The Minnewaska Area track and field teams continue to excel each spring, placing among the top teams in the area during team events while also sending numerous individuals to the state meet where the Lakers bring home plenty of hardware.

This year, the hardware was very special as Owen Meulebroeck and Jayda Kolstoe earned gold medals at the state meet with Meulebroeck placing first in the 300 meter hurdles and Kolstoe winning the shot put.

Kolstoe, a sophomore, threw the shot put 43-9 1/4 to beat the second-place competitor by almost three feet.  That also broke her old school record of 39-7 1/2.  Kolstoe had four of her six throws at state go over 40 feet, including the state-winning throw on her second attempt of the day.

Meulebroeck only took up track two years ago, but ran a time of 39.86 at the state meet in the 300 hurdles to earn first by .12 and also set a new MAHS school record in the process, breaking Paul Suckstorff’s old record of 40.05 set in 2003.

Those were the third and fourth state track gold medals won by Minnewaska Area athletes since 1991-92.  Peyton Johnsrud won the state high jump in 2021 while Metaya Jergenson earned first in the discus the same year. 

Yes, it was another double-gold day for the Lakers in 2021.

Minnewaska Area also set a number of school records this season including Meulebroeck’s 39.86 in the 300 hurdles, Kolstoe’s 43-9 1/4 shot put heave at state and the 800 meter relay record of 1:31.21 set by Kaiden Harvey, Meulebroeck, Carter Meyer and Maeson Tank during the section meet.

“I felt our season went very well,” said girls coach Jennifer Johnsrud.  “Anytime you are able to get athletes to the state meet it is a win for the team.  Unfortunately, Thursday (prelim day) was incredible windy and I felt this really impacted some performances.

“Friday was nearly perfect conditions and our kids really stepped up and competed, including several personal records by Jayda in the shot put and the girls 3200 meter relay.”

In addition, the 800 meter relay team of Meulebroeck, Maeson Tank, Carter Meyer and Kaiden Harvey placed fifth at the state meet with a time of 1:31.43, while Tank also placed ninth in the 400 meter dash with a time of 51.04 and the girls 3200 meter relay team of Olivia Danielson, Alia Randt, Ella Larson and Lauryn Ankeny earned seventh with a time of 9:48.81.

Cotter won the Class A girls team title by one point over EVW-Kimball and Bagley-Fosston, while Caledonia dominated the boys Class A meet, winning with 67 points, while Cotter was second with 39 and HLWW third with 38.5.

Also competing at state but failing to reach the finals were Asante Adams in the 200 meter dash, the 1600 meter relay team of Harvey, Meulebroeck, Tank and Jayce Kovarik, the 400 meter relay team of Meyer, Harvey, Caden Christensen and Adams, Lauryn Ankeny in the 300 meter hurdles and the 1600 meter girls relay team of Ankeny, Ella Larson, Alia Randt and Aubrey Polzin.

•  The girls track team won the section true-team title this year and went on to place seventh of 12 teams at the State True-Team Meet.

The girls placed first at eight meets this season and second at another three meets.  The boys team meanwhile, was first at the 8-team Minnewaska Area Invitational and sub-section meet and second at five other competitions.

•  The Lakers recently held their season-ending banquet where the team announced the season-ending team awards.  Pictures of the award winners can found on page 1B and 3B.

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!