State track: GMLOKS advances seven athletes to finals
Published 5:58 pm Friday, June 8, 2018
- GMLOKS’ Isabelle Olson reaches out to handoff to Emily Hovden, left, during the 4x100-meter relay heats during the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet Friday at Hamline University in St. Paul. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ST. PAUL – The Grand Meadow-LeRoy-Ostrander-Kingsland-Southland track and field team advanced all seven of its state qualifying athletes to the finals at the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Preliminaries Friday.
The girls 4 x 200-meter relay team made a big statement as the team of Anika Reiland, Emily Hovden, Lauren Buccholtz and Riley Queensland took first with a time of 1:45.12. Queensland was able to hold on to the lead as she turned on the jets down the final 100-meter stretch.
GMLOKS’ Lauren Buccholtz races for the handoff in the 4×200-meter heat races during the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet Friday at Hamline University in St. Paul. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“When I know that somebody’s right next to me or right on my tail, it always pushes me to go faster and try and get to that next level,” Queensland said. “It’s so much fun to compete at a high level like this. We’re just hoping to run a good race on Saturday and we’re going to try and go as fast as we can.”
GMLOKS’ Emily Hovden races down the backstretch after the hand-off in the heats for the 4×100-meter relay during the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet Friday at Hamline University in St. Paul. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The GMLOKS 4 x 100-meter girls relay team of Isabelle Olson, Hovden, Kassidy Kirtz and Reiland also had a big run as they took third place with a time of 50.06 seconds.
“We work hard every time and we push each other and give it our all. We have to push hard to fill our own spots,” Olson said. “It helps to have experience here and knowing what it feels like. We know the environment.”
GMLOKS’ Annika Reiland nears the finish during the heats for the 4×100-meter relay during the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet Friday at Hamline University in St. Paul. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Both relay teams have plenty of state meet experience, but Reiland, a seventh grader, has given the team a huge boost as well.
“Annika has really put a lot forward for being so young and she’s definitely helped us get here,” Hovden said. “We’re excited for tomorrow. We want to keep pushing and we try to get a better time every time we run. All we can do is run our hardest.”
GMLOKS’ Riley Queensland takes the handoff during the 4×200-meter relay during the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet Friday at Hamline University in St. Paul. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
GMLOKS senior Drew Lewison qualified for the finals in each of his hurdles races. He took eighth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.50 seconds and he finished third in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 39.67 seconds. Lewison said that last year’s state experience made things easier for him this time around.
“I was a lot less nervous than last year,” Lewison said. “I felt a little bit slow in the 110s, but I made it to the finals. The 300s weren’t as clean as I would’ve liked, but I got the job done for today. I’m pretty excited for tomorrow. I’m going to run as fast as I can.”
GMLOKS’ Drew Lewison runs in the heat races for the 110-meter high hurdles during the MInnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet Friday at Hamline University in St. Paul. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
