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Girls track sends Brett, Miller to state meet |
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Wednesday, 04 June 2008 |
Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor
When the meet came to its conclusion on May 31, not much had changed over the past year in Section 7AA girls track and field.
Twelve months after Forest Lake took third behind Grand Rapids and Elk River, the Rangers (89.50 points) came in third place last weekend behind Grand Rapids (103 points) and Elk River (95.50).
“All in all, we really brought our level of competition up from conference,” Forest Lake head coach Eric Kaluza said. “We were actually in first for half of the meet and tied for second going into the 4x400 (meter relay).”
The top two finishers in each individual event qualify for this weekend’s state meet at Hamline University, or an athlete can attain certain times, heights or distances that will also get them a trip to St. Paul.
Taylor Brett is one Ranger who will be at Hamline, as the sophomore annihilated the rest of the field in the pole vault.
After clearing 10-7, Brett is now the school record holder in the event, and she was awfully close to the region mark of 11-1.5.
No other girl would even clear 10 feet.
While Brett competes in the field, she will be joined by Kristie Miller on the track.
She came in third place in the 200 meters, but her time of 25.92 was fast enough to put her among the state’s elite.
The junior was also a member of the second-place 400-meter relay team, came in third in the 100 meters, and fourth in the triple jump.
Other notables included Calley Jones fighting through a sore hip but still managing to perform in the 400 meters as well as the 800- and 1600-meter relays.
Gina Lange is due for a long nap and a day at the spa after finishing on the medal stand in four events — she took fourth in the shot put, eighth in the 800 meters, fifth in the 1600 and seventh in the 1600-meter relay.
Fast and steady Rae Moen barely missed out on a few state berths when she grabbed fourth in the 200 meters, a second as part of the 400-meter relay, and sixth in the 100 meters.
“She would have qualified on Wednesday (in the 100 prelims) on time, but that doesn’t count until finals,” Kaluza said.
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