Wolves advance large group to section meet
Posted 5/30/02

Milaca faced a busy day at the Section 5A Boys and Girls Track and Field Meet after enjoying an impressive performance at the Section 5A District 18 Boys and Girls Meet Thursday, May 23, at Milaca.

The Wolves qualified participants in six events for the boys division at the section meet while qualifying in seven events for the girls division. The Section 5A meet was scheduled Wednesday (May 29) at St. Johnís University.

The top two placers in the individual events at the section meet advance to the state meet along with the first place teams in the relay events. Individuals and relay teams can also qualify for the state meet by posting state standard times.

The weather for the District 18 meet was cold and windy.

The top four individual placers and top two relay teams at the district meet earned berths to the section meet.

Senior sprinter Craig Kotsmith led Milacaís boys as he won the 100-meter dash, the 200 and the 400.

Kotsmith won the 100 in 11.81 seconds while Todd Novak of Foley was second in 12:10.

Kotsmith prevailed in the 200 with a time of 23.86. Matt Eickhoff of St. Cloud Cathedral placed second in 24.19.

Kotsmith won the 400 in 50.08, his best time of the season. Eickhoff was second in 52.91.

Last year, Kotsmith advanced to the state meet in the 200 and 400.

The Wolves other boys section qualifiers included:

ïSenior Ryan Richter, who placed third in the 800-meter run behind a strong finish. He posted a time of 2:12.89, his best time of the season. Nick Salay of Cathedral won the 800 in 2:01.78.

ïSenior Anthony Peterson, who finished fourth in the 1600 run in 5:08.07. Zach Solinger of Pierz won the 1600 in 4:35.52.

ïSophomore Paul Bauerly, who placed fourth in the pole vault with a height of 8-feet, 6-inches.

Cathedral won the boys title with 177 points while Becker was second at 106.50 and Pierz was third at 98. Rockford was fourth at 92.5, followed by Foley in fifth place at 82.5, Milaca in sixth place at 64 and Royalton in seventh place with 45.5 points.

Junior Casey Carlson led Milacaís girls at the District 18 meet as she advanced to the section meet in three individual events and one relay.

Carlson placed second in the 100, 200 and triple jump and was a member of the Wolvesí first place 4x200 relay team.

Carlsonís time in the 100 was 13.70. Kristen Olson of Becker was first in 13.57.

Olson won the 200 in 27.70, with Carlson placing second in 27.96 and Milaca sophomore Janelle Packard also gaining a section berth with a third-place finish in 28.41.

Carlson was second in the triple jump with a jump of 32-3.5. Jill Sotendahl of Becker placed first with a jump of 32-6.5.

Milaca junior Jessi Struffert won the 400 in 59.56, her best time of the year. Milaca sophomore Amberly Hirsch also gained a section berth by placing fourth in 1:04.37.

Senior Kristine Norberg of Milaca won the pole vault with a height of 8-6. Emily Coborn of Cathedral placed second, also at 8-6.

Hirsch, Struffert, Packard and Carlson teamed up to give Milaca first place in the 4x200 relay with a time of 1:49.43, two seconds faster than the unitís best previous time this season. Cathedral was second in 1:50.90.

Junior Chrissy Dee, Hirsch, Packard and Struffert combined to win the 4x400 relay in 4:13.32, their best time of the season. Cathedral placed second in 4:14.43.

Hirsch also qualified for the section meet in the long jump as she finished fourth with a jump of 14-3.75. Abby Lien of Cathedral was first at 15-0.25.

Cathedral won the girls team title with 203.33 points. Becker was second at 145 while Milaca, the defending district champion, was third at 110. Pierz placed fourth at 85.33, followed by Foley at 66.33, Rockford with 44 points and Royalton at 22.

The Class A State Track and Field Meet is Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, at the National Sports Center in Blaine.