Ben Blankenship and Sean Donnley are Among the 45 Elite Athletes Receiving USATF Foundation Development grants for 2018

Ben Blankenship and Sean Donnley are among the 45  Elite Athletes Receiving  Development grants for 2018

The full list for the second round of 2018 grants HERE.

Minnesota medallists at the USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Minnesota medallists at the USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic Outdoor Track & Field Championships:

Joe Fahnbulleh (Park Flyers) 200m (17-18M) - 1st Place

Anna Lervick (Park Flyers) HJ (13-14G) - 2nd Place

Ava Hill (Unattached) 800 (15-16G) - 2nd Place

Joe Fahnbulleh (Park Flyers) 100 (17-18M) - 3rd Place

Noah Cvetnic (Park Flyers) HJ (17-18M) - 7th Place

Demetrius Marshall (Eagles Wings) LJ (15-16B) - 8th Place

Results results, photos, video HERE

Torchlight 5K Results

 
Torchlight 5K Results HERE

USATF Minnesota Summer League #3 Results

USATF Minnesota Summer League #3 Results HERE

Kendra Kelly and Shaliciah Jones Take the Top Spots in the Class AA 100 and 200

Photos by Gene Niemi

Shaliciah Jones(7)(12.07) and Kendra Kelly(5)(12.30) finish 1-2 in the
Girl's Class AA 100

Kelly(5)(24.60) and Jones(4) 24.74) finish 1-2 in the 200

Annandale Frosh Nyalaam Jok Ties Class A Record in the High Jump

                                    Photo by Gene Niemi

Annandale Frosh Nyalaam 
Jok  tied the Class A record in the high jump clearing 5' 9".
She was also 2nd in the long jump leaping 17' 4.25"

Ava Hill is Undefeated in the MSHSL Class A 800

                                  Photo by Gene Niemi

Mesabi Easts' Soph Ava Hill  Wins the Class A 800
She also anchored the team's  to  runner-up finishes  in the 4 by 200 and 400 Relays
The 800 win was her second title in that event. Hill is also an accomplished athlete in basketball.

The Ping Sisters Dominate the Class A Distance Races

                                                 Photos by Gene Niemi

Grace Ping Wins the Class A 1600.  The Ping's near sweep of the first two places in the 3200
and 1600 produced enough points to put Winona Cotter in second in
the team scoring for Girls' Class A.  

                                    Lauren Ping on the outside.  Grace Ping (1) on the inside
                                                  with two laps to go in the 3200

Lauren kept her lead to win while Grace was passed  by Defending champion in the 3200, Tierney Wolfgram, who finish second. Lauren was asked after the race if the sisters had meant to
run side by side and set the pace, "No,"she said,   the sisters each  ran as fast as they could.
          Grace said that her season was interrupted by injuries. An injury hampered her at the State Cross County championships. A hip injury caused her to alter her stride that resulted in more injuries.  She got in enough training to be able to win the 1600.  Grace's past accomplishments resulted in a group of high school boys approached her at the  Hamline Elite Meet and asked if she'd pose with the boys for a photograph.  "Sure," Grace said.

The Boy's 4 by 400 Relay Had Plenty of Drama

                                   Photos by Gene Niemi

Mounds View's Mica Smith(3)  holds off Edina's Maxwell Manley(4) 
and  East Ridge's Isaiah Rineheart(5)   to win the AA  4 by 400 relay.
Mica's twin brother Joel won the 300 Hurdles and was 8th in the 110 hurdles.
Manley finished second to Wayzata's Kahlid Hussein in both the 3200 and 1600.  Each time it was a battle down the homestretch with Hussein. Manley said that the duo had raced 4 or 5 times during the season with the same result, Hussein first and Manley second. 
In the 4 by 400 relay, however, Manley ran the anchor leg and got the baton well in front of Hussein.  Manley helped the Edina team finish in second place.  Wayzata with Hussein, also on the anchor leg, completed the team's 8th place finish.

T'Nia Riley doubles in the Class A sprints, breaks Heather Van Norman's 1987 record in the 200

                                 Photo by Gene Niemi

T'Nia Riley on her way to the Class A Girl's 200 record(24.44)
Riley also won the 100(11.96)

Minnesota Daily Article on Gopher NCAA 3K Steeplechase Winner, Obsa Ali

Minnesota Daily Article on Gopher NCAA 3K Steeplechase Winner, Obsa Ali HERE

Who says that running is not a contact sport?

                                  Photo by Gene Niemi

A collision  in the girls' Class AA 4 by 400 relay
was reviewed by race officials who concluded  that both athletes
 simultaneously ran toward each other and
neither was solely responsible for the collision and fall.

