The first day of the MSHSL State Track & Field Championships was a whirlwind of athletic prowess, showcasing the best of the best from all around Minnesota. Athletes gathered to push the limits of speed, strength, and endurance in the Class A and AAA prelims and several finals, adding to the excitement and intensity of the competition. The stadium buzzed with excitement as competitors vied for top honors in their respective events, setting the stage for an unforgettable two days of high-stakes competition. From thrilling photo finishes to awe-inspiring displays of skill, day one set the tone for what promises to be an exceptional state championship. Now, as we head into day two, anticipation is at an all-time high for even more spectacular performances.
Here we profile the top performers/performances of day two of the state championships!
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Schmitz Repeats as 3200m Champion
It was another banner day as usual for Hutchinson senior Isabelle Schmitz at the State Championships. Schmitz repeated as the Class AA 3200m champion, winning with a time of 10:24.14 over Monticello's Isabel Mahoney. In doing so, Schmitz beat her time from 2023 by 19 seconds and set a new Class AA state meet record by 10 seconds (Olivia Goebel, 10:34.40).
With her time of 10:24.14, Schmitz became just the 22nd individual in state history to run the 3200m under 10:30. Schmitz also shot up the all time rankings with her 6-second PR, moving from 21st all-time in Minnesota, to 11th. If we look at only pure 3200m performances, no converted 2-mile times, Schmitz moves up the 7th all-time.
All-Time MN Girls 3200m Times
| Rank | Runner | Time |
| 1 | Emily Covert | 10:01.67 |
| 2 | Abbey Nechanicky | 10:05.74 |
| 3 | Bria Wetsch | 10:06.95 |
| 4 | Elizabeth Yetzer | 10:08.54 |
| 5 | Analee Weaver | 10:15.27 |
| 6 | Clare Flanagan | 10:17.14 |
| 7 | Lauren Ping | 10:19.66 |
| 8 | Shannon Bergstedt | 10:20.67 |
| 9 | Ali Weimer | 10:21.41 |
| 10 | Luna Scorzelli | 10:22.68 |
| 11 | Isabelle Schmitz | 10:24.14 |
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It's a Three-Peat for Schloeder in the PV
He was again the favorite coming in, and again Rockfords Brian Schloeder came away as the Class AA pole vault champion. Schloeder finished his high school pole vault career with his third state title in the event, winning with a mark of 15' 7" that broke his own Class AA state meet record by an inch. This year, Schloeder won his title by 1 foot 7 inches, after winning by 1 foot last year and winning by tie-breaker the previous year. Schloeder will graduate as one of Minnesota's all-time great pole-vaulter, ranking as the #2 pole vaulter in state history with his mark of 16' 4".
All-Time MN Boys Pole Vault Marks
| Rank | Athlete | Mark |
| 1 | Jarod White | 16' 9" |
| 2 | Brian Schloeder | 16' 4" |
| 3 | Calvin Ciganik | 16' 1.75' |
| 4 | Grant Krieger | 16' 1.25" |
| 5 | Nathan Nelson | 16' 1" |
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Hampton Enters Rarified Air in Boys 300m Hurdles
Talk about an improvement from year to year! At last year's state championships, Lorenzo Hampton III finished 15th in the 300m hurdles prelims, finishing with a time of 42.54, this year, he finished 1st in the 300m hurdles prelims, this time with a historic time of 37.98. His time of 37.98 took almost a whole second off his PR set at sections with a time of 38.89.
His time of 37.98 it now one of the best in state history and for sophomore boys all-time. His time of 37.98 ranks as the #2 sophomore time in state history, only behind Rilwan Alowonle with a time of 37.89. He now also ranks tied for 19th all-time in Minnesota state history, with those twenty individuals as the only ones under 28 seconds.
