Chris Lists: Where They Are Now ...

DtB contributor Chris Marshall recently put together these lists of where the top male high school senior distance runners of 2009 are attending college this fall. Below are the confirmed colleges for the best of the Class of '09.

Chris, a Carleton College senior himself, also adds a listing of the new freshman faces in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Where the Top Seniors Went ...

Robel Kebede, Minneapolis South, to Wisconsin
Drew Paradis, Alexandria, to Minnesota
John Holt, Roseville, to North Dakota State
Jeremy Drenckhahn, Wayzata, to Air Force
Jacob Bastyr, Owatonna, to Minnesota State-Mankato
Bill Struntz, White Bear Lake, to St. Cloud State
Chris Massey, Rosemount, to St. Olaf
Jakob Lindas, Moorhead, to Harvard
Zach Mellon, Buffalo, to Wisconsin
Erik Truedson, Bemidji, to Minnesota
Dylan Cheever, Minneapolis Southwest, to Carleton
Ethan Marquardt, Albert Lea, to South Dakota
Danny Ducharme, Wayzata, to Iowa State
Pat Richie, Grand Rapids, to Gonzaga
Ryan Eason, Coon Rapids, to Minnesota-Duluth
Stu Lombardo, Lakeville South, to St. Thomas
Bobby Davis, Eden Prairie, to Carleton
Mike Farley, St. Thomas Academy, to Creighton
Scott Dick, Dover-Eyota/St. Charles, to Wisconsin-LaCrosse
Kyle Richards, Champlin Park, to Wisconsin-Stout
Matt Babcock, Chaska, to Wisconsin-Stout
Jeff Hartmann, Osseo, to Johnson & Wales University
Timothy Lillehaugen, Moorhead, to St. Olaf
Cole Toepfer, Egan, to Minnesota-Duluth
Blake Macalus, White Bear Lake, to St. Cloud State
Nate Dobbins, Rochester John Marshall, to Hamline
Tyler Young, White Bear Lake, to Minnesota-Duluth
Ryan Evans, Centennial, to Augustana
Moses Heppner, Warroad, to North Dakota State
Clayton Foster, Pequot Lakes, to Minnesota State-Moorhead
Peter Borash, Royalton, to St. Mary’s
Zach Haskins, Heritage Christian, to Bethel
Patrick Bryant, DeLaSalle, to St. Thomas
Mark Bostrom, Mora, to Bethel
Ryan Tholen, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, to Dordt
Stewart Richardson, Blake, to Harvard
Chris Reisdorfer, Adrian, to Hamline
Nate Thoofte, Redwood Valley, to North Dakota State
Alex Barney, Perham, to North Dakota State

New Faces in the MIAC ...

Augsburg:
Ethan Gutzmann-Williams, Waconia
Ryan Norman, North Branch
Matt Schafer, Irondale
Zach Stevens, Apple Valley
Austin Wagner, La Crescent

Bethel:
Mark Bostrom, Mora
Zach Haskins, Heritage Christian
Spencer Hinseth, Andover
Jake Murphy, Mora
Eric Schlemmer, South St. Paul
Brent Schultz, Orono

Carleton:
Dylan Cheever, Minneapolis Southwest
Bobby Davis, Eden Prairie
Matt Harrison, Mound-Westonka
Freddy Wieffering, St. Paul Central

Concordia-Moorhead:
Bradley Johnson, Cooper
Adam Mousel, Northfield
Jacob Rhode, Royalton

Gustavus Adolphus:
Eric Bly, Monticello
Michael Douglass-White, St. Croix
Ian Gibbs-Hall, Duluth Central
Adam Lund, Apple Valley

Hamline:
Ross Anderson, St. Paul Como
Nate Dobbins, Rochester John Marshall
Graham Hanson, Richfield
Chris Reisdorfer, Adrian
Brendan Ruter, New London-Spicer

Macalester:
Joe O’Neill, Mound-Westonka

St. John’s:
Nathan Amberg, Norwood-Young America
Collin Hager, Parkers Prairie
Michael Kuhlman, Osseo
Eric Larson, Maple River
Luke Merickel, Eden Prairie
Matt Scherber, Sartell-St. Stephen
Gabriel Vertin, Benilde-St. Margaret’s

St. Mary’s:
Peter Borash, Royalton
Benjamin Carlson, Rosemount
Scott Klappa, Hopkins
Colin Sheehan, Austin Pacelli
Jake Traxler, Le Center
Ryan Winegardner, Northfield
Michael Wolter, Rushford-Peterson

St. Thomas:
Rio Bailey, Stillwater
Pat Bryant, DeLaSalle
Stu Lombardo, Lakeville South

St. Olaf:
Jon Anderson, Duluth East
Nick Bocovich, Andover
Chris Bowman, Bemidji
Frankie Heller, DeLaSalle
Tim Lillehaugen, Moorhead
David Link, Hopkins
Chris Massey, Rosemount
Kellen McMillen, Chaska
Chris Napolitano, Excelsior
Evan Olson, Edina
Dan Wilson, Apple Valley
Josh Wold, Rochester Century

NCAA-Bound Gophers Run Strongly at Regions

The University of Minnesota cross country teams earned national meet berths Saturday and appear poised for strong finishes at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships held a week from today in Terre Haute, Indiana.

The #7-ranked Gopher women defended their Midwest Region title, beating #14 Illinois 57-64. #29 Nebraska was 3rd with 124; #20 Iowa was 4th with 126.

The Gophers and the Illini earned automatic berths into the NCAA Championships; the Conrnhuskers and Hawkeyes will compete at nationals as at-large picks.

The Gopher men put together the best race of their season so far finishing second to #2-ranked Oklahoma State 42-51. 3rd place Tulsa and 4th placers Iowa State earned at-large selection to nationals via selection by the NCAA committee.

Women ... "We ran a great team race today,” Gopher women's coach Gary Wilson said in a media release. “We went in with the plan to run an aggressive race from the start and our pack did a terrific job is sticking together."

The aggressive racing landed six Gopher women in the race's top-20. Junior Megan Duwell, the Gophers’ #1 runner all season, finished 4th in 20:45. Senior Gabriele Anderson was 12th in 21:24, junior Amy Laskowske was 13th in 21:26, junior Mallory Van Ness was 14th in 21:26, graduate student Felicitas Mensing finished 18th in 21:29, and junior Heather Dorniden was 19th in 21:31.

Junior all-American Jamie Cheever finished 26th in 21:42.

The #7 Gophers, who defended both their Big Ten and Central Region titles from a year ago, will head to NCAAs seeking the top-10 national finish that eluded them last year. Ranked #5 entering NCAAs in 2007, the Gophers finished a disappointed 12th.

Men ... A 1-2 finish by Gopher all-Americans Hassan Mead and Chris Rombough powered the team's runner-up finish. Mead, a sophomore, won the Midwest Regional in 31:15; Rombough, a senior, was second in 31:18.

“We knew going in that Hassan and Chris could compete at the front of the pack,” Golden Gopher coach Steve Plasencia said. “What we needed was for our other guys to push forward and they certainly came through for us today."

