them what determination and heart can lead to.💪

Let’s send them off with all the Raider pride we’ve got — Go Raiders! 💙💚

05/29/2026

Miller Qualifies for State as Raiders Compete at Section 6A Meet

The Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale Raiders girls track and field team traveled to Concordia College in Moorhead on Thursday, May 28, to compete in the Section 6A Track & Field Championships. Athletes faced challenging conditions throughout the day, with temperatures climbing into the mid-90s, creating a demanding and physically taxing environment for competition.

Despite the intense heat, the Raiders turned in several strong performances. The highlight of the day came from Kendra Miller, who earned a berth in the Class A State Track & Field Meet with a runner-up finish in the 3200-meter run. Miller crossed the finish line in 11:56.07, securing her place among the state's top distance runners.

Other competitors for the Raiders included Piper Dean in the high jump, where she cleared 4'5" to place 15th. The 4x800-meter relay team of Danika Wilhelmi, Piper Dean, Mari Hansel, and Kendra Miller delivered a solid performance, finishing third in a time of 10:08.76. Aulani Johnson placed 12th in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 54.06, while Danika Wilhelmi finished eighth in the 800-meter run in 2:26.29. The 4x400-meter relay team of Johnson, Dean, Hansel, and Wilhelmi capped off the day with an eighth-place finish, posting a time of 4:40.16.

The Raiders represented their schools well throughout the championship meet, competing with determination and resilience under difficult weather conditions. Miller's state-qualifying performance in the 3200-meter run provides an exciting opportunity for the Raiders as she prepares to compete against the best Class A athletes in Minnesota at the state meet. Kendra will compete on the evening of June 3 and will be aiming to earn All-State honors with a top-nine finish.

"Once again, the weather played a significant role in our performances," said Coach Kenny Miller. "Over the past few weeks, we've dealt with cold and windy conditions, and today we faced hot and windy conditions. The heat was something no athlete from any team was truly prepared for. "I was proud of the way our girls responded, and I believe we represented Raider Nation extremely well. Our 4x800-meter relay team fell short of its goal, and for the first time in the last three years we will not be sending a 4x800 relay team to the state meet. "Danika, as just a ninth grader, had a very solid day and is an athlete to watch in the future. Kendra demonstrated how hard work and dedication pay off, running a smart and disciplined race to secure her spot at the Class A State Meet. "For a small school like ours, simply qualifying for the section meet is a tremendous accomplishment. My hat goes off to all of the girls who competed today and represented our program with pride."

05/29/2026

It was a great day to be a Raider!

05/22/2026

The Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale Raiders traveled to Long Prairie for the Section 6A Sub-Section Track and Field Meet, where athletes once again battled challenging breezy conditions throughout the day. The top six individuals and top three relay teams in each event automatically advanced to the Section Meet, along with the next four best individual performances and the next two fastest relay times overall between the two sub-sections. The Raiders team placed ninth out of the 13 teams participating.

Several Raiders earned spots in the Section Finals with strong performances. The girls’ 4x800-meter relay team of Danika Wilhelmi, Mari Hansel, Piper Dean, and Kendra Miller placed second with a time of 10:02.02. Danika Wilhelmi also advanced in the 800-meter run, finishing second in 2:29.45, while Kendra Miller claimed a sub-section championship in the 3200-meter run with a winning time of 11:33.63.

Additional qualifiers included Aulani Johnson in the 300-meter hurdles, where she placed seventh in 52.33 seconds, and Piper Dean in the high jump, finishing third with a jump of 4 feet, 8 inches. The Raiders also qualified in the 4x400-meter relay, as Johnson, Hansel, Dean, and Wilhelmi combined for a fourth-place finish in 4:26.24.

“We took a slightly different approach to the meet this year and chose not to do a significant taper heading into the competition,” said Coach Kenny Miller. “Even so, we continued to see improvements in our times, and I believe we still have another level we can reach at sections. While next week’s forecast doesn’t appear ideal, I’m confident our athletes will be prepared to compete in whatever conditions we face, including the expected heat and wind. We’re excited for the opportunity to compete at a new venue at Concordia, and I’m hopeful the outstanding facility will help inspire our athletes as we push to qualify a few competitors for the state meet.”

05/16/2026

The Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale Raiders traveled to Sebeka for the Park Region Conference Meet, where windy conditions challenged athletes throughout the day. Despite the tough weather, the Raiders turned in several season-best performances and even set a new conference record. The girls team finished fifth out of eight teams.

