Hopkins and Minnetonka Win Team Titles in MSHSL Class AA Track Champs

The pack heading into the final lap of the 1600
Photo by Jim Ferstle

Summary: Minnetonka repeated as Class AA girl's team champions and Hopkins won the boy's team title on a cold, rainy morning session at the MSHSL Track & Field Championships at Klas Field on the Hamline University campus in St. Paul.  Despite the rain, that caused both the pole vault and high jump to be moved indoors, and the slippery track that caused several falls in the hurdle events, there was a raft of outstanding performances.

In the team context there was a contrast when the awards were presented for the girls and champions Minnetonka and third-place Lakeville South spread out over all the steps in the awards stand with team members celebrating their achievements.  Meanwhile Cretin Derham-Hall's "dynamic duo" of Brieasha Hunter and Megan Linder had to decide how they would climb up onto the podium.  "Do you want to go in from this side and I'll go up on the other?" Linder asked Hunter.  The pair finished one, two in the 100-200, and 400 to rack up 66 points, only 14 less than Minnetonka.

Lakeveille South's Shaina Burns won the shot put and the 100 Hurdles, plus placing third in the 300 Hurdles and running the third leg on the third place 4 by 400 relay team.  Minnetonka's Mia Barron won the triple jump on Saturday, which was not moved indoors, with an All Time State Meet record.  She also ran a leg on the team's 4 by 100 Relay and won the long jump on Friday.

Hopkins win was a team effort spread out through field events, sprints, relays, and distance races with sprinter Shaheed Hickman winning the 100, anchoring the 4 by 100 relay, and anchored the sixth place finishing 4 by 200 relay.  Stillwater's Eli Krahn completed the distance double with a narrow win in the 1600 to go with his 3200 title from Friday.  Rosemount's Payton Otterdahl completed his weight throw double with a win in the discus that followed his triumph Friday in the shot

AA boy's results are HERE, girls are HERE. YouTube video of the boy's 1600 is HERE.
Live results are HERE.