Sophomore Ben Blankenship, showing that a young miler can succeed at the 10K distance, was the Gophers #3-man with an 11th-place, 31:28 run, junior Matt Barrett was 18th in 31:40, and sophomore Mike Torchia was 19th in 31:41.

"Ben (Blankenship) ran with great confidence today and was a key contributor," Plasencia said. "We have conditioned ourselves to be successful at the longer 10K distance run in the NCAAs."

Mike McFarland, 23rd in 31:56 and Ben Puhl, 39th in 32:19, rounded out the Gopher finishers.

The Gopher men, who were ranked #14 ahead of the Midwest Regional, no doubt hope to repeat the success of last year's NCAA meet when the team finished 8th -- the best performance by the Gophers at nationals since 1969.

Find Midwest Regional results HERE.

Find complete details on the NCAA Championship field HERE.

Chris Lists: Where They're Going to College

DtB's Chris Marshall has been busy tracking down the college whereabouts of the top high school Class AA senior boys from the Class of 2008. Here, in State Cross Country Meet finish order, is where we can find the best of the Class of 2008 in the coming years.

Rob Finnerty, Burnsville, to Wisconsin
Jordan Carlson, Rosemount, to Notre Dame
Pieter Gagnon, Minneapolis Washburn, to Minnesota
Andy Richardson, Irondale, to Minnesota
Tyler King, Lakeville North, to Princeton

Danny Docherty, Cretin-Derham Hall, to Loyola
Luke Delaney, Brainerd, to MSU-Mankato
Kyle Schmidt, Hutchinson, to North South Dakota State
Travis Burkstrand, Eastview, to Minnesota
Dom Rosario, Edina, to Marquette

Ellis Richardson, Roseville, to Hamline
Nick Nygaard, St. Michael-Albertville, to St. Thomas
Ryan Baumgartner, Blaine, to Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Travis Beniak, Zumbrota-Mazeppa, to Augustana (SD)
Josh Kaul, Stillwater, to Wisconsin-LaCrosse

Andrew Nickalwsky, Willmar, to St. John’s
Anders Bowman, Wayzata, to Gustavus
Brian Wille, Rochester Century, to University of Chicago
Andrew Papke-Larson, Bemidji, to Luther
Shamus O’Grady, Coon Rapids, to St. Cloud State

Ben Rodriguez, Buffalo, to Augsburg
Ryan Bailey, Minnetonka, to Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Kyle Larson, Chaska, to Minnesota-Duluth
Ben Sathre, Chaska, to St. Thomas
Tyler Iverson, Moorhead, to St. Thomas

Charlie Lapham, Armstrong, to Drake
Obai Hussein, Rosemount, to MSU-Mankato
Justin Sawyers, Rosemount, to St. Thomas
Matt Thooft, Rosemount, to North Dakota State
Pat Bigaouette, Chaska, to St. Scholastica

Tyler Rose, Brainerd, to North Dakota
Tim Kojetin, Rosemount, to Drake
Spencer Siddons, Andover, to St. Thomas
Dan McAlpine, Faribault, to Wisconsin-LaCrosse
Nate Hopkins, Mounds View, to Coe College

Shane Steele, Rochester Century, to Luther
Joe Wells, Minneapolis Southwest, to Adams State

Chris Lists: Top HS Boys Distance Performances

It's True Team State week in the Minnesota high school track and field universe, so let's kick off anticipation for those Friday and Saturday contests with updated boys distance running performance lists from DtB's own Chris Marshall.

As always, amendments and corrections are welcome.

800m:
Obai Hussein Rosemount 1:55.85 True Team Section
Nick Hutton Apple Valley 1:56.30 True Team Section
Kevin Bradley Mounds View 1:56.62 Bob Stewart Invitational
Zach Mellon Buffalo 1:56.90 Hamline Elite-Meet
Andy Richardson Irondale 1:56.99 True Team Section
Isaac Veldkamp Eden Prairie 1:57.00 Lakeville Mega Meet
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 1:57.14 True Team Section
Robel Kebede Minneapolis South 1:58.00 True Team Section
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 1:58.68 True Team Section
Charlie Lapham Armstrong 1:58.77 True Team Section
Harun Abda Fridley 1:59.04 Hamline Elite-Meet
Jake Sorby Bemidji 1:59.23 Moorhead
John Holt Roseville 1:59.23 Hamline Relays
Dominick Rosario Edina 1:59.34 True Team Section
Reid Gilbertson Stillwater 1:59.52 Bob Stewart Invitational
Tim Erickson Austin 1:59.80 Big 9 Triangular

1600m:
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 4:13.07 Lake Relays
Andy Ricahrdson Irondale 4:15.16 Hamline Elite-Meet
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 4:15.29 Hamline Elite-Meet
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 4:20.61 St. Thomas Invitational
Andy Papke-Larson Bemidji 4:21.94 True Team Section
Tyler King Lakeville North 4:22.35 True Team Section
Obai Hussein Rosemount 4:22.54 Lake Relays
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 4:22.77 St. Thomas Invitational
Luke Delaney Brainerd 4:22.79 True Team Section
Robel Kebede Minneapolis South 4:22.86 True Team Section
Travis Beniak Zumbrota-Mazeppa 4:23.52 Hamline Elite-Meet
Brian Wille Rochester Century 4:24.17 Hamline Elite-Meet
Dom Rosario Edina 4:25.70 Hamline Elite-Meet
Thomas Ruttger Brainerd 4:25.73 True Team Section
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 4:26.30 Hamline Elite-Meet
Ryan Baumgartner Blaine 4:27.34 True Team Section
Erik Truedson Bemidji 4:29.28 Grand Rapids Triangular
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 4:29.87 True Team Section

3200m:
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 9:20.64 Wildcat Invitational
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 9:23.18 Hamline Elite-Meet
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 9:26.49 Minnesota/ROTC
Andy Richardson Irondale 9:28.5* Knights Triangular
Erik Truedson Bemidji 9:31.00 True Team Section
Tyler King Lakeville North 9:31.92 Hamline Elite-Meet
Ryan Baumgartner Blain 9:37.0* Pony Relays
Thomas Ruttger Brainerd 9:45.15 True Team Section
Tyler Rose Brainerd 9:45.28 True Team Section
Danny Ducharme Wayzata 9:45.93 True Team Section
Mahad Hassan Willmar 9:46.9* Willmar Optimist
Jeremy Drenckhahn Wayzata 9:48.25 Hamline Elite-Meet
Drew Paradis Alexandria 9:48.3 Alexandria Quad
Ryan Nichols Stillwater 9:49.2 Pony Relays

* = hand time

Chris Lists: Top HS Boys Distance Performances

As he did in 2007, DtB's Chris Marshall (pictured, uploading the video he shot at the Hamline Elite-Meet) is compiling performance list of the top Minnesota high school marks in the boys 800, 1600, and 3200 meter events. We expect he'll update his lists every week or so to keep up with the action on the track.

Below is Chris' first edition of the lists, which includes events through April 26. As always, corrections are appreciated. Also, if you are interested in compiling performance lists for other high school events, please let us know -- DtB would love to publish them!

