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  • New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva's Carlie Wagner clears the bar during the girls high jump finals at the State Class A track and field meet Friday in St. Paul. Wagner won the event. Pat Christman

    State track g high jump6-9.jpg

  • St. Clair's Ashley Thooft throws the discus during the State Class A track and field meet Friday. Pat Christman

    State track discus6-9.jpg

June 9, 2012

NRHEG’s Wagner wins Class A high jump

By Jim Rueda Free Press Sports Editor

ST. PAUL — Before and after the high school track season, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva sophomore Carlie Wagner doesn’t have time to practice.

The standout basketball player is too busy honing her skills on the hardcourt to worry about technique in field events or getting a good start out of the blocks. But without much practice, Wagner is as good as they come in the high jump.

After placing fifth a year ago, Wagner reached 5-feet-6 on Friday to win the Class A high jump championship at Hamline University. It was a personal best for Wagner.

“I went 5-6 earlier so I was hoping to get back there today,” she said. “I missed once at 5-2 and then again at 5-7, but otherwise I hit all of them. It feels pretty good.”

Wagner was bolstered by a boisterous cheering section that voiced its approval at every jump.

“Yeah, they’re pretty loud,” she said with a laugh. “That’s mostly my family. They support me in everything I do.”

The high jump turned out to be a pretty good event for a number of area athletes. Belle Plaine’s Clair Stier finished tied for fourth (5-3) while St. Peter’s Sidney Dirks and Kaitlim Kamm both tied for seventh at 5-2. All four jumpers earn all-state honors.

St. Clair’s Ashley Thooft just missed winning another championship Friday, placing second in the discus with a throw of 138-11. Fulda’s Sylvia Zanini won on her final throw of the final round with a toss of 141-01. Thooft will get another shot at a title today when she competes in the shot put.

United South Central’s Emily Mantor turned in a fifth-place performance in the 3,200-meter run. She clocked an 11.25.65 to join Thooft as an all-state performer.

Blue Earth Area’s 4x400-meter relay team turned in the top qualifying time as Taylor Grandgenett, Anne Franta, Karli Olsen and Krista Hassing recorded a 4:02.38. St. Peter’s quartet of Katherine Schilling, Marta Springer, Dirks and Logan Retzlaff also qualified at 4:05.38.

BEA’s Marissia Hagedorn is second after the 100-meter hurdles prelims at 15.46. St. Peter’s Kamm is fifth (15.61).

Hagedorn is also fourth after the 300 hurdles prelims at 46.73. St. Peter’s Retzlaff also reached the finals of the same event at 47.40.

Belle Plaine’s Jenna Gatz turned in the fourth fastest qualifying time in the 400 meters at 58.93. Belle Plaine’s 4x200-meter and 4x100-meter relay teams also reached the finals.

BEA’s Hassing qualified for the 800 meter finals with a time of 2:22.09, while Le Sueur-Henderson’s McKayla Stowell reached the finals in two events: 100-meter (12.55) and 200-meter (26.13).

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