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Class AA Rewrites Record Book
The Class AA prelims and first of many finals did not disappoint, as the initial wave of results rewrote the Class AA State Meet record book with 15 new class records for the state meet. Athletes/teams marked with the ^ below are the new record holders after day one of the state championships for Class AA.
| Event | New Record Holder | Mark/Time | Old Record Holder | Mark/Time |
| 3200m | Isabelle Schmitz | 10:24.14 | Olivia Goebel | 10:34.40 |
| 100m Hurdles | Naomi Moore | 14.50 | Jillian Hively | 14.53 |
| 110m Hurdles | Jonah McCormick | 13.97 | Tayven Peterson | 14.67 |
| 100m | Brooke Hohenecker | 11.93 | Ashley Fisher | 12.07 |
| 4x200m (Girls) | Monticello | 1:41.02 | Monticello | 1:41.32 |
| 4x100m (Girls) | DeLaSalle | 48.57 | Detroit Lakes | 48.65 |
| 4x100m (Boys) | Winona | 42.07 | Hill-Murray | 42.09 |
| 400m | Jack Markstrom | 48.07 | Brayden Draheim | 48.44 |
| 300m Hurdles | Lorenzo Hampton III | 37.98 | Tayven Peterson | 38.22 |
| Long Jump | Ashley Fisher | 18' 5.5" | Olivia Keller | 17' 6.25" |
| Triple Jump | Fadel Johnson | 47' 3.25" | Anthony Borom | 45' 7" |
| Pole Vault | Brian Schloeder | 15' 7" | Brian Schloeder | 15' 6" |
| Shot Put | Brady Minnerath | 59' 4.5" | Jackson Weston | 58' 2" |
| Shot Put (WC) | Devin Filzen | 21' 6.25" | Devin Filzen | 20' 3.75" |
| Discus (WC) | Tayla Gassman | 40' 4" | Tayla Gassman | 31' 11" |
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Pauly Completes HS Career With Perfect Senior Season
While it may not technically be a perfect senior season, St. Johns Prep senior Olivia Pauly goes out perfect her senior season in reagrds to state titles. Starting with the cross country season last fall, Pauly has now won the Class A XC State title, the Class A 3200m state title, and the Class A 4x800m state title.
In the 3200m, Pauly was the only Class A girls runner under 11 minutes in the race, finishing with a time of 10:52.85, 13 seconds ahead of the runner-up. This is a new PR for Pauly, ahead of her previous best of 10:54.71. In the 4x800m, Pauly teamed up with Margaret Duffy, Claudia Ruzanic, and Louise Ruzanic to an easier win with a time of 9:36.26, a 3.61 second victory. Pauly ran her split with a time of 2:17.
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Ellie Sosa Completes a Legendary Freshman Season
Only a freshman for Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, Ellie Sosa completed a stellar freshman season that saw her win her first state title in the triple jump. Ellie Sosa dominated the event with a finishing mark of 38' 11.5", winning the title by 1 foot and 5.5 inches. Her mark of 38' 11.5" now ranks 16th all-time in Minnesota and #3 all-time in Minnesota for freshmen girls.
All-Time MN Girls Freshmen TJ Marks
| Rank | Athlete | Mark |
| 1 | Victoria Laberge | 39' 9.5" |
| 2 | Allyson Weiss | 39' 0.75" |
| 3 | Ellie Sosa | 38' 11.5" |
| 4 | Ashley Warne | 38' 8.5" |
| 5 | Mario'ana Watson | 38' 1" |
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Christensen Completes the Throws Double
T.J Christensen of Litchfield finished his high school career as the king of the throws in Class A, winning both the shot put and discus titles. On day one in the shot put, he won the title with a dominant throw of 59' 2.75", winning by almost a foot and a half and setting a new PR by over a foot. In the discus, he won with a throw of 182' 6", winning by over 10 feet and throwing over 180 feet for just the second time.
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Brownell Sweeps the Distance Double
Staples-Motley sophomore, Audrey Brownell, was one to watch in the Class A finals, running in the 800m and 1600m finals just an hour apart, and winning both titles. Her first title of the day came in the 1600m, where she finished with a time of 5:00.72, just ahead of runner-up Maddie LeSage who finished with a time of 5:02.42. In the 800m, the margins were similar as Brownell finished with a time of 2:16.16, also just ahead of LeSage who finished with a time of 2:18.13.
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Phrakonkham is Queen of the Sprints
It was a clean sweep in the sprint events for Bagley/Fosston junior Ava Phrakonkham with wins in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. In the 100m, she finished with a time of 11.80 (2.7m/s wind) to win the title by 0.17 seconds over Brynn Bakken. In the 200m. she finished with a time of 24.60 to win by 0.16 seconds over McKaylen Lewis. Finally, in the 4x100m relay, her relay team with Claire Klinkhammer, Sienna Freisen, and Tessa Manecke, finished with a time of 48.84, winning narrowly over Chatfield.