800m:
Zach Mellon Buffalo 1:56.90 Hamline Elite-Meet
Robel Kebede Minneapolis South 1:58.01 Hamline Elite-Meet
Obai Hussein Rosemount 1:58.0* JFK/AV Triangular
Harun Abda Fridley 1:59.04 Hamline Elite-Meet
Jake Sorby Bemidji 1:59.23 Moorhead
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 1:59.29 Faribault Invite
Kevin Bradley Mounds View 1:59.45 Lakeville Mega Meet

1600m:
Andy Ricahrdson Irondale 4:15.16 Hamline Elite-Meet
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 4:15.29 Hamline Elite-Meet
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 4:20.71 Burnsville Relays
Travis Beniak Zumbrota-Mazeppa 4:23.52 Hamline Elite-Meet
Brian Wille Rochester Century 4:24.17 Hamline Elite-Meet
Andy Papke-Larson Bemidji 4:25.10 Grand Rapids Triangular
Dom Rosario Edina 4:25.70 Hamline Elite-Meet
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 4:26.30 Hamline Elite-Meet
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 4:28.35 Faribault Invite
Erik Truedson Bemidji 4:29.28 Grand Rapids Triangular

3200m:
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 9:20.64 Wildcat Invitational
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 9:23.18 Hamline Elite-Meet
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 9:26.49 Minnesota/ROTC
Tyler King Lakeville North 9:31.92 Hamline Elite-Meet
Erik Truedson Bemidji 9:46.73 Morehead
Mahad Hassan Willmar 9:46.9* Willmar Optimist
Jeremy Drenckhahn Wayzata 9:48.25 Hamline Elite-Meet

* = hand time

Photo by Charlie Mahler.

Chris Lists: Where They're Going to College

When it comes to putting the names of top Minnesota high school boys in some sort of order, Chris Marshall is our man. (You'll remember his Chris Lists last spring, of course.)

Below, Chris reports, in Class AA State Meet finish order, where the top, senior, large-school boys from last year are attending college this year.

Hassan Mead, Minneapolis South, Minnesota
Jon Stublaski, Henry Sibley, Oklahoma State
Elliot Heath, Winona, Stanford
Kaafi Adeys, Willmar, plans to attend MSU-Mankato in the near future
Ryan Little, Eden Prairie, Oklahoma State
Abdi Awale, Willmar, MSU-Mankato
Tom Burke, Edian, William & Mary
Jackson Wiley, Eden Prairie, Florida College
Matt Yak, Northfield, St. Olaf
Nick Saucedo, Henry Sibley, MSU-Mankato
Justin Tyner, Brainerd, Air Force
Mohamed Bedel, Willmar, plans to attend MSU-Mankato in the near future
Paul Hilsen, Lakeville South, Minnesota
TC Lumbar, Edina, Georgetown
Mustafa Yusuf, Willmar, MSU-Mankato
Brandon Lewis, Armstrong, Drake
Chip Sandahl, Burnsville, North Dakota State
Matt Volz, Lakeville South, Colorado School of Mines
Ben Wilson, Alexandria, St. Olaf
Jon Lambert, Wayzata, St. Olaf
Aaron Gorman, Park Center, Minnesota-Duluth
Wade Hassell, Mounds View, UW-LaCrosse
Alex Wrobel, Mounds View, Calvin
Noah Delong, Central, Grinnell
Keagan Marble, Waseca, Augsburg
Mike Bumgarner, Rosemount, Drake
Nick Ramberg, North Branch, MSU-Mankato
John Davis, Eden Prairie, Carleton
Andy Wendroth, Zumbrota-Mazeppa, North Dakota State
Andy Hawkinson, Osseo, Minnesota-Duluth
Jimmy Backes, Lakeville South, St. John's
Luke Toso, Roseville, Minnesota-Morris
Adam Noll, Alexandria, MSU-Mankato
Mike Warweg, Rosemount, North Dakota
Jake Dornfield, Winona, North Dakota State

Ben Blankenship, Stillwater, Mississippi State

Chris Lists: Richardson, Blankenship, and Heath Top Final Boys' Distance Lists

The fifth-fastest boys' 800 meter runner in Minnesota history, Andy Richardson, Minnesota's fourth-fastest 1600 meter runner ever, Ben Blankenship, and the all-time fastest state prep over 3200 meters, Elliott Heath, top the final high school boys distance event preformance lists that Chris Marshall compiles for DtB.

Only two modifications to the "Chris Lists" occurred since its last iteration: Buffalo sophomore Zach Mellon improved his mark, if not his rank, in the 800m with a 1:51.87 clocking in the prelims of the USA Junior Championships in Indianapolis last week. The Class AA 800m champ ranks #2 this season to Richardson and his 1:51.60, and is the #8 half-miler in Minnesota all-time.

Blankenship, with his converted 3:51.11 1500 from USA Juniors, moved back to the top of the 1600m list. He topped the list after the MSHSL State Meet where he ran 4:09.10. Burnsville's Rob Finnerty, however, leap-frogged him with a 4:08.84 clocking at Nike Outdoor Nationals a week later, but Blankenship's junior nationals mark, which converts to 4:08.14 for 1600m, puts him back on top. He ranks #4 all-time in the event; Finnerty ranks #5.

The Lists ... (the two new marks in bold.)

800m:
Andy Richardson Irondale 1:51.60 AA State (Prelims) *5th All-time Minnesota*
Zach Mellon Buffalo 1:51.87 USATF Junior Nationals *8th All-time Minnesota*
Isaac Veldkamp Eden Prairie 1:53.62 AA State *24th All-time Minnesota*
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 1:53.88 AA State (Prelims)
David Pachuta Eastview 1:53.96 AA State (Prelims)
Obai Hussein Rosemount 1:54.04 AA State
Nick Hutton Apple Valley 1:54.09 Section 6AA
Mike Shelendich Mounds View 1:54.37 Section 4AA
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 1:54.51 AA State (Prelims)
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 1:54.58 Bob Stewart Invite
(10)
Mike Mueller Hopkins 1:54.99 Section 6AA
Nick Ranberg North Branch 1:55.08 North Suburban Conference
Alex Wrobel Mounds View 1:55.50 Section 4AA
Mustafa Yusuf Willmar 1:55.49 Section 2AA
Robel Kebede Minneapolis South 1:55.68 Section 5AA
Tyler King Lakeville North 1:55.73 AA State (Prelims)
Anthony Held Elk River 1:55.94 AA State (Prelims)
Abdi Mohamed Eden Prairie 1:56.10 Section 6AA
Ben Garbers North 1:56.23 Section 4AA
Tom Hoffman Mahtomedi 1:56.24 Section 4AA
(20)
Kevid Bradley Mounds View 1:56.70 SEC Conference
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 1:56.86 Central Lakes Conference
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 1:57.18 Carleton
John Vaith Hastings 1:57.25 AA State (Prelims)
Doug Debold Hopkins 1:57.42 State TT
Mitch Lorenz Brainerd 1:57.62 AA State (Prelims)
Luke Delaney Brainerd 1:57.64 AA State (Prelims)
Evan Kearney Mlps. South 1:57.87 6AAATT
Harun Abda Fridley 1:57.89 Section 5AA
Tom Burke Edina 1:57.95 EP Booster
(30)
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 1:57.8* Rosemount Tri
Sam Shidla Mound-Westonka 1:57.9* Mound-Westonka
Dominick Rosario Edina 1:58.54 Section 6AA

