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The final 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 AA and AAA finals. The stadium buzzed with excitement as competitors vied for top honors in their respective events, setting the stage for an unforgettable day of high-stakes competition. From thrilling photo finishes to awe-inspiring displays of skill, the final day of the state championships did not disappoint.
Here we profile the top performers/performances from the final day of the state championships!
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Markstrom Storms to Class Record 400m Dash
It was the Jack Markstrom show in the Class AA 400m finals, with the Mound-Westonka senior storming to one of the fastest 400m times in state history. Markstrom finished with a time of 47.28, winning by 1.61 seconds for his first state title after finishing runner-up in the event last year. His time of 47.28 was the first sub 48-second performance of his career and he now ranks #4 all-time in state history for the 400m. Three of the four fastest times in state history have now been run in 2024.
All-Time MN Boys 400m Times
| Rank | Runner | Time |
| 1 | Dwyne Smith Jr. | 46.87 |
| 2 | Harlow Tong | 46.98 |
| 3 | Quinn Evans | 47.18 |
| 4 | Jack Markstrom | 47.28 |
| 5 | Ramy Ayoub | 47.34 |
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Juriad Hughes Jr. Dominates Class AAA
It was the Juriad Hughes Jr. show at the Class AAA State Championships, with the Irondale senior winning all three events he competed in. His first win of the day came in the 100m where he finished with a time of 10.35 in a wind assisted race of 2.3m/s. His time of 10.35 was an overall 0.16 second PR for wind assisted races, with his best legal time being 10.67. His wind assisted time of 10.35 now ranks #2 in Minnesota state history, only behind Joseph Fahnbullehs time of 10.23.
All-Time MN Boys 100m Times
| Rank | Runner | Time |
| 1 | Joseph Fahnbulleh | 10.23 |
| 2 | Juriad Hughes Jr. | 10.35 (2.3m/s) |
| 3 | Evan McClellon | 10.36 (0.9m/s) |
| 4 | Max Reis | 10.41 (2.0m/s) |
| 5 | Tobias Williams | 10.46 (2.3m/s) |
His second win of the day came in the event he is most known for, the long jump. Hughes Jr. finished with his second best jump of the season, finishing with a mark of 24' 5.25". His best mark this season of 24' 6.5" ranks #8 nationally this outdoor season.
His final win of the day came in the 200m, where he finished with a time of 21.22, just 0.21 seconds ahead of Dwyne Smith Jr.. His time of 21.22 now ranks tied for 9th all-time in the 200m.
All-Time MN Boys 200m Times
| Rank | Runner | Time |
| 1 | Joseph Fahnbulleh | 20.67 |
| 2 | Jon Boyd | 20.92 |
| T-3 | Ibrahim Kabia | 20.96 |
| T-3 | Evan McClellon | 20.96 |
| 5 | Denzel Brown | 20.97 |
| 6 | Richlu Tudee | 20.99 |
| 7 | Mark Lutz | 20.8 (1970 in Yards) |
| 8 | Maximilian Comfere | 21.21 |
| T-9 | Jerry Burch | 21.22 |
| T-9 | Juriad Hughes Jr. | 21.22 |
Hughes now ranks top ten all-time in the 100m dash, 200m dash, and also holds the state record for both the indoor and outdoor long jump in Minnesota. All-together, one of the most dominant days and athletes of all-time in Minnesota state history.
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Freshman Shiaflyn Cooper Wins Girls TJ Title
A star freshman for Elk River, Shiaflyn Cooper won her first state title in the triple jump, finishing with a mark of 37' 6" to win the title by one inch over Gabriella Keefer. Cooper was only one of two athletes to win an individual title as a freshman this year. She currently ranks #10 all-time for Minnesota freshman girls in the triple jump, with her best mark of 37' 8.85". She also ranks #6 for her eighth-grade season and #11 for her seventh-grade season.
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Malec Wins First State Title with Near Record Time
The only other freshman girl to win an individual title at the state championships, Evie Malec was victorious in the girls 1600m, dominating the race and winning with a time of 4:50.93. She won the race handily over Maddie Gullickson who had beaten her narrowly in the 3200m on Thursday, beating her by almost 5 seconds. Her time of 4:50.93 now ranks #2 in Minnesota this season behind Isabelle Schmitz. Malec currently ranks 12th all-time in the 1600m in Minnesota with her converted mile time of 4:48.81.
Her time of 4:50.93 in the 1600m, now ranks #2 all-time for Minnesota freshmen girls all-time, only behind Tess Misgen. She also now ranks #4 in her class nationally this season for the 1600m.
All-Time MN Girls Freshman 1600m Times
| Rank | Runner | Time |
| 1 | Tess Misgen | 4:50.78 |
| 2 | Evie Malec | 4:50.93 |
| 3 | Sydney Drevlow | 4:51.97 |
| 4 | Lauren Peterson | 4:52.32 |
| 5 | Shannon Bergstedt | 4:53.69 |
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Mechura Doubles up as Distance Champion
It was a banner day in the distance events at the state championships for Roseville junior, Robert Mechura, with Mechura winning both the 1600m and 3200m titles. His first title came on Thursday in the 3200m final, where he finished with a time of 9:06.85, winning by almost 7 seconds. In the 1600m, Mechura won with a time of 4:08.89, which was a huge PR of almost five seconds for Mechura. His time of 4:08.89 now ranks as the 10th fastest 1600m time in Minnesota state history and is the 3rd fastest time in state meet history behind Joe Klecker (4:06.54) and Nick Schneider (4:08.51).