Southwest Christian men's team sets new record for the Class A 4 by 100 relay

                                 Photo by Gene Niemi

Zachary Ertel(5) anchors Southwest Christian's record setting
4 by 100 relay in a battle with St. Croix Lutheran, anchored by
Garett Maag(4). Southwest Christian finished in 42.88 to break
Hermantown's record of 42.98 set in 2004.  St. Croix Lutheran's team
finished in 43.08

Women's course record for Kellyn Taylor and the fourth straight men's race win for Elisha Barno

Grandma's Marathon Results HERE
Kellyn Taylor runs a new record for women of 2:24:28. Defending men's champ Elisha Barno wins a record fourth men's title(2:10:06)

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon Results

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon Results HERE

William A. Irvin 5K Results

William A. Irvin 5K Results HERE

The Class AA high jump Girls are so happy they could eat their medals.

                                   Photo by Gene Niemi                 

The Class AA high jump Girls are so happy they could eat their medals.
From L to R: Mounds View's Julia Fixen(5'7"), 3rd; Blaine's Madison Schmidt(5'8"); and
Madison  Johnson(5'8") 2nd.  Schmidt won on fewer misses.
Fixen also won the pole vault clearing 13' 9.25". As the weather deteriorated she took a couple
of attempts at 14' 9" She said that she was confident she could clear that height, but the rain
that came during a "time out" due to lightening made taking the last attempt she had too
dangerous despite attempts to get rid of the water on the vault runway.   Fixen hopes that the weather is better this weekend so she can make another
attempt at that height.

Maxwell Otterdahl Wins Shot Put Despite injury

                                Photo by Gene Niemi

               Maxwell Otterdahl had to overcome a leg injury in his quest to follow the family
               tradition of success in the throws.  In order to do that he changed his technique because
            using the spin, rather than the glide put less pressure on his damaged muscle. The change
         worked in the shot put as Otterdahl won that event(58' 7.25"), but he wasn't able to fully overcome that issue in the discus in a  wet circle and sometime slippery disc to finish 7th(151' 6")

Reid Pierzinski Runs Away from the Rest

                                                           Photos by Gene Niemi

Fly through the air with the greatest of ease...

 The daring young man named Reid Pierzinski


Pequot Lakes' Reid Pierzinski wins a treble: 110 high hurdles(14.84),
300 Intermediate hurdles(38.48), and 200 meter sprint(22.33)

Miles Lists MINNESOTA BOY'S ALL-TIME 4 by 200 Relay

1:26.91    Eagan  2015  (J. Brown, J. Williams, T. Brown, S. Zenner)

1:26.92    Wayzata  2013 (M. Smith, J. Borchardt, J. Smith, C. Pierson)

1:27.06    Wayzata  2014

1:27.17    East Ridge  2017

1:27.23    North St. Paul  2012

1:27.52    North St. Paul  2015

1:27.63    White Bear Lake Area  2010

1:27.73    Mankato East  2004

1:27.77    Mounds View  2007

1:27.86    Lakeville  2005

(10)

1:27.87    Hopkins  2017

1:27.89    Woodbury  2015

1:27.91    Park Center  2014

1:27.98    Wayzata  2012

1:27.99    Shakopee  2016

1:28.04    Mankato East  2017

1:28.07    Mankato East  2016

1:28.13    Osseo  2014

1:27.9      Moorhead  1972  (1:28.4y)

1:28.19    Monticello  2016

(20)

1:28.23    Hopkins  2001

1:28.0      St Louis Park  1970  (1:28.5y)

1:28.24    Apple Valley  2012

1:28.29    White Bear Lake  2011

1:28.35    Eastview  2002

1:28.36    Robbinsdale Armstrong  2006

1:28.39    Hopkins  2010

1:28.42    Hopkins  2007

1:28.42    Hopkins  2012

1:28.44    Maple Grove  2015

(30)

1:28.46    Hopkins  2008

1:28.46    Wayzata  2016

1:28.46    Monticello  2017

1:28.48    Stillwater Area  2011

1:28.50    Hopkins  2011

1:28.52    Eden Prairie  2010

1:28.3      Moorhead  1969  (1:28.8y)

1:28.3      Edina  1970  (1:28.8y)

1:28.54    North St. Paul  2011

1:28.54    Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony

(40)

1:28.56    Woodbury  2013

1:28.57    Rosemount  2009

1:28.57    East Ridge  2016

1:28.61    Blaine  2011

1:28.61    Champlin Park  2014

1:28.62    Mounds View  2000

1:28.65    North St Paul  2000

1:28.66    Bloomington Jefferson  1999

1:28.67    Osseo  2013

1:28.67    Blaine  2013

(50)

1:28.67    Burnsville  2016

1:28.67    Champlin Park  2016

1:28.70    North St. Paul  2005

1:28.73    Stillwater Area  2000

1:28.74    Park-Cottage Grove  2004

1:28.5      Mpls North  1965  (1:29.0y)

1:28.5      Moorhead  1968  (1:29.0y)

1:28.78    Minnetonka  2012

1:28.79    White Bear Lake  2009

1:28.80    Robbinsdale Armstrong  2016

(60)

1:28.81    Roseville Area  2005

1:28.81    Totino Grace  2011

1:28.6      Mpls North  1966  (1:29.1y)

1:28.6      Moorhead  1967  (1:29.1y)