1600m:
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 4:08.14c (3:51.11) USATF Junior Nationals *4th All-time Minnesota*
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 4:08.84c (4:10.49) NON *5th All-time Minnesota*
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 4:09.28c (4:11.04) NON *8th All-time Minnesota*
Elliott Heath Winona 4:10.27 1AAATT *10th All-time Minnesota*
Andy Richardson Irondale 4:10.78 AA State *16th All-time Minnesota*
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 4:13.04 (4:14.72) NON
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 4:13.54 Section 6AA
TC Lumbar Edina 4:13.98 Section 6AA
Hassan Mead Mlps. South 4:14.17 AA State
Tom Burke Edina 4:15.44 7AAATT
(10)
Doug Debold Hopkins 4:16.70 Section 6AA
Matt Yak Northfield 4:16.85 1AAATT
Tyler King Lakeville North 4:17.25 Section 1AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:17.64 Section 6AA
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 4:17.9* STMA
Zach Mellon Buffalo 4:19.05 State TT
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 4:19.41 Lake Conference Relays
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 4:20.02 Hamline Elite
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 4:20.37 Lake Conference
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:21.58 Lake Conference
(20)
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 4:21.76 Section 5AA
Mike Howard North 4:22.00 AA State
Harry Backlund Highland Park 4:22.24
Nick Saucedo Henry Sibley 4:22.25 Section 3AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:22.34 Lake Conf. Relays
TC Lumbar Edina 4:22.52 7AAATT
Mahad Hassan Willmar 4:22.69 Eden Prairie Booster
Mike Schelendich Mounds View 4:22.88 6AAATT
Matt Volz Lakeville South 4:22.99 1AAATT

3200m:
Elliott Heath Winona 8:42.81c (8:46.12) NON *Minnesota All-time record*
Hassan Mead Mlps South 8:47.88c (8:51.23) NON *3rd All-time Minnesota*
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 8:55.75c (8:59.15) NON *5th All-time Minnesota*
TC Lumbar Edina 9:06.69 Hamline Elite *15th All-time Minnesota*
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 9:11.19 AA State
Tom Burke Edina 9:11.36 Section 6AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 9:13.00 Section 6AA
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 9:15.46 Lakeville Invite
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:16.92 AA State
Matt Yak Northfield 9:18.90 1AAATT
(10)
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 9:22.05 Section 6AA
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 9:23.71 2AAATT
Andrew Quinn BSM 9:26.79 Hamline Elite
Mahad Hassan Willmar 9:29.96 Central Lakes Conference
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 9:30.10 AA State
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 9:32.53 Lake Conference
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 9:32.83 AA State
Mohammed Bedel Willmar 9:35.21 Section 2AA
Jon Lambert Wayzata 9:39.26 Hamline Elite
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 9:39.41 SEC Conference
(20)
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:39.59 EP Booster
Mike Howard North 9:40.91 Section 4AA
Wade Hassel Mounds View 9:41.10 Hamline Elite
Tyler King Lakeville North 9:41.39 Lake Conference

*hand-timed

All-time ranking information comes courtesy of Tim and Bill Miles, authors of the Minnesota Boys Track and Field Annual.

Nike Nationals: Inside the Numbers

We've decided the results and the videos were not enough ...

Last weekend's Nike Outdoor Nationals produced so many historic performances for Minnesota high school athletes -- is there any argument that it was the best meet ever for prep boys from the state? -- we felt prompted to dig deeper into the results.

Here, then, are the top performances of the meet for the Gopher Staters, in their historic context. (My thanks to Chris Marshall -- whose latest "Chris Lists" are appended -- and Minnesota Boys Track and Field Annual authors Tim Miles and Bill Miles.)

Note: We don't know of any comprehensive all-time lists for Minnesota girls similar to the Miles and Miles annual. We were impressed with Eden Prairie's 8th place 9:14.66 4 x 800 and 6th place 21:04.05 4 x Mile runs at NON, nonetheless.

Quinn Evans ... 9th @ 400m in 47.31 at NON ... the second fastest Minnesota 400 perfomance all-time, second only to Evans' own 47.18 from the 4AA Section.

Rob Finnerty ... 11th @ Mile in 4:10.49 ... #4 1600/Mile all-time trailing only Garry Bjorklund, Nick Schneider, and Steve Holman ... a 4:08.84 1600m equivalent.

Paul Hilsen ... 13th @ Mile in 4:11.04 ... #7 all-time in Minnesota behind Bjorklund, Schneider, Holman, Finnerty, Garrett Heath, and Ben Blankenship.

Elliott Heath ... 3rd @ 2 Miles in 8:46.12 ... #1 all-time 2 Mile/3200 in the state, dethroning Mike Torchia's 8:50.80 after but one year ... we're trying to verify this, but we think the mark puts Heath in the top-25 for US high schoolers all-time. An 8:42.81 3200m equivalent.

Hassan Mead ... 5th @ 2 Miles in 8:51.23 ... #3 all-time behind Heath and Torchia.

Finnarty ... 13th @ 2 Miles in 8:59.13 ... #5 all-time behind Heath, Torchia, Mead, and Schneider.

Mounds View 4 x 400 ... 4th in 3:14.47 ... a new Minnesota all-time best, eclipsing Stillwater's 1997 3:16:89. The splits, according to coach Ross Fleming, were: Andrew Balzer 49.9, Kevin Bradley 47.8, Mike Shelendich 49.9, and Quinn Evans 46.7.

Willmar 4 x 800 ... 5th in 7:42.24 ... #2 all-time behind Stillwater's 1998 7:41.94.

Mounds View 4 x 800 ... 7th in 7:45.95 ... #3 all-time behind Stillwater and Willmar.

Willmar DMR ... 8th in 10:10.68 ... new all-time best in the seldom-run event, eclipsing Winona's 2004 mark of 10:13.43.

Lakeville South DMR ... 9th in 10:12.67 ... #2 all-time to Willmar.

Willmar 4 x Mile ... 4th in 17:29.09 ... new all-time best in this rare event, smoking Stillwater's 17:44.3 from 2004.

The Chris Lists ... Post-NON Edition ...

