Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

The section 7AA track finals proved to be a successful event for both the boysí and girlsí track teams.

The boys outpaced the other schools in the team competition, racking up more than 30 points than their next closest competitors, Duluth East.

We just had an outstanding meet,î head coach Paul Kendrick said. ìWe had a lot of personal bests.î

Recapping the boyís events should start with Derek Peterson who qualified in both the shot put with a first place heave of 54-4 as well as a second place finish in the discus. The person who beat Peterson in this event happens to be teammate Matt Schwartz, with a toss of 152-10 to Petersonís 149-11. Also making the team in the field events is Tyler Kelinhuizen in the shot put, who placed second to Peterson with a distance of 53-5

Joining these three will be Dustin Kendrick in the 110 meter hurdles, who narrowly beat fellow Ranger Geoff Cass for second place and the automatic invitation to state.

And rounding out the qualifiers for the boys are Jack Wittrock, Erik Stolberg, Alex Boerum and Dalton Keep. The foursome claimed first place in the 400 meter relay with a time of 44.67.

Kendrick praised the efforts of what is predominately a young team, but is led by a strong group of seniors that is ìdedicated to work hard.î

On the girlís side, the Rangers finished in fourth place overall, and will send an impressive group to the state finals.

In what seems to be a basic rite of spring, Kristi Buerkle will head to her fourth state meet. This year she qualified in the 200 meters, the 400 meters, and ran the anchor leg for the winning 800 meter relay. Buerkle will be joined on the relay team by Rae Moen, Kelsey Kosman and Brittni Lafontsee.

ìKristi really knows how to run at the state meet,î head coach Janet Howe points out. ìShe has so much experience there now that she knows how to keep the nerves under control, and can be a real leader for the other girls.î

Much like Buerkle, Lafontsee will be competing in more than one event. After making it to state in 2004 in the long jump, Lafontsee is making her return in 2006 in that same event. During the section finals she had scratched on her first two jumps so the pressure was on for her final leap.

ìShe nailed that third jump perfectly and ended up securing a second place finish,î Howe noted.

Auralee McGary will join the other team members, but she will be competing as a solo act in the 1600 meters. This is the first year she has reached this level of success and she did it with a second place finish at the sectionals.

The Class AA Boys and Girls State Track and Field Meet will be hosted by Hamline University in St. Paul on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10.

ì(We) hope to do well at the state meet and return home with a few medals,î Howe said.

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