1:28.84    Farmington  2015

1:28.90    Robbinsdale Cooper  2006

1:28.90    Buffalo  2013

1:28.91    Park  2010

1:28.93    Minnetonka  1977  (1:29.44y)

1:28.93    Hermantown  2004

(70)

1:28.7      Moorhead  1966  (1:29.2y)

1:28.7      Mpls Central  1968  (1:29.2y)

1:28.7      Rochester Mayo  1969  (1:29.2y)

1:28.94    Irondale  2007

1:28.94    Robbinsdale Armstrong  2007

1:28.95    Eastview  2014

1:28.98    St. Louis Park  2002

1:28.98    Wayzata  2011

1:29.00    White Bear Lake  2012

1:29.01    Burnsville  2015

1:28.8      Edina  1969  (1:29.3y)

(80)

1:28.8      Moorhead  1970  (1:29.3y)

1:29.04    Wayzata  2015

1:29.07    Eagan  2014

1:29.09    Rocori  2017

1:29.10    Buffalo  2009

1:29.10    Totino Grace  2009

1:29.10    Minnetonka  2013

1:29.11    Lakeville South  2017

1:29.12    Robbinsdale Armstrong  2001

1:29.12    Glencoe-Silver Lake  2008

(90)

1:28.9      Robbinsdale Armstrong  1977  (1:29.4y)

1:29.14    Brainerd  2000

1:29.16    Andover  2013

1:29.17    Anoka  2008

1:29.17    Apple Valley  2014

1:29.17    Stillwater Area  2017

1:29.18    Roseville Area  2002

1:29.20    Roseville Area  2013

1:29.21    Irondale  2016

1:29.23    Forest Lake  2010

(100)

1:29.23    Blaine  2015

1:29.0      Mpls Central  1972  (1:29.5y)

1:29.0      Moorhead  1973  (1:29.5y)

1:29.24    Osseo  2007

1:29.25    Rocori  2000

1:29.25    Anoka  2009

1:29.26    Hopkins  2009

1:29.26    Apple Valley  2011

1:29.27    Champlin Park  2015

1:29.28    Woodbury  2004

(110)

1:29.32    Forest Lake  2012

1:29.33    Chisago Lakes Area  2017

1:29.1      Richfield  1971  (1:29.6y)

1:29.35    Cambridge-Isanti  2017

1:29.37    Park Center  2000

1:29.37    De La Salle  2004

1:29.39    St. Louis Park  2001

1:29.39    Mpls Washburn  2005

1:29.40    Anoka  2006

1:29.41    Mounds View  2001

(120)

1:29.42    Mankato West  2008

1:29.42    Austin  2010

1:29.42    Hopkins  2015

1:29.2      Mpls Washburn  1972  (1:29.7y)

1:29.2      Edina East  1974  (1:29.7y)

1:29.44    Woodbury  2005

1:29.44    White Bear Lake Area  2014

1:29.44    Forest Lake Area  2015

1:29.45    Woodbury  2008

(130)

1:29.46    Anoka  2012

1:29.46    Winona  2013

1:29.47    Hopkins  2014

1:29.49    Mounds View  2014

1:29.50    Rocori  2001

1:29.51    Brainerd  2009

1:29.53    Prior Lake  2017

1:29.54    Eagan  2000

1:29.55    Champlin Park  2008

1:29.55    Willmar  2016

(140)

1:29.57    Rosemount  2008

1:29.58    Lakeville  2003

1:29.59    Farmington  2007

1:29.59    Farmington  2009

1:29.59    Chaska  2016

1:29.59    Saint Michael-Albertville  2017

1:29.60    Rochester Century  2015

1:29.62    Annandale  2005

1:29.62    Eagan  2006

1:29.62    Mounds View  2006

(150)

1:29.63    Mankato East  2007

1:29.63    Andover  2014

1:29.4      Mankato  1967  (1:29.9y)

1:29.4      Robbinsdale  1968  (1:29.9y)

1:29.4      Mpls North  1974  (1:29.9y)

1:29.4      Mounds View  1975  (1:29.9y)

1:29.4      Hopkins Lindbergh  1977  (1:29.9y)

1:29.65    White Bear Lake  1998

1:29.65    Mounds View  1999

1:29.65    Mounds View  2016

(160)

1:29.67    Wayzata  2002

1:29.68    North St. Paul  2013

1:29.69    Chanhassen  2017

1:29.72    St Paul Johnson  2007

1:29.72    Eagan  2009

1:29.72    Prior Lake  2016

1:29.73    Stillwater Area  2010

1:29.5      St Louis Park  1966  (1:30.0y)

1:29.5      White Bear Lake 1974  (1:30.0y)

1:29.5      Austin  1975  (1:30.0y)

(170)

1:29.5      Bloom Jefferson  1977  (1:30.0y)

1:29.5      Burnsville  1977  (1:30.0y)

1:29.76    Saint Francis  2014

1:29.77    Rochester Lourdes  2014

1:29.78    Burnsville  2010

1:29.78    Caledonia / Spring Grove / MC  2011

1:29.80    Tartan  2007

1:29.80    Osseo  2008

1:29.81    Blaine  2004

(179)