It was a breakthrough race for Shelby Hoeft and a really good way for the Tomah High School track & field team to finish its indoor season.

Hoeft, a sophomore, pulled off a surprise win in the 800-meter run, and her win provided important points in Tomah’s first-place finish at the Eau Claire Memorial Invitational at UW-Eau Claire’s McPhee Center.

Tomah’s two other first-place winners -- Melissa Moravec in the long jump and Emily Haines in the triple jump -- are familiar names at the top of a track & field list. Hoeft’s was a pleasant surprise.

“It’s something we thought she could do, although we really didn’t know which teams were going to be there because of the weather,” Tomah coach Bruce Luebke said. “She ran a smart race. She stayed in contact for the first 600 meters and then took off on the final lap.”

Hoeft’s winning time was 2 minutes, 45.22 seconds, nearly six seconds ahead of second-place Meghan Smith of Eau Claire Memorial.

Moravec won the long jump with a mark of 16 feet, 1 1/2 inches, while Haines won the triple jump in 34-11 1/2.

Tomah managed to win even without Haleigh Flottmeyer’s points in the distance races. She was out with a minor injury but should be ready for the start of the outdoor season. Tomah piled up points elsewhere, finishing second in four events and taking third in four more.

Tomah’s other placewinners were:

Second - 3200 relay, 11:31.17; Abby Schoonover, high jump, 4-10; Moravec, triple jump, 33-0 1/4; Libby Heisinger, shot put, 30-2 1/2.

Third - Moravec, 55 dash, :07.83; 800 relay, 1:58.2; Angelia Larson, pole vault, 8-0; Lacee Navrestad, shot put, 29-10 1/2.

Fourth - Lauren Patterson, 55 hurdles, :10.18; Mackensie Pampuch, pole vault, 7-0; Katelynn Elsing, long jump, 13-8 1/2.

Fifth - Angie Gasser, 3200, 14:25.36; 1600 relay, 5:01.06; Samantha Hartshorn, high jump, 4-6.

Seventh - Elsing, 400, 1:10.47; Kayla Macrafic, shot put, 26-9 1/2.

Eighth - Gasser, 1600, 6:31.09.

Team scores: Tomah 119, Eau Claire Memorial 89, Rice Lake 86, Rochester Century 71, Eau Claire North 66.5, La Crosse Aquinas 63, Cadott 49, Medford 37.5

Tomah’s boys were led by Derek Storkel, who won the 1600 in a sizzling duel against Shane Steele of Rochester Century and captured the 3200 in a runaway.

Storkel’s 1600 time of 4:34.44 edged Steele by 2 1/2 seconds. In the 3200, Storkel ran 9:47.12 to win by 53 seconds.

Storkel was Tomah’s only first-place finisher. Tomah’s other placewinners were:

Second - 800 relay, 1:58.20; Tyler Butzler, shot put, 50-0.

Third - Reed Griffin, 55 hurdles, :08.64; Rhett Monroe, 55 dash, :07.05.

Fourth - Zach Johnson, 200, :24.8; Zurik Adler, pole vault, 11-0; Johnson, long jump, 18-3 1/4.

Fifth - Alex Marten, high jump, 5-4; Kyle Price, shot put, 43-4.

Sixth - Monroe, 200, :25.58; 400 relay, 4:05.73; Monroe, triple jump, 37-3 1/4.

Seventh - Matt Ferry, high jump, 5-2.

Eighth - Tanner Costello, long jump, 17-11 1/2.

Team scores: La Crosse Aquinas 102, Eau Claire Memorial 93, Tomah 88, Rochester Century 78, Rice Lake 66.5, Medford 56, Cadott 51.5, Eau Claire North 34, Chippewa Falls 15.

Tomah makes its first home appearance at the Earl Gatzke Invitational April 18 at E.J. McKean Field.