Two Bethlehem Academy, Two Faribault Athletes Advance to State Track

There are a number of area athletes who have qualified to participate in this weekend's Minnesota State High School Track Meet at Hamline University in St. Paul.

Faribault Falcon Tate Olson has a very good shot at winning the pole vault. The junior has cleared 14 feet, 6 inches this year, which is the best of any of the state qualifiers. That mark broke his own previous school record.

The all-time state record was set last year by Benjamine Ose of Eden Prairie at 15 feet, 8 inches. The national record is 18 feet, 2.25 inches set by a Texan.

Faribault junior Adam Tuma is participating in the 1,600-meter run.

Bethlehem Academy sophomore Avery Hunt is participating in the Class A triple jump where Rushford-Peterson basketball and football star Noah Carlson is the defending champion and has the best mark this season.

Cardinal senior Kyle Ell will be in the high jump

No Faribault High School or Bethlehem Academy girls qualified for state this year.

Kenyon-Wanamingo junior Mara Quam returns to defend her long jump title. Her distance of 17 feet, 7 inches won the competition last year and her best mark this year has been 17 feet, 2.75 inches. Two other qualifiers this year have better season bests.

Quam also will be competing in the 100-meter hurdles.

Kenyon-Wanamingo senior Mason Stevenson qualified in the 300-meter hurdles and is the only Knight participating in the boys meet.

The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneer girls have a good shot at winning the Class A state title with a number of qualifiers.

• Junior Samantha Petry is the defending pole vault champ and is the only person in the field to go over 11 feet so far this season.
• Senior Tierney Winter has one of the top five times in the 1,600-meter run and is participating in the 800-meter run with a very competitive time.
• Freshman Maelea Harmon is out for track for the first time and has the second-fastest time of the season in the 100-meter dash.
• Senior Lily Anderson is in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash.

The Buc boys had no state qualifiers.

The Tri-City United Titans have boys and girls competing.

• Senior Michael McCrady is in the 400-meter dash and long jump.
• Senior Thomas Franek is competing in the pole vault and junior Sam Lassahn is in the discus throw.
• For the girls, senior Megan Rutt is in the triple jump, 100-meter hurdles and high jump.
• Senior Briana Berninghaus competes in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash.
• Senior Kristi Frederick qualified in the 300-meter hurdles.

Byron also has a number of qualifiers.

• Byron freshman Taylor Kreitinger has the second-fastest time in the 1,600-meter run.
• Junior Hannah Coleman qualified in the pole vault
• Sophomore Emma Weatherly competes in the triple jump with a top five jump and the 100-meter hurdles.
• Sophomore Ayoka Lee participates in the shot put.
• Byron's 4x800-meter relay team of eighth-graders Lauren Nepstad and Ally Akervik and freshmen Hannah Higgins and Taylor Kreitinger are also at state.
• Byron senior Jens Knutson is in the 110 meter hurdles and 300 meter hurdles.

Bear Sophomore Luke Barth qualified in the pole vault.

Pine Island has a number of boys qualified for state competition.

• Senior Kyle Groven in the 100-meter and 400-meter dashes.
• Senior Mitchel Acker and junior Jack Williams in the 800-meter run.
• The 4x400-meter relay team of seniors Tristan Akason and Mitchel Acker and juniors Jack Williams and Ryan Kelling.
• The 4x800-meter relay of eighth-grader Connor Bailey, junior Matthew Kennedy, seniors Jacob Higgins and Mitchel Acker.

Sophomore Kaly Banks of Cannon Falls is participating in the triple jump.

Triton freshman Nell Graham competes in the 800-meter run.

We will list Class AA area qualifiers tomorrow.