800m
Andy Richardson Irondale 1:51.60 AA State (Prelims) *5th All-time Minnesota*
Zach Mellon Buffalo 1:52.66 AA State *14th All-time Minnesota*
Isaac Veldkamp Eden Prairie 1:53.62 AA State *24th All-time Minnesota*
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 1:53.88 AA State (Prelims)
David Pachuta Eastview 1:53.96 AA State (Prelims)
Obai Hussein Rosemount 1:54.04 AA State
Nick Hutton Apple Valley 1:54.09 Section 6AA
Mike Shelendich Mounds View 1:54.37 Section 4AA
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 1:54.51 AA State (Prelims)
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 1:54.58 Bob Stewart Invite
(10)
Mike Mueller Hopkins 1:54.99 Section 6AA
Nick Ranberg North Branch 1:55.08 North Suburban Conference
Alex Wrobel Mounds View 1:55.50 Section 4AA
Mustafa Yusuf Willmar 1:55.49 Section 2AA
Robel Kebede Minneapolis South 1:55.68 Section 5AA
Tyler King Lakeville North 1:55.73 AA State (Prelims)
Anthony Held Elk River 1:55.94 AA State (Prelims)
Abdi Mohamed Eden Prairie 1:56.10 Section 6AA
Ben Garbers North 1:56.23 Section 4AA
Tom Hoffman Mahtomedi 1:56.24 Section 4AA
(20)
Kevid Bradley Mounds View 1:56.70 SEC Conference
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 1:56.86 Central Lakes Conference
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 1:57.18 Carleton
John Vaith Hastings 1:57.25 AA State (Prelims)
Doug Debold Hopkins 1:57.42 State TT
Mitch Lorenz Brainerd 1:57.62 AA State (Prelims)
Luke Delaney Brainerd 1:57.64 AA State (Prelims)
Evan Kearney Mlps. South 1:57.87 6AAATT
Harun Abda Fridley 1:57.89 Section 5AA
Tom Burke Edina 1:57.95 EP Booster
(30)
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 1:57.8* Rosemount Tri
Sam Shidla Mound-Westonka 1:57.9* Mound-Westonka
Dominick Rosario Edina 1:58.54 Section 6AA

1600m
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 4:08.84c (4:10.49) NON *4th All-time Minnesota*
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 4:09.10 AA State *6th All-time Minnesota*
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 4:09.28c (4:11.04) NON *7th All-time Minnesota*
Elliott Heath Winona 4:10.27 1AAATT *10th All-time Minnesota*
Andy Richardson Irondale 4:10.78 AA State *15th All-time Minnesota*
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 4:13.04 (4:14.72) NON
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 4:13.54 Section 6AA
TC Lumbar Edina 4:13.98 Section 6AA
Hassan Mead Mlps. South 4:14.17 AA State
Tom Burke Edina 4:15.44 7AAATT
(10)
Doug Debold Hopkins 4:16.70 Section 6AA
Matt Yak Northfield 4:16.85 1AAATT
Tyler King Lakeville North 4:17.25 Section 1AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:17.64 Section 6AA
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 4:17.9* STMA
Zach Mellon Buffalo 4:19.05 State TT
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 4:19.41 Lake Conference Relays
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 4:20.02 Hamline Elite
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 4:20.37 Lake Conference
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:21.58 Lake Conference
(20)
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 4:21.76 Section 5AA
Mike Howard North 4:22.00 AA State
Harry Backlund Highland Park 4:22.24
Nick Saucedo Henry Sibley 4:22.25 Section 3AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:22.34 Lake Conf. Relays
TC Lumbar Edina 4:22.52 7AAATT
Mahad Hassan Willmar 4:22.69 Eden Prairie Booster
Mike Schelendich Mounds View 4:22.88 6AAATT
Matt Volz Lakeville South 4:22.99 1AAATT

3200m
Elliott Heath Winona 8:42.81c (8:46.12) NON *Minnesota All-time record*
Hassan Mead Mlps South 8:47.88c (8:51.23) NON *3rd All-time Minnesota*
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 8:55.75c (8:59.15) NON *5th All-time Minnesota*
TC Lumbar Edina 9:06.69 Hamline Elite *15th All-time Minnesota*
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 9:11.19 AA State
Tom Burke Edina 9:11.36 Section 6AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 9:13.00 Section 6AA
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 9:15.46 Lakeville Invite
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:16.92 AA State
Matt Yak Northfield 9:18.90 1AAATT
(10)
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 9:22.05 Section 6AA
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 9:23.71 2AAATT
Andrew Quinn BSM 9:26.79 Hamline Elite
Mahad Hassan Willmar 9:29.96 Central Lakes Conference
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 9:30.10 AA State
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 9:32.53 Lake Conference
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 9:32.83 AA State
Mohammed Bedel Willmar 9:35.21 Section 2AA
Jon Lambert Wayzata 9:39.26 Hamline Elite
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 9:39.41 SEC Conference
(20)
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:39.59 EP Booster
Mike Howard North 9:40.91 Section 4AA
Wade Hassel Mounds View 9:41.10 Hamline Elite
Tyler King Lakeville North 9:41.39 Lake Conference

*hand-timed

High School Stars Head to Nike Nationals

The cream of Minnesota's high school crop will face some of the blue ribbon winners from the rest of the nation at the Nike Outdoor National meet in Greensboro, North Carolina this weekend.

Last year, the meet played host the 1o:10 to 10:12 two mile duel between Bria Wetsch and Elizbeth Yetzer, Tressa Beckel's 5-10 3/4 high jump victory, and Mike Torchia's Minnesota all-time two-mile best of 8:50.80.

Looking to make hay at this year's meet are:

Minnesota's fastest prep quarter-miler ever Quinn Evans in the 400, Rosemount's Obai Hussein in the 800, Lakville South's Paul Hilsen and Burnsville's Rob Finnerty in the mile, and Finnerty, Class AA 3200m champ Elliott Heath, and Class AA XC champ Hassan Mead in the two mile. Lakeville North's Tyler King will compete in the meet's "emerging elite" mile.

In the field, Mounds View's Tommy McNamara will compete in the long and triple jumps, shot putters Casey Dehn of Owatonna, Class AA champ Tyler Kleinhuizen of Forest Lake, and Trey Davis of Farmington will throw, as will Owatonna's Michael Shaver in the discus.

In girls competition, Class AA winner Megan Smith will race over 800m, Class AA 3200 champ Alex Gits will run the 5000m, and Lakeville South's Felisha Willaert will throw the discus. Class AA 1600m champ Michelle Volz will race in the "emerging elite" mile.

Also, statistics ... Chris Marshall offers his post-State listing of the top boys 800, 1600, and 3200 meter times of 2007. Changes since Sections are in bold.

800m
Andy Richardson Irondale 1:51.60 AA State (Prelims)
Zach Mellon Buffalo 1:52.66 AA State
Isaac Veldkamp Eden Prairie 1:53.62 AA State
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 1:53.88 AA State (Prelims)
David Pachuta Eastview 1:53.96 AA State (Prelims)
Obai Hussein Rosemount 1:54.04 AA State
Nick Hutton Apple Valley 1:54.09 Section 6AA
Mike Shelendich Mounds View 1:54.37 Section 4AA
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 1:54.51 AA State (Prelims)
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 1:54.58 Bob Stewart Invite
(10)
Mike Mueller Hopkins 1:54.99 Section 6AA
Nick Ranberg North Branch 1:55.08 North Suburban Conference
Alex Wrobel Mounds View 1:55.50 Section 4AA
Mustafa Yusuf Willmar 1:55.49 Section 2AA
Robel Kebede Minneapolis South 1:55.68 Section 5AA
Tyler King Lakeville North 1:55.73 AA State (Prelims)
Anthony Held Elk River 1:55.94 AA State (Prelims)
Abdi Mohamed Eden Prairie 1:56.10 Section 6AA
Ben Garbers North 1:56.23 Section 4AA
Tom Hoffman Mahtomedi 1:56.24 Section 4AA
(20)
Kevid Bradley Mounds View 1:56.70 SEC Conference
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 1:56.86 Central Lakes Conference
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 1:57.18 Carleton
John Vaith Hastings 1:57.25 AA State (Prelims)
Doug Debold Hopkins 1:57.42 State TT
Mitch Lorenz Brainerd 1:57.62 AA State (Prelims)
Luke Delaney Brainerd 1:57.64 AA State (Prelims)
Evan Kearney Mlps. South 1:57.87 6AAATT
Harun Abda Fridley 1:57.89 Section 5AA
Tom Burke Edina 1:57.95 EP Booster
(30)
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 1:57.8* Rosemount Tri
Sam Shidla Mound-Westonka 1:57.9* Mound-Westonka
Dominick Rosario Edina 1:58.54 Section 6AA

