MONONA -- Drama dictated that the girls' portion of the 20th annual Monona Grove Invitational wouldn't be decided until the meet's final race was finished.

But as the Middleton track and field team demonstrated all afternoon Saturday, it did not need to win the 1,600-meter relay to come away with the overall title.

Stevens Point had a chance to overtake the Cardinals -- the Panthers needed to win the relay and have Middleton take eighth or worse. Stevens Point did win the event, until a disqualification was handed down after a Panthers runner cut into a lane too early.

Middleton took second to Sauk Prairie in the relay, which was good enough to outpoint Waukesha South 105-94 and the right to stand atop the medals platform.

"I didn't want to lose our lead because I've never anchored before," said Middleton sophomore Erin McGinnis, who was overtaken just ahead of the finish line. "It's really nerve-wracking but it's fun."

Middleton had two first-place victories -- the 400 relay and sophomore Melissa Landsee in the 100 in 12.73 seconds -- but garnered five seconds and one third. Just as important, the Cardinals scored 12 times in the No. 4 through No. 8 point-gathering spots.

The results are in line with how the Cardinals have been built.

"In the past where we've been real strong in running and had other areas that were not as strong," Cardinals coach Tara Franklin said. "This year we seem to be a lot more balanced with field events so it's really helped show that it's not just track. It's track and field and it takes everybody."

Added Landsee, who is competing this year with patellar tendinitis and patellofemoral stress syndrome (which made her right kneecap twice slide out of place last year) in both knees: "There's not like two or three major point-scorers and it's a really well-rounded team."

Backed by a nearly 3-second margin of victory in the 800 and a spot on a second-place 3,200 relay, Belleville-New Glarus senior Ashley Beutler was named the meet 's most outstanding runner.

Beutler has won two WIAA state titles in the 1,600 and another in the 3,200, and the medals go along with three WIAA cross country championships. Not bad for someone who told her father after her freshman year that her only goal was to set a school record.

The University of Wisconsin recruit found the MG Invitational beneficial for continued success over the final three weeks of her decorated prep career.

"Coming here is very important because this year we've been at quite a few duals and triangulars so it's very hard to see where you are when you're at the small meets," Beutler said. "So when you can come to a big meet like this and perform well, it means quite a bit.

"I think I'm right where I want to be, near the top, and I think the cards will start falling into place now."

Madison La Follette junior Samia Taylor won the triple jump and took third in the long jump to be tabbed the most outstanding field performer.