Minnetonka head coach Jane Reimer-Morgan knows that 1000 points in the Section 7AAA True Team Meet are usually enough to give her track team a state berth.
May 8, on the Hopkins High Stadium track, 999 points did the trick for the two-time defending state champions. The winner of each section meet is an automatic qualifier for state True Team, which begins at 3 p.m. Friday, May 17, at Stillwater High School. There are eight section team champions in that meet along with four wild-card teams. Wayzata, the Section 7AAA runner-up with 917 points, is likely to be one of the wild cards.
“I hope Wayzata gets in,” Minnetonka head coach Jane Reimer-Morgan said. “Hopkins could get in, too.”
Coach Reimer-Morgan credited her senior class for outstanding leadership in True Team sectionals and throughout the season: “They are amazing. We were prepared to get PRs [personal records] in section True Team.”
One athlete who is always prepared is Minnetonka’s undefeated senior hurdler, Claire Kohler. She has won the 100- and 300-meter races in every meet this season. Senior Anna McKinney is close behind Kohler in both hurdles.
“I love True Team because every single person can score points for the team,” Kohler said after winning the 100 hurdles race May 8 with a time of 14.65 seconds.
“Being part of such a big team is fun,” said McKinney, who played on Minnetonka’s state Class AAAA basketball championship team. “I am excited for state because we’ll compete against schools we don’t usually see.”
Athletes can compete in a maximum of four events in True Team meets. Koehler was among the highest scorers in Section 7AAA, winning both hurdles, plus the triple jump with a best of 34 feet, 5.75 inches. In addition, she ran on a winning relay.
“We won all four relays,” coach Reimer-Morgan pointed out.
Most of the girls on the relays have done this in the past. The key newcomer this spring is Tori McKinney, who was All-State for the Skipper basketball team as one of three All-Lake guards.
Minnetonka earned big points in the sprints to set the foundation for its section team victory. Junior Zeal Kuku won the 100-meter dash in 12.53 with senior Briena Giebel third in 12.77 and junior Brynn Rusing fourth in 12.81. Kuku added a win in the 200 with a time of 24.59.
Giebel ran sixth in the 400 with a personal record of 1:00.41.
Ninth-grader Evie Malec was Minnetonka’s dominant force in the 800 and the 1600. Her 2:13.41 was good for first place in the 800. She ran 4:55.35 in the 1600 for second place. Skipper teammate Bridget Koller placed fourth in the 800.
Avery Marasco-Johnon led the Skippers in the 3200 with a third-place time of 11:24.68. Teammates Kyra Martin and Meredith Gilles finished fifth and sixth.
Anna McKinney added big points with third place in both hurdles events. Teammate Olivia Muehlstedt placed fourth in the 300 hurdles.
Minnetonka finished either first or second in four of the field events. In addition to Kohler’s championship in the triple jump, Minnetonka high jumper Mya Folken won with a best of 5 feet, 2 inches.
Second-place finishes came from Minnetonka athletes Harley Wock (pole vault) and Folken (long jump). Wock cleared 10 feet, 6 inches. Folken had a season best of 17-3 in the long jump. Anna Gorun tied for sixth in the high jump, Megan Weeks placed eighth in the discus, Ava Badgley landed eighth in the triple jump and Kuku scored seventh place in the long jump.
Overall, it was a great afternoon for track and field. There was sunshine most of the day along with temperatures in the mid-60s a light breeze. Coach Reimer-Morgan hopes the weather will be similar for the state True Team competition on Friday, the 17th, at Stillwater.
Section 7AAA
Girls Scores
Minnetonka 999, Wayzata 917, Hopkins 853, Eden Prairie 687.5, Chanhassen 657.5, Armstrong 609, Waconia 603, Chaska 486, Cooper 69.
Most Popular
Comments / 0