The Becker girls track team competed Tuesday at the True Team Section in Rocori.
This is the meet that is a true test of the team and not individuals. For this meet, each team is allowed two entries per event and one relay and each person scores.
Becker finished second.
The first place team qualifies for the State True Team Tournament, May 20. The second place team is qualified for a wild card paper meet, which is held this coming Saturday and the winner of that goes on to state with the section champions.
“I am so very proud of our girls for placing second in this meet!” said Head Coach Trish Reimer-Kealy. “We did not expect to place this high and it is a testament to the effort and persistence these girls showed.”
First place went to Rocori with 660 points. followed by Becker with 512.5, Princeton 487.5, Eden Valley Watkins/Kimball 471.5, Foley 452.5, Sartell St Stephen 451.5, Big Lake 381.5, St Cloud Cathedral 289, Milaca 270.5 and Zimmerman 255.5.
“Our girls really stepped up their performances Tuesday with 10 personal records and three season bests in the relays,” said Reimer-Kealy. “Even though we did not have any first place finishes, we had many fine performances and showed depth in almost each event.”
The Lady Bulldogs started off the running events with a great performance in the 4x800M relay, run by Alayna Lindquist, Julia Bengtson, Alli Hendrickson and Lexi Dehmer. They finished second.
The girls ran a season best time of 9:48.94, which drops almost 24 seconds off their previous season best time. This mark also puts the girls on the MSHSCA honor roll.
The 4x200M squad came in fourth at 1:53.99. The runners were, Cassidy Pleoger, Kayden Westin, Jayna Adu-Gyanfi and Makenna Noaiell.
The 4x100M team of Haley Hubbard, Adu-Gyanfi, Keeley Holm and C.Pleoger placed fourth with a season best time of 53.72.
The 4x400M team of Bengtson, Noaiell, Westin and Dehmer, had a gutsy performance, running a season best time of 4:22.61 for fourth.
“Overall, the hand-offs in the relays improved at this meet and each runner did a great job,” said the head coach.
Becker had several girls finish in second place for their events, including Dehmer in the 1600M. She ran 5:23.93 and in the same race, Jackie Yoerg was ninth in a PR time of 5:51.61.
Madi Kerzman placed second in the shot put and the discus. Her mark in the shot was 33'1/2 and McKenna Edling placed sixth in the same event with a PR of 30'9. In the discus, Kerzman threw a PR of 111'9 inches for a mark that put her on the MSHSCA honor roll.
Placing third and running a very good race in the 800M was Bengtson with a PR time of 2:25.07. Also in the 800M, Lindquist came in sixth (2:37.16).
Victoria Kolbinger placed third in the 3200M with a time of 11:42.05 and Alli Hendrickson sixth (12:09.6).
“Our distance girls had some excellent competition and all competed well,” said Reimer-Kealy. “This will help them in the upcoming conference and section meets.”
Becker’s sprinters earned good points in their events as well. In the 100 meters, Cassidy Pleoger finished in fifth (13.51) and Keeley Holm ninth (13.66 PR). In the 200 meters, Holm took seventh (28.56) and Adu-Gyanfi eighth (28.73). In the 400 meters, Amelia Kirchner took 12th (67.35 PR) and Noaiell finished in a time of 67.43 for a personal record.
Miranda O'Brien was sixth in the 100M hurdles (17.37 PR). Aubree Lahr was eighth (17.66). O’Brien and Lahr ran the 300M hurdles with Lahr in 10th (52.68) and O'Brien 11th (53.24).
The long jump saw a PR jump from Cienna Pleoger of 14'10 and O'Brien was just behind her with 14'5 1/4.
Triple jump saw very good efforts from Lahr (34'1 1/2) and Hubbard (31'10).
In high jump, Hendrickson and Hubbard soared to 4'6 while the pole vault saw Lahr peak at 7'6 and Kassidy Severson at 7'.
“It was an exciting night and we were very happy with our team standings and all the efforts by our kids,” said Reimer-Kealy.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will be defending their conference title at the Granite Ridge Conference meet Tuesday at Albany.
