Another track and field season is in the books and Monticello finished it the only way they knew how, shattering school records and reminding the state where magic truly comes from. The 2024 State Track and Field Class AA Championships were last week at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
The state track and field championships began on Thursday, June 6 and ended on Saturday, June 8.
Coming off a Class AA team title in 2023, the girls’ were looking to defend their title and even though they fell just short of another team championship, several school records fell along the way. The girls posted a team score of 68.5, 10.5 points shy of team champion Alexandria and 6.5 points up on third place Providence Academy.
“It was an amazing two days. I am so proud of these young ladies and what they accomplished all season and at state,” said girls’ Head Coach Kim Nygaard.
The boys’ team finished in 22nd with 18 points.
“We had many outstanding performances,” said boys’ first-year Head Coach Corey Derby. “It is bittersweet since all but two of these athletes will be back next season. We are going to miss the dedication and leadership of the seniors. They were a massive reason why our team experience so much success this year.”
Senior Sasha Steinbach, who was a nominee for Ms. Minnesota Track and Field, proved why she was up for the award. She was the runner-up in the girls’ 100-meter dash (12.27), was sixth in the 200 (25.29) and was a member of the state champion 4x200-meter relay team.
Steinbach, junior Kacie Lilledahl, junior Kaela Skistad and senior Emelia Skistad left the competition and the school record in the dust with a time of 1:39.43. Not only was that a new school and Class AA record, but it was also the second-fastest time in state history. The girls missed the all-time record by 0.28 seconds.
Monticello also broke four other school records: Kaela in the 400-meter, sophomore Isabel Mahoney in the one and two-mile races and Emelia in the 200-meter.
Emelia Skistad ran in the 100-meter dash, taking sixth (12.36) and was the runner-up in the 200 (24.53). She missed the state title in the 200 by a mere 0.2 seconds. Kaela Skistad was the state runner-up in the 400 (56.38), 0.3 seconds behind the state champion.
Mahoney was third in the 1,600-meter (4:58.85) and second in the 3,200 (10:32.49). Senior Isabella Angell was third in the wheelchair 100-meter dash (26.89) and was the state runner-up in the wheelchair 200 (57.82).
On the boys’ side, senior Ty Brouwer was seventh in the 800-meter (1:58.68) and 11th in the 1,600 (4:23.28). Senior Ryan Richardson cut half a second from his preliminary time and placed seventh in the 300-meter hurdles (39.55). Junior Martavius Guertin was 18th in the long jump (19-08.50).
Junior Alvin Bropleh was sixth in the triple jump (44-05.25) and Guertin was 17th (42-01.00).
Sophomore Gus Staryszak, senior Jack Geislinger, Bropleh and junior Luke Emmerich were third in the 4x100-meter relay (42.45). Seniors Ayden Smith, Chris Falk, Evan Raske and Paul Fasen took 11th in the 4x800-meter relay (8:23.59).
Nearly every event that competed made it to the final heats but a few missed the cut.
The girls’ 4x4 relay team of senior Adrienne Hansen, sophomore Camdyn Branson, Lilledahl and Kaela took 14th (4:11.43), about 6.5 seconds higher than their seed time. Steinbach was 16th in the prelims for the long jump (16-06.25) while sophomore Lauren Hansen was 28th (15-09.25).
Emmerich was 14th in the 100-meter prelims (11.07). Senior Dallas Christensen was 10th in the 400 (51.49) and Fasen was 13th (52.74). Geislinger, Richardson, Christensen and Emmerich were 13th in the 4x2 (1:30.26). Christensen, Smith, Fasen and Brouwer placed 11th in the 4x4 (3:28.61).
Monticello says goodbye to a strong plethora of seniors on both sides of the squad and they will be dearly missed.
Most Popular
Comments / 0