Three-class Track and Field State Meet debuts this week
Posted: Wednesday, June 8, 2022 - 9:14 AM
The Minnesota State High School League’s Track and Field State Meet take on a new look this week with the debut of a third enrollment class. The three-day event begins on Thursday, June 9 at St. Michael-Albertville High School and concludes on Saturday, June 11.
This is the first format change to the League’s Track and Field State Meet since 1976. The Girls Track and Field State Meet debuted in 1972 and was the League’s first state-level event for girls. Title IX legislation was signed into federal law on June 23, 1972, but the Minnesota State High School League had already adopted a plan to implement girls athletics’ programming.
Girls Track and Field was a single-class tournament from 1972 through 1975. In 1976, a two-class system was implemented and that was used through last season. On the boys’ side, a Track and Field State Meet has been held since 1923. It was a two-class event until 1929, when it became a single-class format. From 1929-72, one boys’ champion was crowned. In 1973, a two-class system was restored.
Member schools in the Class AAA field open the meet on Thursday at 9 a.m.
Several champions return to defend championships won in 2021. Pine Island senior Jarod White is looking for his second consecutive Class A crown in the pole vault. He set a state meet record at 15 feet, 9 inches in 2021 and qualified this season with a state-record vault of 16-2.
Concordia Academy senior Shaina Zinter returns with repeat hopes in Class A. She won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles in 2021 and holds the best qualifying time in each race this season. She comes in with a qualifying time of 14.70 seconds in the 100, and 42.38 in the 300.
Duluth Denfeld senior Blake Eaton is seeking his third consecutive title in the 100- and 200-meter wheelchair events. Eaton, who moves to the Class AA this season, also has the fastest qualifying times in both races. He posted a 19.68 in the 100, and a 35.62 in the 200.
Edina senior Maddie Dahlien, a triple-crown winner in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races in 2021, is back in all three events. Jordyn Borsch, a junior from Maple Grove, holds the best qualifying time in all three of those races. Her qualifying times are 12.02 (100), 55.95 (200) and 24.32 (400).
Complete information and results can be found on the boys and girls track activity pages.
Boys: https://www.mshsl.org/sports-and-activities/track-and-field-boys
Girls: https://www.mshsl.org/sports-and-activities/track-and-field-girls
