Valley City Hi-Liners Girls Relay Team Shines at Grand Forks Meet

The team of Layni Bakalar, Kadie Kocka, Chesney Thomsen, and Morgan Larson won the 4x200 meter relay at the highly competitive Mike Grandall Invitational.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:26pm

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The Valley City Hi-Liners girls track and field team had an impressive showing at the Mike Grandall Invitational in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The 4x200 meter relay team of Layni Bakalar, Kadie Kocka, Chesney Thomsen, and Morgan Larson won their event with a time of 1:48.65, beating out 25 other entries. Bakalar also had a strong individual performance, finishing second in the long jump and eighth in the 60 meter dash.

Why it matters

The Hi-Liners' success at the highly competitive Mike Grandall Invitational, which featured teams from North Dakota, Minnesota, and Canada, demonstrates the strength and depth of their girls track and field program. The team's ability to excel in both relay and individual events highlights the hard work and dedication of the athletes.

The details

In addition to the 4x200 meter relay win, Layni Bakalar had a runner-up finish in the long jump and an eighth-place finish in the 60 meter dash. Teammate Morgan Larson placed seventh in the 60 meters, while Kadie Kocka finished eighth in the long jump. Brynn Lueck also placed eighth in the pole vault.

  • The Mike Grandall Invitational was held on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • The Hi-Liners will return to UND next Friday, March 27, 2026 for an event that is expected to have even stronger competition, with 41 teams registered and over 1,000 athletes.

The players

Layni Bakalar

A member of the Hi-Liners' championship 4x200 meter relay team who also had a runner-up finish in the long jump and an eighth-place finish in the 60 meter dash.

Kadie Kocka

A member of the Hi-Liners' championship 4x200 meter relay team who also placed eighth in the long jump.

Chesney Thomsen

A member of the Hi-Liners' championship 4x200 meter relay team.

Morgan Larson

A member of the Hi-Liners' championship 4x200 meter relay team who also placed seventh in the 60 meter dash.

Trevor Bakalar

The head coach of the Valley City Hi-Liners track and field team.

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What they’re saying

“As a team, the Hi-Liners recorded an impressive 50 personal bests and 14 season bests, clear evidence that the hard work in practice is paying off.”

— Trevor Bakalar, Head Coach

What’s next

The Hi-Liners will return to UND next Friday, March 27, 2026 for an event that is expected to have even stronger competition, with 41 teams registered and over 1,000 athletes.

The takeaway

The Valley City Hi-Liners' success at the Mike Grandall Invitational, particularly the dominant performance of their girls 4x200 meter relay team, demonstrates the strength and depth of their track and field program. The team's ability to excel in both relay and individual events is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the athletes and coaching staff.