1600m
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 4:09.10 AA State
Elliott Heath Winona 4:10.27 1AAATT
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 4:10.39 AA State
Andy Richardson Irondale 4:10.78 AA State
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 4:11.85 AA State
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 4:13.54 Section 6AA
TC Lumbar Edina 4:13.98 Section 6AA
Hassan Mead Mlps. South 4:14.17 AA State
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 4:14.98 State TT
Tom Burke Edina 4:15.44 7AAATT
(10)
Doug Debold Hopkins 4:16.70 Section 6AA
Matt Yak Northfield 4:16.85 1AAATT
Tyler King Lakeville North 4:17.25 Section 1AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:17.64 Section 6AA
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 4:17.9* STMA
Zach Mellon Buffalo 4:19.05 State TT
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 4:19.41 Lake Conference Relays
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 4:20.02 Hamline Elite
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 4:20.37 Lake Conference
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:21.58 Lake Conference
(20)
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 4:21.76 Section 5AA
Mike Howard North 4:22.00 AA State
Harry Backlund Highland Park 4:22.24
Nick Saucedo Henry Sibley 4:22.25 Section 3AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:22.34 Lake Conf. Relays
TC Lumbar Edina 4:22.52 7AAATT
Mahad Hassan Willmar 4:22.69 Eden Prairie Booster
Mike Schelendich Mounds View 4:22.88 6AAATT
Matt Volz Lakeville South 4:22.99 1AAATT

3200m
Elliott Heath Winona 8:57.65 Section 1AA
Hassan Mead Mlps South 9:03.29 AA State
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 9:04.42 AA State
TC Lumbar Edina 9:06.69 Hamline Elite
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 9:11.19 AA State
Tom Burke Edina 9:11.36 Section 6AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 9:13.00 Section 6AA
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 9:15.46 Lakeville Invite
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:16.92 AA State
Matt Yak Northfield 9:18.90 1AAATT
(10)
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 9:22.05 Section 6AA
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 9:23.71 2AAATT
Andrew Quinn BSM 9:26.79 Hamline Elite
Mahad Hassan Willmar 9:29.96 Central Lakes Conference
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 9:30.10 AA State
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 9:32.53 Lake Conference
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 9:32.83 AA State
Mohammed Bedel Willmar 9:35.21 Section 2AA
Jon Lambert Wayzata 9:39.26 Hamline Elite
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 9:39.41 SEC Conference
(20)
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:39.59 EP Booster
Mike Howard North 9:40.91 Section 4AA
Wade Hassel Mounds View 9:41.10 Hamline Elite
Tyler King Lakeville North 9:41.39 Lake Conference

*hand-timed

The Chris Lists -- Pre-State Edition

On the eve of the MSHSL State Meet, it's time to turn the focus back on the high schoolers ...

DtB's names-and-numbers man Chris Marshall has updated his performance lists for the boys' distance events after last weekend's hot sectional action. New marks since the last iteration of the Chris Lists are in bold.

Remember, you can keep abreast of State Meet action right here on DtB...

800m
Andy Richardson Irondale 1:53.48 North Suburban Conference
Nick Hutton Apple Valley 1:54.09 Section 6AA
Zach Mellon Buffalo 1:54.15 Section 2AA
Mike Shelendich Mounds View 1:54.37 Section 4AA
Isaac Veldkamp Eden Prairie 1:54.41 Section 6AA
David Pachuta Eastview 1:54.54 UST Invite
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 1:54.58 Bob Stewart Invite
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 1:54.80 3AAATT
Mike Mueller Hopkins 1:54.99 Section 6AA
Nick Ranberg North Branch 1:55.08 North Suburban Conference
(10)
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 1:55.11 Section 3AA
Alex Wrobel Mounds View 1:55.50 Section 4AA
Mustafa Yusuf Willmar 1:55.49 Section 2AA
Robel Kebede Minneapolis South 1:55.68 Section 5AA
Obai Hussein Rosemount 1:55.86 Section 1AA
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 1:56.03 Section 1AA
Abdi Mohamed Eden Prairie 1:56.10 Section 6AA
Ben Garbers North 1:56.23 Section 4AA
Tom Hoffman Mahtomedi 1:56.24 Section 4AA
Tyler King Lakeville North 1:56.56 Section 1AA
(20)
Kevid Bradley Mounds View 1:56.70 SEC Conference
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 1:56.86 Central Lakes Conference
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 1:57.18 Carleton
Ian Campbell Bloomington Prairie 1:57.26 Hamline Elite
Anthony Held Elk River 1:57.41 Section 7AA
Doug Debold Hopkins 1:57.42 State TT
John Vaith Hastings 1:57.86 Section 3AA
Evan Kearney Mlps. South 1:57.87 6AAATT
Harun Abda Fridley 1:57.89 Section 5AA
Mitch Lorenz Brainerd 1:57.91 Section 8AA
(30)
Tom Burke Edina 1:57.95 EP Booster
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 1:57.8* Rosemount Tri
Sam Shidla Mound-Westonka 1:57.9* Mound-Westonka
Dominick Rosario Edina 1:58.54 Section 6AA

1600m
Elliott Heath Winona 4:10.27 1AAATT
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 4:10.45 Section 6AA
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 4:13.54 Section 6AA
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 4:13.61 1AAATT
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 4:13.72 Section 3AA
TC Lumbar Edina 4:13.98 Section 6AA
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 4:14.98 State TT
Tom Burke Edina 4:15.44 7AAATT
Andy Richardson Irondale 4:15.80 6AAATT
Doug Debold Hopkins 4:16.70 Section 6AA
(10)
Matt Yak Northfield 4:16.85 1AAATT
Tyler King Lakeville North 4:17.25 Section 1AA
Hassan Mead Mlps. South 4:17.36 6AAATT
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:17.64 Section 6AA
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 4:17.9* STMA
Zach Mellon Buffalo 4:19.05 State TT
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 4:19.41 Lake Conference Relays
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 4:20.02 Hamline Elite
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 4:20.37 Lake Conference
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:21.58 Lake Conference
(20)
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 4:21.76 Section 5AA
Harry Backlund Highland Park 4:22.24
Nick Saucedo Henry Sibley 4:22.25 Section 3AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:22.34 Lake Conf. Relays
TC Lumbar Edina 4:22.52 7AAATT
Mahad Hassan Willmar 4:22.69 Eden Prairie Booster
Mike Schelendich Mounds View 4:22.88 6AAATT
Matt Volz Lakeville South 4:22.99 1AAATT

