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Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek traveled to the 2023 Minnesota State High School Track & Field Class A Championships in Albertville Thursday, June 8, and Friday, June 9.
Twenty-one Cardinals qualified for state competition, and H-BC eighth-grader Brynn Bakken represented the Patriots at the state meet.
Bakken qualified in three events and took home three medals at the end of competition.
She took third place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.52 seconds, and she achieved a personal record time in the prelims at 12.44.
In the 200-meter dash Bakken placed sixth with a time of 25.88 and registered personal best time in the prelims of 25.72.
In her third event, the triple jump, Bakken placed ninth with a jump of 34-10 1/4.
“It was great to see Brynn come away with three medals at the state meet,” H-BC head coach Rex Metzger said. “She had two PRs, and to get under 26 seconds in the 200, she was pretty excited.”
The Luverne Cardinals walked away with 13 Top 12 finishes at the state track and field competition.
“I thought we had an outstanding meet as a whole,” LHS head coach Pete Janiszeski said.
“We had several season-best and personal-record performances, including the boys’ 4-by-800 who smashed their school record by 12.83 seconds, and the girls’ 4-by-800 medaled for the seventh straight year,” Janiszeski said.
Senior DJ Rock took first place in the pole vault with a winning height of 14 feet.
Senior Jadyn Hart placed first in the discus throw with a toss of 131 feet even, and she placed fourth in the shot put with a throw of 39-7 1/4.
Jocelyn Hart finished second in the shot put with a distance of 40-9 3/4, and she placed fourth in the discus with a toss of 121-11.
Junior Jenna DeBates placed fourth in the 3200-meter run with a time of 11:11.51.
The Luverne boys’ 4-by-400-meter relay, run by senior Camden Janiszeski, sophomore Owen Janiszeski, senior Carsen Tofteland and junior Ryan Fick, placed fourth with a time of 8:04.13.
The girls’ 4-by-400-meter relay team of junior Jenna DeBates, senior Tiana Lais, junior Cassi Chesley and senior Elizabeth Wagner placed seventh with a time of 9:52.56.
Sophomore Owen Janiszeski placed seventh in the boys’ 3200-meter run with a time of 9:45.49.
Senior Elizabeth Wagner placed eighth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 47.06.
Sophomore Lucky Dara finished ninth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 52.03.
Senior Camden Janiszeski took 10th place in the 3200-meter run with a time of 9:47.53.
Sophomore Augusta Papik finished in 12th place in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.88.
“ Just getting to the state meet is very difficult and a tremendous achievement, and to have 13 kids walk away with medals, and 12 All-State performances, that is just unbelievable.”
The Cardinal girls took fourth place in Class A with 45 total team points, out of 67 teams, just behind third-place Perham with 46, second-place Minnehaha Academy with 49 and first-place Eden Valley Watkins/Kimball with 70 total team points.
The boys’ team tied for 15th place out of 68 teams with 24 team points.
“Words cannot describe how proud we are of everybody,” Janiszeski said.
“The amount of dedication, leadership, selflessness and hard work that they poured into the season is incredible, and it showed in their performances this week and throughout the entire season, for that matter.”
Individual event results for the meet are as follows:
Girls’ 100-meter Hurdles
LHS Sophomore Augusta Papik
Prelims - 12th place, 16.88
Top nine went to finals.
Girls’ 100-meter Dash
H-BC Eighth-Grader Brynn Bakken
Third Place in State Finals with a time of 12.52
Prelims - Third place with a personal record of 12.44
Boys’ 400-meter Dash
LHS Sophomore Lucky Dara
Ninth Place in State Finals with a time of 52.03
Prelims - seventh place with a personal record of 50.98
Girls’ 300-meter Hurdles
Senior Elizabeth Wagner
Eighth Place in State Finals with a time of 47.06
Prelims - seventh place with a personal record of 46.87
Girls’ 200-meter Dash
H-BC Eighth-Grader Brynn Bakken
Sixth Place in State Finals with a time of 25.88
Prelims - Eighth place with a personal record of 25.72
Girls’ 3200-meter Run
LHS Junior Jenna DeBates
Fourth Place in State Finals with a time of 11:11.51
Boys’ 3200-meter Run
Sophomore Owen Janiszeski
Seventh Place in State Finals with a time of 9:45.49
Senior Camden Janiszeski
10th Place in State Finals with a time of 9:47.53
Girls’ 4x400-meter Relay
LHS Senior Tiana Lais, Junior Sarah Stegenga, Freshman Ella Schmuck, Senior Elizabeth Wagner
Prelims - 13th Place, 4:12.04
Top nine went to finals.
Boys’ 4x400-meter Relay
LHS Junior Zachary Terrio, Junior Ryan Fick, Eighth-Grader Darius Dolo, Sophomore Lucky Dara
Eighth Place in State Finals with a time of 3:31.72
Prelims - eighth place with a time of 3:30.66
Girls’ 4x800-meter Relay
LHS Junior Jenna DeBates, Senior Tiana Lais, Junior Cassi Chesley, Senior Elizabeth Wagner
Seventh Place in State Finals with a time of 9:52.56
Boys’ 4x800-meter Relay
LHS Senior Camden Janiszeski, Sophomore Owen Janiszeski, Senior Carsen Tofteland, Junior Ryan Fick
Fourth Place in State Finals with a time of 8:04.13
Boys’ Pole Vault
LHS Senior DJ Rock
First Place in State Finals with a vault of 14-00
Girls’ Discus Throw
LHS Senior Jadyn Hart
First Place in State Finals with a throw of 131-00
LHS Senior Jocelyn Hart
Fourth Place in State Finals with a throw of 121-11
Girls’ Triple Jump
H-BC Eighth-Grader Brynn Bakken
Ninth Place in State Finals with a jump of 34-10.25
Girls’ Shot Put
LHS Senior Jocelyn Hart
Second Place in State Finals with a throw of 40-09.75
LHS Senior Jadyn Hart
Fourth Place in State Finals with a throw of 39.07.25