Concordia Academy's incoming senior Casey Hackett and his career best jumps of 22-1 and 45-0.25 have helped make last year's Class A jumping field one of the deepest competitions in recent memory.
Brooke Young, electing to forgo hockey and instead focus on following in her mother's footsteps, will take over the reins of being the senior leader for Wayzata's storied program this upcoming XC season.
After impressive improvements from each of her pervious two seasons, Allison Lardy's junior season at Fairmont saw her soar to the brink of a Class A title in the shot put.
Rocori High School's multi-talented soon-to-be-senior Brynn Sauer helped lead her team to remarkable success at True Team State this year, even in spite of a hamstring injury that kept her out for much of it.
Jebeh Cooke will be a senior at North St. Paul for the 2017-18 school year. Along with helping win two State relay titles and shatter a state record, she came home with a nice fifth-place finish in the 200 meters.
Morgan Lawler is a graduated senior at Rosemount High School who qualified for State in the 800 meter run this year, and she also made it as part of a 4 X 400 relay at the end of her sophomore year.
Noah Shafer's senior season for Lakeville South could hardly have gone better. Last year's 7th-place Class AA pole vaulter won the Hamline Elite Meet and vaulter 15-3 before taking home the State title.
The success of Cloquet's graduated 5'4" senior Isaac Boedigheimer, twice an All-State XC runner and last fall's 6th-place Class AA finisher, provides yet another reminder that talent can come in all sizes.
Esko's graduated senior Dawsen Cossalter is fresh off a hugely successful senior T&F campaign, which was him win Class A State in the 200 and finish runner-up in the 100.
Alexandria Hurst just graduated from Robbinsdale Armstrong, where she was a two-time State champion in the shot put. The U of M commit is also an accomplished student and musician.
Rebecca Manteuffel is a senior at Mayer Lutheran High School. One of the top throwers in Class A, the four-time state qualifier will be gunning for a championship this afternoon at the State Championships.
Ellie Haland is a senior at Math & Science Academy of Woodbury. She has participated in the state cross country meet twice, and was 6th in the 800 meter run for Class A last spring.
Aleece Durbin of Crookston is certainly an accomplished track athlete, but the All-State hurdler is also one of the most accomplished ice skaters in Minnesota.
Lexi Erickson is a senior from International Falls. She has qualified for State four times in XC and twice in track, and excels in one of the most unique event combos in high school track; high jump and distance.
Lexie Chambers is a resilient senior who competes for Jordan. Despite numerous injuries to both knees in her high school career, she has worked her way to being an All Conference and State-qualifying athlete.
Drew is a senior pole vaulter at Holdingford High School. He is not only an excellent all-around athlete, but a very serious student!
Eric VanErp is a senior for Ottertail Central (a co-op between Battle Lake, Henning, and Underwood High Schools), and is one of Minnesota's best all-around jumpers.
Ellyssa
Peterson is a senior for Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin. She has been running since 7th grade and has
been instrumental in helping build the GNK XC program from five to
fifty over the last six years.
Isaac Berg of Bemidji has gone to State for cross county three times, peaking last fall with a 9th place finish in 16:11 for Class AA. He also ran in the 4x800 relay in the 2016 State Track & Field Championships.
Courtney West is a junior at Triton High School. She was a school record-breaking All-Conference runner last year in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs, and has improved in 2017 in those events to 5:10 and 11:13.
Declan Dahlberg is a junior at Mounds Park Academy. He won the Boys Class A XC title in 15:59.6 last fall, and was 4th in the 3200 and 6th in the 1600 in the 2016 Boys Class A Track & Field Meet.
Farmington Sophomore Lauren Peterson (pronounced "Lau-REN") was the 2016 Ages 15-16 USATF Junior Olympics champion in
the 1500, and is coming off a victory in the 2016 Hamline Elite 1600.
Copyright 2016 by Bill Peyton - All rights reserved except by written permission by the author.
Copyright 2016 by
Bill Peyton All rights reserved.
Copyright 2016 by Bill Peyton All rights reserved.
Copyright 2016 by Bill Peyton All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2016 by Bill Peyton All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2016 by Bill Peyton All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2015 by Bill Peyton
Copyright 2015 Bill Peyton All Rights Reserved