3200m
Elliott Heath Winona 8:57.65 Section 1AA
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 9:04.55 Hamline Elite
Hassan Mead Mlps South 9:06.07 Hamline Elite
TC Lumbar Edina 9:06.69 Hamline Elite
Tom Burke Edina 9:11.36 Section 6AA
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 9:13.00 Section 6AA
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 9:15.46 Lakeville Invite
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 9:15.85 Carleton
Matt Yak Northfield 9:18.90 1AAATT
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:19.55 Section 2AA
(10)
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 9:22.05 Section 6AA
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 9:23.71 2AAATT
Andrew Quinn BSM 9:26.79 Hamline Elite
Mahad Hassan Willmar 9:29.96 Central Lakes Conference
Pieter Gagnon Minneapolis Washburn 9:31.15 Section 5AA
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 9:32.53 Lake Conference
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 9:34.31 State TT
Mohammed Bedel Willmar 9:35.21 Section 2AA
Jon Lambert Wayzata 9:39.26 Hamline Elite
Danny Docherty Cretin-Derham Hall 9:39.41 SEC Conference
(20)
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:39.59 EP Booster
Mike Howard North 9:40.91 Section 4AA
Wade Hassel Mounds View 9:41.10 Hamline Elite
Tyler King Lakeville North 9:41.39 Lake Conference

The Chris Lists: Top High School Boys Times for 800, 1600, and 3200 meters

We now return you to regular programming ...

Chris Marshall has updated his lists of top high school boys' middle and long distance marks through the True Team State Meet last weekend.

(New marks are in bold; post-publication amendments in red.)

800m
Andy Richardson Irondale 1:53.48 North Suburban Conf.
David Pachuta Eastview 1:54.54 UST Invite
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 1:54.58 Bob Stewart Invite
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 1:54.80 3AAATT
Nick Ramberg of North Branch 1:55.08 North Suburban Conf.
Mike Shelendich Mounds View 1:55.16 Bob Stewart Invite
Zach Mellon Buffalo 1:55.26 Hamline Elite
Robel Kebede Mlps. South 1:56.41 6AAATT
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 1:56.86 Central Lakes Conference
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 1:57.18 Carleton
(10)
Obai Hussein Rosemount 1:57.21 State TT
Ian Campbell Bloomington Prairie 1:57.26 Hamline Elite
Nick Hutton Apple Valley 1:57.27 Lake Conference
Doug Debold Hopkins 1:57.42 State TT
Abdi Mohamed Eden Prairie 1:57.51 State TT
Tyler King Lakeville North 1:57.59 Carleton
Evan Kearney Mlps. South 1:57.87 6AAATT
Tom Burke Edina 1:57.95 EP Booster
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 1:57.8* Rosemount Tri
Sam Shidla Mound-Westonka 1:57.9* Mound-Westonka
(20)
Mustafa Yusuf Willmar 1:58.23 Central Lakes Conference
Alex Wrobel Mounds View 1:58.48 Hamline Eilte
Mike Mueller Hopkins 1:58.4 Hopkins Quad

1600m
Elliot Heath Winona 4:10.27 1AAATT
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 4:13.61 1AAATT
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 4:14.21 State TT
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 4:14.98 State TT
Tom Burke Edina 4:15.44 7AAATT
Andy Richardson Irondale 4:15.80 6AAATT
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 4:16.13 Carleton
Matt Yak Northfield 4:16.85 1AAATT
Hassan Mead Mlps. South 4:17.36 6AAATT
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 4:17.9* STMA
(10)
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 4:18.44 UST Invite
Zach Mellon Buffalo 4:19.05 State TT
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 4:19.41 Lake Conference Relays
Tyler King Lakeville North 4:20.01 1AAATT
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 4:20.02 Hamline Elite
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 4:20.37 Lake Conference
Doug Debold Hopkins 4:20.64 7AAATT
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:21.58 Lake Conference
Harry Backlund Highland Park 4:22.24 ???
TC Lumbar Edina 4:22.52 7AAATT
(20)
Mahad Hassan Willmar 4:22.69 Eden Prairie Booster
Mike Schelendich Mounds View 4:22.88 6AAATT
Matt Volz Lakeville South 4:22.99 1AAATT

3200m
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 9:04.55 Hamline Elite
Hassan Mead Mlps South 9:06.07 Hamline Elite
TC Lumbar Edina 9:06.69 Hamline Elite
Elliot Heath Winona 9:07.94 Hamline Elite
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 9:15.46 Lakeville Invite
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 9:15.85 Carleton
Matt Yak Northfield 9:18.90 1AAATT
Tom Burke Edina 9:22.52 Lakeville Invite
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 9:23.71 2AAATT
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 9:26.36 Lake Conference
(10)
Andrew Quinn BSM 9:26.79 Hamline Elite
Mahad Hassan Willmar 9:29.96 Central Lakes Conf.
Travis Burkstrand Eastview 9:32.53 Lake Conference
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 9:34.31 State TT
Jon Lambert Wayzata 9:39.26 Hamline Elite
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:39.59 EP Booster
Wade Hassel Mounds View 9:41.10 Hamline Elite
Tyler King Lakeville North 9:41.39 Lake Conference

*hand-timed

The Chris Lists: Top High School Boys Times for 800, 1600, 3200 meters

Chris Marshall has updated his high school boys distance performance list after some blistering times from True Team Sections ...

(New marks are in bold.)

800m
David Pachuta Eastview 1:54.54 UST Invite
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 1:54.58 Bob Stewart Invite
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 1:54.80 3AAATT
Mike Shelendich Mounds View 1:55.16 Bob Stewart Invite
Zach Mellon Buffalo 1:55.26 Hamline Elite
Andy Richardson Irondale 1:55.73 6AAATT
Robel Kebede Mlps. South 1:56.41 6AAATT
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 1:57.18 Carleton
Ian Campbell Bloomington Prairie 1:57.26 Hamline Elite
Tyler King Lakeville North 1:57.59 Carleton
(10)
Doug Debold Hopkins 1:57.80 7AAATT
Nick Ramberg North Branch 1:57.82 Hamline Elite
Evan Kearney Mlps. South 1:57.87 6AAATT
Tom Burke Edina 1:57.95 EP Booster
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 1:57.8* Rosemount Tri
Sam Shidla Mound-Westonka 1:57.9* Mound-Westonka
Alex Wrobel Mounds View 1:58.48 Hamline Eilte
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 1:58.3* STMA
Mike Mueller Hopkins 1:58.4 Hopkins Quad

1600m
Elliot Heath Winona 4:10.27 1AAATT
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 4:13.61 1AAATT
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 4:14.73 7AAATT
Tom Burke Edina 4:15.44 7AAATT
Andy Richardson Irondale 4:15.80 6AAATT
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 4:16.13 Carleton
Matt Yak Northfield 4:16.85 1AAATT
Hassan Mead Mlps. South 4:17.36 6AAATT
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 4:17.9* STMA
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 4:18.44 UST Invite
(10)
Zach Mellon Buffalo 4:19.17 8AAATT
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 4:19.41 Lake Conference Relays
Tyler King Lakeville North 4:20.01 1AAATT
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 4:20.02 Hamline Elite
Jordan Carlson Rosemount 4:20.73 3AAATT
Doug Debold Hopkins 4:20.64 7AAATT
Harry Backlund Highland Park 4:22.24 ???
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:22.34 Lake Conf. Relays
TC Lumbar Edina 4:22.52 7AAATT
Mahad Hassan Willmar 4:22.69 Eden Prairie Booster
(20)
Mike Schelendich Mounds View 4:22.88 6AAATT
Matt Volz Lakeville South 4:22.99 1AAATT

