With subsection and conference meets behind us, the picture of how the final two meets (sections and state) will go has become a little bit clearer! Athletes have shaken off the early-season rust, and times are beginning to drop each week. As we head into section week, we decided to see highlight some of the top class A performers thus far! Of course, we cannot write about everybody, so this is a highly condensed synopsis of who to keep an eye on at sections!
Boys:
Nic Johnson - Cromwell/Wright
Johnson has been the top 100 meter runner in class A by a large margin this season. His PR of 10.88, set at the Polar League Conference meet has set him up for a smooth ride through section 7A. Johnson is undefeated in all eight 100 meter races he has competed in this year in our database, and will look to carry that trend on through State. He is also an important part of a strong Cromwell sprint relay crew which has a good shot at qualifying, and could make it in the long jump as well!
Matt Steiger - La Crescent
The 2017 class A cross-country champion has been quietly going about his business down south, and boasts incredible solo efforts of 4:18 and 9:30 in the 1600 and 3200 meters this year (and also running 1:57 in the 800). Both marks came in races where Steiger won by 30+ seconds, and it is expected that he will breeze through his section races, setting up an exciting couple of races at the class A State meet.
TJ Jok - Annandale
Jok currently holds the top Class A mark of 6'8'', and the Annandale junior took the victory in the Subsection 20A Championship last week. He will look to continue his strong form, and earn his first birth at the State Meet in the high jump. Jok is also a very strong triple jumper, and hurdler. He has the second best triple jump mark, and is ranked fifth in the 110 meter hurdles. Jok will be a busy man at the Section 5A Championships at St. John's University this week, but his versatility and wide range of talents will be enticing to watch!
Cal Wright - Mora
The surprise winner of the Hamline Elite Meet 400 meters, Wright (another single A guy!) seems to be in a class of his own amongst class A runners. His blistering 48.95 at the Hamline Elite meet indicates that things are beginning to click for the Mora senior, and a section and state championship may very well lie in his future.
Keiser Freetly - Lac qui Parle Valley
Freetly is the 800 meter runner to beat this year. His time of 1:57.07 makes him a likely section and a potential state champion in the event should he choose to focus on it rather than the 1600. Freetly had a strong cross-country season, finishing fifth at the State meet, and will look to claim the section 3A victory this coming week, likely in the 800.
Reid Pierzinski- Pequot Lakes
There is no better hurdler in the class A (and maybe even AA) than Pierzinski, and he will be back to defend his section and State title in the 110 meter hurdles. Pierzinski has been undefeated since a disappointing sixth place finish at the Hamline Elite meet. He will compete in the 110H, 300H, 200 meters, and jump at sections, and will likely qualify in all of them!
Mitchell Weber - Saint Clair / Samuel Moore - Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale
I've lumped these two together because they are the class of the Class in the boys throwing events. Moore is the defending state champion in both the shot put and discus, while Weber also has state titles in both events and was hot on his heels last year, finishing in second and third. Weber currently holds the top mark in the shot put of 60-8, and Moore in the discus with 190-1.5. It will be a hard fought battle to separate the two at State, but they will both comfortably progress through their respective section tournaments.
Yahya Mader - Mounds Park Academy
Mader made his debut in the high jump (and track in general) last year, finishing 11th at the State meet. This year he has increased his PR by 4 inches up to 6'6", and is one of the top class A high jumpers in the state. As his teammate getting to see him at practice everyday, I can say that Mader is the most naturally talented jumper I have seen, and would not bet against him to take the Section 4A title next week, and potentially the State title the week after!
Peyton Gunnarson - Lewiston-Altura
Only a freshman, but already with a plethora of State Championships under his belt, Gunnarson is poised to become Minnesota's very best high school wheelchair athlete by the time he graduates, and a surfire candidate for future US Paralympic teams. Gunnarson leads the state comfortably in the 100, 200, 800, and 1600 meters. A flurry of section and state titles seem imminent for the young star.
Girls:
The Usual Suspects- Tierney Wolfgram (Math & Science Academy), Grace Ping and Lauren Ping (Cotter)
These three All-Americans are a delight to have in Class A, and will be a delight to watch for years to come. They will all undoubtedly cruise to comfortable qualifications in both the 3200 and 1600 in their respective sections. Another thrilling State meet awaits as Wolfgram looks to build off of her award-winning cross country season, Grace attempts to reestablish her dominance over the state (and the Class), and Lauren continues to try to top her sister's many accomplishments.
T'Nia Riley - Minneapolis North
The four time state champion has returned to top form after a 6th place finish at the Hamline Elite Meet. She won the Minneapolis City Conference Championships in both the 100 and 200, running a state leading mark in the 200. Riley is currently seeded #1 in section 4a by over a 1/2 second in the 100 over a second in the 200. Both races at the section 4a championships will serve as a tune-up for Riley as she pursues state championships numbers five and six!
Maelea Harmon - Waterville-Elysian-Morristown
Harmon is Riley's main competition, and will perhaps assume Riley's position next year as she is a junior and Riley a senior. Harmon currently leads class A in the 100 meters, and is undefeated in the event this year (minus Hamline where she finished third). Harmon will likely defend her section 2A championship, and could look for the upset over Riley at State.
Robbie Grace - The Blake School
Grace holds the fastest 400 meter time in class A and AA this year, with an outstanding 57.08 that I had the pleasure to watch at the IMAC championships last week. She is currently ranked second in the 200 meters, and has an absolutely remarkable long jump mark of 19-5, which places her almost a foot ahead of any of the other competitors (class A or AA). Should she decide to compete in the 200, 400, and long jump at the section 4a championships it is likely she will walk away with three section titles, and will be well on her way to some potential state championships!
Nyalaam Jok - Annandale
Sister of TJ Jok, Nyalaam was the Class AA state champion in the high jump last year as an 8th grader as she was competing for Osseo. Now that she has moved to Annandale, she holds the top mark in the high jump for class A by 3 inches, and is likely to grab another Section and State championship this year. Jok will compete in the high jump, long jump, and 100 hurdles at sections, and is coming off victories in all three at the section 5a Subsection championships.
Ava Hill - Mesabi East
Hill holds the top 800 meter time in class A this year (a blistering 2:17!), and is ranked fourth in the mile, not too far behind the dominant trio of Wolfgram and the Pings. Hill was the 800 meter State champion last year, and a comfortable qualification out of section 7A seems likely. She will be competing in the 800, 4x400, and 4x200, so her finishing speed will be hard to beat! The Mesabi East sophomore has a big future ahead as she begins to insert herself amongst Minnesota's elite high schoolers.
Beth-el Algarin - Pierz High School
The heavily decorated senior thrower from Pierz High School currently holds the top mark in the shot put by almost three feet, and she is ranked fourth in the discus. As she has done all year, she had very impressive performances in both events at subsections and will look to follow up those titles with state qualifications this week. After that, her first state championship could be right around the corner.
Best of luck to all athletes competing at sections!
Happy running!
Questions, comments, concerns?
Fellow running junkie to talk to?
dahlbergxc@gmail.com
With subsection and conference meets behind us, the picture of how the final two meets (sections and state) will go has become a little bit clearer! Athletes have shaken off the early-season rust, and times are beginning to drop each week. As we head into section week, we decided to see highlight some of the top class A performers thus far! Of course, we cannot write about everybody, so this is a highly condensed synopsis of who to keep an eye on at sections!
Boys:
Nic Johnson - Cromwell/Wright