All-Time MN Boys 1600m Times
| Rank | Runner | Time |
| 1 | Rob Finnerty | 3:59.70 |
| 2 | Joe Klecker | 4:02.72 |
| 3 | Garry Bjorklund | 4:03.6 |
| 4 | Jaret Carpenter | 4:04.31 |
| 5 | Jordan Carlson | 4:05.75 |
| 6 | Nick Schneider | 4:06.89 |
| 7 | Steve Holman | 4:07.82 |
| 8 | Noah Breker | 4:08.00 |
| 9 | Bryce Stachewicz | 4:08.06 |
| 10 | Robert Mechura | 4:08.89 |
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Addyson White Enters the Top Ten
Prior Lake senior Addyson White blew away the competition in the Class AAA girls 100m dash finals, finishing with a time of 11.74, 0.22 seconds ahead of Gabriella Keefer. Her time of 11.74 is now among the best in state history and was a 0.43 second PR for the senior in a wind legal race. She currently ranks 6th all-time for wind legal 100m performances in Minnesota state history.
All-Time MN Girls 100m Times (Wind-Legal)
| Rank | Runner | Time |
| 1 | T'Nia Riley | 11.66 |
| 2 | Jedah Caldwell | 11.67 |
| 3 | Wensia Johnson | 11.69 |
| 4 | Taylor Anderson | 11.71 |
| 5 | Anna Keefer | 11.73 |
| 6 | Addyson White | 11.74 |
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Kohler is Queen Yet Again
Winning both the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles Class AAA titles for the second year in a row, Minnetonka senior, Claire Kohler, capped off an undefeated season at the state championships with near record times in the process. In the 100m hurdles, Kohler won with a time of 13.86, finishing 0.69 seconds ahead of the runner-up. Her time of 13.86 now ranks as the #2 wind-legal time in state history, only behind Ava Fitzgerald with a time of 13.81.
In the 300m hurdles, Kohler won with a time of 42.16, only 0.41 seconds ahead of Addyson White who finished with a time of 42.57. Kohler's time of 42.16 now ranks as the #2 time in state history only behind Meleah Biermaier. Her combined time of 56.02 in both events also ranks #2 in Minnesota state history.
Top Combined MN Girls 100mH + 300mH Times (All-Time)
| Rank | Athlete | 100mH Time | 300mH Time | Combined Time |
| 1 | Claire Kohler | 14.27 | 41.35 | 55.62 |
| 2 | Meleah Biermaier | 13.86 | 42.16 | 56.02 |
| 3 | Karina Joiner | 13.94 | 42.45 | 56.39 |
| 4 | Natalie Windels | 14.35 | 42.21 | 56.56 |
| 5 | Shaina Zinter | 14.29 | 42.38 | 56.67 |
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Hohenecker Sweeps the Sprint Events
It was a grand send off for Providence Academy's Brooke Hohenecker at the state championships, with the senior winning the 100m, 200m and 400m finals for her 2nd, 3rd and 4th state titles in her high school career. She won her first title of the day in the 100m dash, running a time of 12.07 and winning by 0.20 seconds. Her second title of the day came in the 400m dash, winning with a time of 56.35 over Emelia Skistad by 0.03 seconds. Her time was a new Class AA state meet record, besting the record of 57.16 set by Carly Hartwig last year. Finally, she won her third title of the day in the 200m dash, in a even more narrow margin over Emelia Skistad, 24.52 to 24.53.
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Hampton III Blitzes into Top-Ten
If you thought what he did in the 300m hurdles prelims was crazy, he really outdid himself in the 300m hurdles finals. After setting a new PR with a time of 37.98 in the prelims, Lorenzo Hampton III outdid himself in the finals with a time of 37.66. His best time coming into the state championships in the 300m hurdles was 38.89 a time which ranked tied for 132nd all time in Minnesota. His prelims time moved him up into a tie for 19th and then his finals time moved him into the top-ten, now ranking 7th all-time.
With both his prelims and finals times, Hampton III also shot up to the #1 ranking all-time for Minnesota sophomore boys in the event. He surpassed Nick Lagos who ran a time of 37.85 in 2001.
All-Time MN boys 300mH Times
| Rank | Runner | Time |
| 1 | Riwan Alowonle | 36.38 |
| 2 | Dan Bannister | 36.97 |
| 3 | Blake Nyenati | 37.38 |
| 4 | Mitch Potter | 37.39 |
| 5 | Cody Walton | 37.57 |
| 6 | Soliman Sayedi | 37.65 |
| 7 | Lorenzo Hampton III | 37.66 |
| 8 | Peter Stuart | 37.78 |
| 9 | Jerome Begin | 37.79 |
| 10 | Snossie Boyd-Weah | 37.80 |