Austin’s Gash is making the leap to state
Published 7:24 pm Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Austin’s Jany Gash takes a practice jump at Larry Gilbertson Track and Field Tuesday. Gash is Austin’s lone Minnesota State Track and Field Meet competitor this weekend at Hamline University in St. Paul. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin sophomore Jany Gash wasn’t one of the favorites to advance to the Minnesota State Class AA state track and field meet this past weekend, but he didn’t care.
Gash literally jumped out of the No. 7 seed and into second place in the triple jump at the Section 1AA meet in Lakeville this past Saturday. He will now compete in the triple jump finals 9 a.m. Friday at Hamline University in St. Paul.
Gash added two feet to his best jump of the season with a distance of 42 feet, 11.25 inches to qualify for state.
Austin’s Jany Gash will be heading to St. Paul this weekend when he competes in the triple jump as Austin’s lone representative in the Minnesota Class AA State Track and Field Meet at Hamline University. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“I don’t really look at seedings. I just go in and try to do my best. I don’t really worry about the other guys,” Gash said. “I was feeling good that day and I know have more potential than I have shown [this year]. It was a good day to have a good day.”
Gash has made some big strides throughout this season but Austin head coach Ryan Timm saw potential in Gash immediately. Timm said that Gash has improved vastly in the triple jump and high jump this year.
“It was just a matter of peaking at the right time [in the triple jump at sections]. He had all three stages working on the same day,” Timm said. “Once you make it to the state meet as a sophomore and you set the bar that hight and it’s tough to live up to your junior and senior year. I think he can keep going with it.”
Gash has never been to the state meet as a spectator and he’s not sure what to expect of it. But he’s excited about the event and he’s glad he’s coming in healthy.
“It seemed like every day something was happening whether it was my hamstring or my quad. I definitely feel healthy now,” Gash said.
STATE TRACK SCHEDULE
Friday
9 a.m. Jany Gash, Austin, in the triple jump. Gash is seeded 16th.
Austin’s Jany Gash warms up before making practice jumps Tuesday at Larry Gilbertson Track and Field. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
3:30 p.m. Sarah Holtz, LP, in high jump finals. Holtz is seeded 3rd.
3:30 p.m. Cody Carpentier, Hayfield, in shot put finals. Carpentier seeded 7th.
5:38 p.m. McKenzie Kirtz, GMLOKS, in 800-meter run prelims. Kirtz is seeded 7th.
Saturday
3:30 p.m. Taylor Hagen, BP, shot put. Hagen is seeded 7th.
4:45 p.m. Cody Carpentier, Hayfield, and Dom Bouska, GMLOKS, in discus finals. Carpentier is seeded 3rd and Bouska is seeded 7th.
5:09 p.m. McKenzie Kirtz, GMLOKS, in 1600-meter finals. Kirtz is seeded 3rd.
