Hasz Twins Go Out on Top

Megan Hasz(facing the camera) and Bethany Hasz(802) share the triumph
again, going 1-2 in their last MSHSL Championships 1600 meters.
Photo by Gene Niemi

It was the storybook ending to a memorable career for the Hasz twins, Bethany and Megan, at the MSHSL Outdoor Track Championships.  As usual, they finished first and second in their last race, the 1600 meters.  Bethany's winning time of 4:46.3 was two tenths of a second off of Elizabeth Yetzer's All-Time record for the event, but more importantly the twins scored maxim points for the team competition.

Combine the 22 points from the twins in the 1600 with the 18 points they scored in the 3200 and the twins provided 40 of the team's 44.25 points that gave Alexandria the team title by a scant .25 points over runner up Chanhassen led by sprinter Jedah Caldwell. Caldwell won the 100 and 200 meters, setting a new All-Time record in the 200.  That was good for 24 team points and Caldwell was also the anchor on the 4 by 200 relay that contributed another 6 team points for the team's fourth place finish.

The crucial .25 points for Alexandria came from one of the first events on the program, the high jump, where JeAnna Miller tied for ninth place.  Syri Williams contributed three points by finishing seventh in the 300 hurdles.  Sara Wegner added one point with her ninth place finish in the 400 meters.

The twins went into the 1600 determined not to make the mistake of allowing anyone to get away from them before the final lap of the race, as happened when Forest Lake's Emma Benner used a long kick to triumph in the 3200.  Benner took off with two laps to go and the twins weren't able to cover her move.  In the 1600, they stayed at the front of the pack until a lap to go when first Bethany and then Megan began their 400 meter sprint for home.

While Megan finished first among the twins in the 3200, Bethany had the better kick in the 1600 to cross the finish line first.  More importantly to the twins both were healthy and ready to run.  for the last two years Megan has been battling stress reactions in her shins. This track season she got it under control.  She didn't race the Hamline Elite meet, but was able to line up at the State Meet with confidence and two healthy legs.

It made the finish line hug between the sisters all the more special.  The season doesn't end here, though, as the twins have been invited to compete in the girl's 1500 in Somerville, MA  on Friday, June 17.

The Alexandria Class AA Girl's Team Champions.
Photo by Lance Elliott

The Chanhassan team with the runner-up trophy
Photo by Lance Elliott