3200m
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 9:04.55 Hamline Elite
Hassan Mead Mlps South 9:06.07 Hamline Elite
TC Lumbar Edina 9:06.69 Hamline Elite
Elliot Heath Winona 9:07.94 Hamline Elite
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 9:15.46 Lakeville Invite
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 9:15.85 Carleton
Matt Yak Northfield 9:18.90 1AAATT
Tom Burke Edina 9:22.52 Lakeville Invite
Jon Stublaski Henry Sibley 9:23.71 2AAATT
Andrew Quinn BSM 9:26.79 Hamline Elite
(10)
Jon Lambert Wayzata 9:39.26 Hamline Elite
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:39.59 EP Booster
Wade Hassel Mounds View 9:41.10 Hamline Elite

*hand-timed

The Chris Lists: Top High School Boys Times for 800, 1600, and 3200 Meters

Contributor Chris Marshall has updated his high school boys top-10 lists since the weekend's competition ...

800m
David Pachuta Eastview 1:54.54 UST Invite
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 1:54.58 Bob Stewart Invite
Mike Shelendich Mounds View 1:55.16 Bob Stewart Invite
Zach Mellon Buffalo 1:55.26 Hamline Elite
Andy Richardson Irondale 1:57.16 Hamline Relays
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 1:57.18 Carleton
Ian Campbell Blooming Prairie 1:57.26 Hamline Elite
Tyler King Lakeville North 1:57.59
Nick Ramberg North Branch 1:57.82 Hamline Elite
Tom Burke Edina 1:57.95 EP Booster

1600m
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 4:16.13 Carleton
Elliot Heath Winona 4:16.31 Carleton
Andy Richardson Irondale 4:17.10 Hamline Elite
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 4:17.9 STMA
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 4:18.39 Lake Conference Relays
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 4:18.44 UST Invite
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 4:19.41 Lake Conference Relays
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 4:19.72** Hopkins Quad
John Stublaski Henry Sibley 4:20.02 Hamline Elite
Tyler King Lakeville North 4:20.50 Hamline Elite

3200m
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 9:04.55 Hamline Elite
Hassan Mead Mpls South 9:06.07 Hamline Elite
TC Lumbar Edina 9:06.69 Hamline Elite
Elliot Heath Winona 9:07.94 Hamline Elite
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 9:15.46 Lakeville Invite
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 9:15.85 Carleton
Tom Burke Edina 9:22.52 Lakeville Invite
Andrew Quinn BSM 9:26.79 Hamline Elite
Matt Yak Northfield 9:30.82 Mayo
Jon Lambert Wayzata 9:39.26 Hamline Elite

Lists include marks made through May 5, 2007.
Notes: * = hand-timed ** = likely hand timed.
Amendments appreciated.

107th Carleton Interscholastic Meet Features Five State Titlists

The Boys 1600 meters at the 107th Carleton Interscholastic Meet tomorrow will feature three state champions battling for a win at the oldest track meet in the state.

2005 MSHSL Class AA cross country and 2006 3200 meter champion Elliott Heath of Winona will battle 2006 Class AA harrier champ Hassan Mead of Minneapolis South and 2006 Class AA 800 meter champ Isaac Veldkamp of Eden Prairie at Laird Stadium in Northfield.

The historic meet also features 2006 Class AA 1600 m champ Ben Blankenship of Stillwater, the defending champ in that event at Interscholastic, looking to better his early-season 9:15 clocking in the 3200m. Rob Finnerty, the 2005 Class AA 3200m champ and the winner of that event at the Hamline Elite-Meet a week, ago will race 800m.

The meet features four boys teams that finished in the top-10 at the State Meet last year, including runners-up Robbinsdale Armstrong. In girls competition, State runners-up Lakeville North headline the meet. Top female individuals include Bloomington Kennedy distance runner Danielle Berndt, Winona thrower Chari Lehnertz, and Chaska pole vaulter Lauren Stelten.

The Carleton Interscholastic Meet began in the 1800s and survived a hiatus in the late 1970s to last for more than a century.

Also ... Chris Marshall, a good friend of Down the Backstretch, has compiled what he thinks are the most complete performance lists for the boys 800m, 1600m, and 3200m events in the state. Heading into this weekend's action, the top-10 times in those events are:

800m
David Pachuta Eastview 1:54.54 UST Invite
Mike Shelendich Mounds View 1:55.16 Bob Stewart Invite
Zach Mellon Buffalo 1:55.26 Hamline Elite
Ian Campbell Bloomington Prairie 1:57.26 Hamline Elite
Nick Ramberg North Branch 1:57.82 Hamline Elite
Tom Burke Edina 1:57.95 EP Booster
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 1:57.8* Rosemount Tri
Sam Shidla Mound-Westonka 1:57.9 Mound-Westonka
Alex Wrobel Mounds View 1:58.48 Hamline Eilte
Mike Mueller Hopkins 1:58.4 Hopkins Quad

1600m
Andy Richardson Irondale 4:17.10 Hamline Elite
Ryan Little Eden Prairie 4:18.39 Lake Conference Relays
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 4:18.44 UST Invite
Mike Hutton Apple Valley 4:19.41 Lake Conference Relays
Paul Hilsen Lakeville South 4:19.72** Hopkins Quad
John Stublaski Henry Sibley 4:20.02 Hamline Elite
Elliot Heath Winona 4:20.53 Lakeville Invite
Tyler King Lakeville North 4:20.50 Hamline Elite
Harry Backlund Highland Park 4:22.24
Jackson Wiley Eden Prairie 4:22.34 Lake Conf. Relays

3200m
Rob Finnerty Burnsville 9:04.55 Hamline Elite
Hassan Mead Mlps South 9:06.07 Hamline Elite
TC Lumbar Edina 9:06.69 Hamline Elite
Elliot Heath Winona 9:07.94 Hamline Elite
Ben Blankenship Stillwater 9:15.46 Lakeville Invite
Tom Burke Edina 9:22.52 Lakeville Invite
Andrew Quinn BSM 9:26.79 Hamline Elite
Jon Lambert Wayzata 9:39.26 Hamline Elite
Kaafi Adeys Willmar 9:39.59 EP Booster
Matt Yak Northfield 9:39.59 Lakeville Invite

(Notes: * = hand-timed ** = likely hand timed)

And another thing ... We hope to have links up on Saturday evening to video from the Carleton Interscholastic. Check DtB after 7:00 p.m. on Saturday for video clips of the state champs in action!

Finally ... In case you missed them, there's a Star-Tribune feature on Tommy McNamara HERE and a Pioneer Press story about Sade Pollard HERE. If, somehow, you missed out on the Hamline Elite-Meet, there's a Star-Tribune wrap-up of it HERE.

(Full disclosure: I'm an assistant track coach at Carleton College.)