Cretin-Derham Hall sophomore Brieasha Hunter was poised to assume the role of fastest girl in the state Saturday at the Minnesota Class 2A high school track and field meet at Hamline University.
Hunter already had won state titles in the 100- and 400-meter dashes and was looking for a victory lap in the 200.
As she lined up for that race, though, to her right stood the sprinter who was lagging just behind in those first two races — senior teammate Megan Linder.
Linder, a senior who will run track at the University of Tennessee next year, was not going to be denied a state title in the final race of her career.
She shot out of the starting blocks and finished the race in 24.67 seconds — 0.04 seconds ahead of Hunter — to add another state title to her collection. Linder let out a scream as she crossed the finish line.
“I was really pumped when I crossed,” she said. ” It was the last race of my career, and I just wanted to go out with a bang.”
Hunter admitted she was a little disappointed in herself after she crossed the finish line.
“I really wanted to sweep all three races,” she said, “but I was close so I guess I’m OK with it. I’ll get it next year for sure.”
Hunter and Linder swept all three sprint races Saturday and single-handedly earned Cretin-Derham Hall second place in the team competition.
“I’m just so proud of them,” Raiders coach Jerry Macken said. “That was a goal we had at the beginning of the season, and they made it happen.”
Burns’ busy day
Lakeville South senior Shauna Burns let out a giant fist pump as she crossed first in the 100 hurdles.
Burns, who has been a member of the track team for six years, said she couldn’t contain herself.
“This was literally a third of my life to get to this point,” she said. “And to see it all come together in my final year with the team is incredible.”
Burns wasn’t done with her day of competition, though. Not even close.
She went straight from the hurdles to the shot put circle. After she completed her throws, she booked it back over to the track for the 300 hurdles. And finally she got to cool down for about 20 minutes before the 4×400 relay — her final event of the afternoon.
“I’m exhausted,” she said before her final race. “I like it, though. It doesn’t allow me to rest in between any of my events and it keeps me focused.”
Burns finished her busy day with titles in the 100 hurdles and shot put and third-place finishes in the 300 hurdles and the 4×400 relay.
She will take her array of talents to Texas A&M next season. Burns saluted her future school as she was awarded her medal in the 100 hurdles.
“I was standing up there,” she said, “and I figured, ‘I’m going to Texas A&M next year. Why not throw up the ‘Johnny Football’ move?’ ”
Krahn doubles up
Stillwater sophomore Eli Krahn won his second state title of the weekend, claiming the 1,600 in 4:13.54.
Krahn, who won the 3,200 Friday, said he knew he’d have enough left in the tank for Saturday’s race.
“I was totally prepared,” he said. “I know that my training has prepared me to come back and run a race and then run a race the next day without too much issue.”
Krahn now has three total state titles, but he isn’t letting himself get complacent.
“I still have to prove myself a little bit more,” he said. “There’s a lot to be done before I can consider myself among the great Stillwater runners.”
Briefly
Rosemount senior Payton Otterdahl followed up his title in the shot put Friday with one in the discus Saturday. He tossed the disc 173 feet, 6 inches in wet and rainy conditions. … Hopkins won the boys’ team title with 70 points. Minnetonka won the girls’ team title with 80.
