BLAINE -- Evan Sorenson rocked the boat and was happy to do it.

Sorenson, an Austin High School junior, overcame his No. 8 seeding in the 110-meter high hurdle finals of Saturday's Class AA State Track and Field Meet by placing sixth for his second and best of three All-State finishes.

"I hit the first two hurdles, that slowed me down," Sorenson said. "I was just happy to make it to the finals, and after being seeded eighth I know I shocked some people."

Sorenson placed in a tie for ninth in Friday's pole vault competition, scored sixth in the 110-highs and eighth in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles to complete one phase of his career. He has more in store for his senior season.

"I'm happy I made All-State in all three events," Sorenson said. "All of my goals are being set this year. Next year I want a championship, I don't know which event, but I've just got to keep improving."

Sorenson accomplished one goal at a time on Friday by placing in the top nine (All-State) in the pole vault and qualifying for the finals of both hurdles races. He cleared the first two heights on his first attempts, going up to 13-feet, 6-inches before having to leave the indoor arena at the National Sports Center for his 110-meter hurdles preliminaries.

Sorenson returned to the pole vault pit with the leaders having upped the bar to 14-0, a height Sorenson has never cleared. He came close on his final two attempts, clipping the bar with his forearm on the second and his calf on the third.

"I would have liked to have gone 13-9, that would have bumped me up at least a couple places," Sorenson said. "The prelims kind of took me out of my groove with the vault, but I can't complain too much."

He went on to qualify for both hurdle races as a part of the top nine, seeded eighth in the 110-highs and ninth in the 300 hurdles. In Saturday's finals, Sorenson moved up the charts in each by placing sixth and eighth respectively.

"You've got to bring your 'A' game to state, that's for sure," Sorenson said.

He clocked in at 15.11 in the 110-highs, shy of his chase of the AHS school record (14.74). Sorenson timed in at 40.03 in the 300, finishing ahead of only one runner. Lawrence Lipsey, the defending champion from Bloomington Kennedy, fell over the fourth hurdle and finished last. Lipsey did, however, win the 110-highs in convincing fashion.

Sorenson's competition rival Craig Dahl of Mankato East was fifth in the 110-highs and third in the 300.

"I would have liked to beat him at state, but it's been fun running against him," Sorenson said.