International Falls sent only three athletes to last season’s Class A state championships, and two have graduated.
Eric Solo (discus) and Raph Gelo (pole vault), who both capped solid track and field careers with state tournament berths last year, have moved on to Bemidji State University, while the lone returning state qualifier, Alicia Hendrickson, is looking for a return trip in the pole vault.
Today’s Section 7A meet begins at 10 a.m. at the University of Minnesota Duluth. The top relay in each event and top two individual finishers in each event qualify for state.
Hendrickson enters the girl’s meet coming off a first-place finish a week ago Wednesday in the Subsection 7A meet. She’s the favorite in the event and could be joined by teammate Becky Hummel, if the senior continues her late-season surge. Hummel finished second at subsections at 7 feet, 6 inches, while Hendrickson cleared 9 feet.
Other potential Bronco girls who could continue their season are Steph Christianson, Amber Harms, Courtney Olson, Helen Sobczynski, Rachel Foss and Katie Solo. Christianson and Harms finished 1-2 in the 1,600-meter run at subsections, while Olson finished fourth in the 100. Sobczynski was third in the 100 hurdles, Foss was third in the 1,600 and Solo finished fifth in the discus. However, Solo’s season-best throw is nearly 20 feet further than the 89-10 she tossed at subsections.
On the boy’s side, Jake Jensen has thrived in the pole vault this season and still hasn’t lost in the event in any outdoor competition. He’s the heavy favorite to advance to state. He would give the Broncos another solid pole vaulter on the heels of Rhegy and Raph Gelo. Jensen also has an outside shot at qualifying in the 100, 200 and 4x100, as well. The sophomore finished fourth in the 100 and third in the 200 at subsections. He also opened the 4x100 relay that finished second with Adam Davies, Brandon Richards and Tim Myles.
Every Bronco relay has a good shot at state following strong finishes at subsections. The 4x800 with Anthony Youso, John Sobczynski, Alex Marx and Thomas Briggs finished first, the 4x200 finished second with Richards, Davies, Reggie Gorden and Myles and the 4x400 with Briggs, Davies, Alex Marx and Youso finished second.
Myles will look to qualify individually in the high jump after finishing first at subsections at 6-0. Teammate Shawn Filipiak finished right behind Myles in the high jump at 5-10.
Also looking to make state individually are Richards, who finished fourth in the shot put at subsections, and Briggs, who finished fourth in the 400.
The state championships are June 5-6 at Hamline University in St. Paul.