Leading the way for the Raiders were the All-Conference performers. The 4x800-meter relay team of Piper Dean, Mari Hansel, Danika Wilhelmi, and Kendra Miller captured first place with a time of 10:05.84. Piper Dean earned runner-up honors in the high jump, clearing 4 feet, 11 inches, while Danika Wilhelmi placed second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:25.33. Kendra Miller highlighted the meet by winning the 3200-meter run in a new conference-record time of 11:29.35.

Additional scorers for the Raiders included Aulani Johnson, who placed fifth in the 300-meter hurdles in 54.34 seconds. The 4x200-meter relay team of Skylee Hauer, Autumne Haus, Clair Williams, and Lexi Captain finished fifth in 2:05.55, while the 4x100-meter relay team of Leona Heller, Haus, Williams, and Captain took sixth place with a time of 58.53 seconds. The 4x400 relay team of Johnson, Dean, Hansel and Wilhelmi capped off the evening with a second place finish in a time of 4:30.20.

Coach Kenny Miller was pleased with the team’s effort and overall performance at the conference meet, especially with the Raiders continuing to show improvement as the postseason approaches. The team produced several season-best performances, earned multiple All-Conference honors, and saw Kendra Miller set a new Park Region Conference record in the 3200-meter run. Having all four relay teams score points was another major milestone for the Raiders and highlighted the team’s depth and growth throughout the season.

“I am really proud of the girls,” said Miller. “I don’t know if we could have competed any better or had better results at the conference meet. I’m excited to see how fast we can be on the track when the wind isn’t blowing. All four of our relays scored points for the first time this season, so we are moving in the right direction. We’ll travel back to Long Prairie next Thursday for the Sub-Section meet and hope to keep our momentum going.”

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05/14/2026

05/08/2026

The Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale Raiders Track and Field team traveled to Frazee on Thursday, May 7, to compete in the Section 6A True Team Meet, taking advantage of favorable conditions and finishing 15th overall.

The Raiders were led by another strong individual performance from Kendra Miller, who set a personal best in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:21.15, earning a first-place finish in a field of 32 runners. Additional standout efforts included Danika Wilhelmi, who placed fourth in the 800-meter run (2:31.49), and the 4x800-meter relay team of Mari Hansel, Mckayla Kapphahn, Wilhelmi, and Miller, which took third place with a time of 10:20.33.

“This is a very large meet, and with our smaller roster it can be challenging to accumulate team points,” said Coach Kenny Miller. “Despite that, the girls continue to work hard and compete with great effort. We’re looking forward to next Tuesday’s Park Region Conference meet, where we’ll see fewer teams and have an opportunity to improve our overall finish.

“I’m proud of how consistently we compete, and we remain focused on improving each day. With the championship season now underway, it’s important that we stay disciplined and take care of the small details so we can perform at our best.”

05/01/2026

The Raiders Track and Field team traveled to Wadena on Thursday, April 30, to compete in the annual Sam Kelderman Memorial Meet, finishing sixth overall.

Individual scoring performances were led by Kendra Miller, who placed first in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:30.17. Danika Wilhelmi also earned a first-place finish in the 1600-meter run (5:43.39). Additional contributions came from Mckayla Kapphahn in the 800-meter (2:56.13) and 1600-meter runs (6:14.56), as well as Aulani Johnson, who placed third in the 300-meter low hurdles (54.22) and seventh in the long jump (14'3.5").

The Raiders also found success in relay events. The 4x800 relay team of Danika Wilhelmi, Piper Dean, Mari Hansel, and Kendra Miller placed second with a time of 10:13.17. The 4x400 relay team of Aulani Johnson, Hansel, Wilhelmi, and Miller also secured a second-place finish (4:36.6). The 4x200 relay team of Skylee Hauer, Autumne Haus, Claire Williams, and Lexi Captain placed sixth (2:08.08), as did the 4x100 relay team of Leona Heller, Haus, Williams, and Captain (59.64). The Raiders will travel to Frazee for the Section 6A True Team meet on Tuesday with field events starting at 10am and running events starting at 11am.

“The cooler conditions still allowed us to compete at a high level,” said Coach Kenny Miller. “We matched up against several conference rivals in key events and came away with valuable experience. Our goal now is to get healthy and perform to the level we know we’re capable of.
One of the highlights of the day was Hannah Hubbard setting a personal best in the discus, and our 4x800 relay team did a great job closing the gap on a very strong Parker Prairie squad. Danika and Kendra continue to establish themselves as two of the top distance runners in the conference, and we’re hopeful that success carries over into the section meet. We’ll get in a few solid days of practice before returning to competition at the True Team meet.”

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