Posted: 6/15/05
Five Rangers compete at state meet
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Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
It just doesnít feel like the State Track and Field Meet unless there is rain. The past two years rain clouds have hovered over the National Sports Center in Blaine for the State Track and Field Meet so why would this year be any different?
Even before athletes could start warming up, the high jump and pole vault competitions were moved indoors because of pouring rain and field events were delayed a half hour as conditions were too slippery.
With field events temporarly closed, the track events got under way and Forest Lake High Schoolís first athlete at the state meet was ready.
Matt Mach, the Section 7AA champion ran a 10:04 in the 3200-meter race, placing 14th.
ìYou look at the field of runners that were there and the first place runner had a time near 9:06, so it was a fast field,î Rangers boys distance coach Bob Dettmer said. ìI think Matt did a very good job and he placed higher than he thought he would.î
After the 3200-meter run, girls discus thrower Becky Alexander started hurling her discus through the rain. Alexanderís longest throw of the day was 126í-10î, putting her in fourth place. Ini Umana of Park was the state champion with a throw of 133í-9î.
The girls only track athlete to qualify for the state meet was Kristi Buerkle who qualified in both the 200 and 400-meter dash. In the prelims on Friday Buerkle had a time of 25.47 in the 200-meter dash to qualify for Saturdayís final. In the 400-meter dash Buerkle had a time of 57.36, also qualifying her for Saturdayís finals.
On Saturday the 400-meter dash was first up for Buerkle. Buerkle crossed the line in 57.54, the fifth fastest time. The fastest time of 55.09 belonged to Sade Pollard of St. Paul Harding. In the 200-meter dash Buerkle crossed the finish line in 26.36, again the fifth fastest time. Pollard was the state champion in the 200-meter dash as well with a time of 25.04.
The final event for the Rangers at the state meet was the boys discus throw where they had two competitors, sophomore Tyler Kleinhuizen and junior Derekk Peterson. The two qualified for the state meet by finishing first and second at the Section 7AA meet.
In the prelims Kleinhuizen had a throw of 152í and Peterson had a throw of 149í-6î. In the finals Kleinhuizen was able to extend his distance to 156í-10î, but Peterson remained at 149í-6î. Kleinhuizenís distance put him in second place and Peterson finished in fifth place. The state champion was Matt Bennek of White Bear Lake with a throw of 158í-9î.
ìYou always wish they could do better, but a second and fifth place finish isnít too bad,î Rangers boys throwing coach Bill Streeter said. ìThey did well for a sophomore and junior and they both had seasonís best throws too.î
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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