Snater takes eighth, Hagen-Erickson finishes 21st at state track and field meet

Published 2:03 pm Saturday, June 8, 2013

Austin senior Abby Snater receives her medal at the podium after she tied for eighth place in the pole vault at the Class 'AA' state track and field meet in St. Paul Saturday. -- Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin senior Abby Snater receives her medal at the podium after she tied for eighth place in the pole vault at the Class ‘AA’ state track and field meet in St. Paul Saturday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

ST. PAUL — Austin senior Abby Snater finally made it to the podium and senior Jake Hagen-Erickson missed out on the finals at the Class ‘AA’ state track and field meet in Hamline University Saturday.

Austin's Abby Snater clears the pole vault bar at 11 feet at the Class 'AA' state track and field meet in St. Paul Saturday. Snater finished tied for eighth. -- Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Abby Snater clears the pole vault bar at 11 feet at the Class ‘AA’ state track and field meet in St. Paul Saturday. Snater finished tied for eighth. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Snater, who finished tied for eighth in the pole vault, completed a vault of 11-feet on her third try, but she missed on all three of her attempts at 11-3.

“It was pretty off and I was nervous and uncomfortable, but it was definitely better than two years ago,” said Snater, who never completed a vault due to an injury when she went to state as a sophomore. “I’ve never used the pole before.”

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Snater shook off all of her memories from her first state tournament experience when she cleared a height of 10-6 on her first attempt. Getting on the podium in her last high school meet was a big accomplishment for Snater.

“It was nice to finally be up there. It was refreshing,” she said.

After Snater finished competing, she watched Rochester Century freshman Andrianna Jacobs shatter a Class ‘AA’ state record by vaulting a height of 13 feet. Snater knows Jacobs from pole vaulting and from gymnastics.

Austin's Jake Hagen-Erickson competes in the high jump at the Class 'AA' state track and field meet in St. Paul Saturday. -- Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Jake Hagen-Erickson competes in the high jump at the Class ‘AA’ state track and field meet in St. Paul Saturday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

“To see that, especially after seeing the guys struggle at 13 feet yesterday, was mind blowing,” Snater said. “It was really cool to watch. We always joke that Carolyn (Hackel) should run with the boys and maybe Andi should compete with them too.”

Hagen-Erickson’s best jump of the day in the long jump was 18 feet, 6.25 inches as he scratched on his other two attempts. Hagen-Erickson finished in 21st place.

“I didn’t jump very well, I just was trying to get one on there,” Hagen-Erickson said. “I didn’t lose any sleep and I wasn’t nervous. I just couldn’t get my mark down.”

Austin's Jake Hagen-Erickson competes in the high jump at the Class 'AA' state track and field meet in St. Paul Saturday. -- Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Jake Hagen-Erickson competes in the high jump at the Class ‘AA’ state track and field meet in St. Paul Saturday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Making it to state was a great accomplishment for Hagen-Erickson, who has been on the track and field team for just two seasons. He said he’ll look back fondly on his experience at state.

“It was a great experience. Austin has really great coaches and the community is very supportive,” he said.