Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

Head coach Eric Kaluza would have liked to see more Forest Lake girls qualify for this weekend’s state track and field meet, but he’s also happy with the five-pack that will be making the trip.

“All in all it was a good meet,” Kaluza said about the section finals.

At the Section 7AA meet in Grand Rapids on Saturday, June 2, it was sprinters, and one who also takes flight in the long jump, who made the biggest impact on the Rangers third-place finish. Grand Rapids came in first with 144 points, Elk River was second with 116, and Forest Lake ended with 74 points.

Contributing toward 30 of the team’s total score was senior Kristi Buerkle, who sails into Hamline’s state meet with some of the best times in Minnesota.

In the 400 meters she posted a 56.91, which also set a section record.

The 200 meters was awfully competitive, as three runners hit the state qualifier, but Buerkle was on top with a time of 25.49. That mark was yet another record to add to ever-growing collection.

Finishing just out of the list of candidates in the 200 were Rangers Rae Moen in fourth (26.38) and Kelsey Kosman in fifth (26.40)

Buerkle and Kosman teamed up with Kristie Miller and Adri Acosta in the 400-meter relay, in what has become a potent group that started breaking records the very first time they competed in this event. On Saturday they would race to a time of 49.70, and that was good enough for first place. Oh yeah, and in the process, they also set a Section 7AA record.

For Buerkle that was three up and three down.

“If everyone can get around to Buerkle close, then we’ve got a shot,” Kaluza shared while looking ahead to Friday’s relay. “And I still think we can run a little bit faster.”

Doing her part in the 100 meters, Kosman cranked out a 12.63, putting her in the automatic second-place position and securing her spot in the state meet.

Kaluza and Kosman worked on a new start, which turned out to be a smart move when she cut three tenths of a second off her 100 time.

“So whether it’s good coaching,” Kaluza said with a smirk, “or just her very, very talented body...I’m thinking it’s more her.”

Another foursome that appeared to be set for a trip to St. Paul was the 800-meter relay team of Moen, Brittni LaFontsee, Ciara Robinson and Calley Jones. The final exchange, however, occurred outside of the zone, which sent the girls from a happy ending, all the way down to a disqualification and a crash landing.

Coming out of that team with some positive news was LaFontsee, who made good on her attempt to make it in the long jump. After getting second place with a leap of 16-1 3/4, the veteran will make her third appearance in the state competition.

Some other highlights that didn’t result in state berths were Christy Newell coming in third place in the high jump (for an unbelievable third-straight year); Kiersten Nygaard finishing in fifth in the shot put and eighth in the discus; and Amanda Johnson closing out her sophomore year with sixth place in the shot.

“The throwers came up pretty big for us,” Kaluza said. “They scored some big points there.”

The state track and field meet takes place at Hamline University on Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9.

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