Faribault’s Gehrke is Minnesota State Shot Put Champion

Faribault senior Megan Gehrke is the Minnesota Class AA Shot Put champion.  Gehrke went into the state tournament with the second best seed throw at 44 feet 1.75 inches and her last throw was the best in the field at 44 feet 4.75 inches.  Three inches better than sophomore Mya Lesnar of Alexandria. Lesnar had the best seed going into the state competition.

Gehrke was All-State last year with a 7th place finish at the tournament on the campus of Hamline University in St. Paul.  Friday classmate Lauren Isaacson finished 5th in the Discus to earn All-State honors.  The two girls racked up 17 points which placed the Faribault Falcon girls  track team in 20th place.

It has been quite a senior season for Gehrke who was part of a State Champion relay team at the State Girls Swimming and Diving Meet last fall and played on the Falcon girls basketball team who made it to the Section Semi-Finals before falling to Red Wing.  Isaacson was also part of the basketball team.

Minnetonka had 63 points to win the team title.  Wayzata was second with 47 points and Rosemount third with 45.5.  Northfield placed 9th with 30 points, Lakeville North and Farmington were tied for 11th with 24 points.

Northfield junior Elizabeth Acheson placed second in the 400 Meter Dash with a time of 57.32 and was edged out by Lakeville North sophomore Ella Larson with a time of 57.15 for the championship.

The Northfield 4 by 400 meter relay team of junior Elizabeth Acheson and senior Haley Mackenthun, Sofia Sparby and Katherine Brust placed 4th just 2.7 seconds behind the State Champions from Minnetonka.  Lakeville North was 9th in that event.

Northfield junior Karissa Ricks placed 8th in the Pole Vault while clearing 11 feet.  Junior Julia Fixsen of Mounds View was the champ and set a new state record by 6.25 inches at 13 feet 9.25 inches.  Andrianna Jacobs of Rochester Century had the previous record set in 2016.  Rosemount junior Alexys Berger was second at 12 feet.  Eastview senior Kelsey Dolejs earned All-State status with a 7th place finish.

Northfield senior Annalee Olson-Sol placed 8th in the Shot Put which is an All-State performance.  Her seed throw was 41 feet 5.75 inches and her state tournament throw was 39 feet 8 inches.

Lakeville North senior Danielle Bellino was third in the 800 Meter Run with a time of 2:12.08.  Senior Emily Kompelien won the championship with a time of 2:10.25.  Waseca sophomore Lexi Herman placed 8th for All-State honors.

Lakeville North was 7th in the 4 by 200 Meter Relay with a time of 1:43.84.  Senior Grace Butler was the anchor with freshman Sarah Babcock starting the relay, sophomore Ella Larson running second followed by freshman Mielle Naatjes.

Other results from the Big Nine include:

Rochester Century junior Kinga Mozes 5th in 100 Meter Dash (12.49) .  The winning time by Shaliciah Jones of North was 12.07.  Mozes was also 7th in the 200 Meter Dash (25.61).  Junior Kendra Kelley of Cloquet was the Champion at 24.60.  Waseca junior Odell Frye earned All-State honors finishing 8th.

Junior Annie Wendt of Rochester Mayo was 7th in the Triple Jump (37' 1.50").  East Ridge senior won the title with a jump of 39' 7.75".  Burnsville freshman Sophie Nilsson was 6th and New Prague junior Aidan Mcloone 8th and Burnsville senior Miah Keller 9th in the event.