The Spectrum Track & Field team has advanced three individuals and two relay teams to the state meet to be held on June 7-8 at Hamline University in St. Paul. In order to qualify; individuals had to place first or second in their event at the Section 5A Meet that was held on May 29 at St. Johns University. Section 5A includes teams from 32 schools.
Representing the Sting at the state meet will be Elias Aberra in the boys 100 meter dash (11.49). Adrienne Foelle in the girls high jump (5'-0), and Hailey Johnson in the girls 200 meter dash (26.10). Aberra and Johnson each set Spectrum school records in their events, while Foell returns to the state meet for her third year in a row.
Two Spectrum relay teams have also qualified for the state meet. The boys 4 x 800 meter team of Caleb Rogers, Desmond Orton, Noah Ritter, and Matt Helser finished with a season best time of 8:19.57. The girls 4 x 400 meter relay team of Martha Bergley, Adrienne Foell, Makayla Harmer, and Hailey Johnson set a new school record of 4:06.40.
The Sting also narrowly missed qualifying for the state meet in several other events, including a close finish in the boys 4 x 400 meter relay. "It was an exciting race that came right down to the end", said coach Rick Peterson. "The boys ran their hearts out, however this was the 3rd event for each of them and we just ran out of gas. I'm very proud of our entire team. We set a dozen individual PR's and six new school records".
The picture is Senior Hailey Johnson anchoring the girls 4 x 400 meter relay team as she pulls away from Rockford down the homestretch for a Sting victory.