Three Steele County athletes finish in the top 5 at state track meet

It was a busy and successful weekend for the six Steele County track and field athletes who competed at last weekend’s state meet. It was busy because there were three Owatonna Huskies, two Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms and one Medford Tiger who advanced to the state meet, and it was a successful weekend because all but one made the top 10 in their event.
The top Steele County finishers were Owatonna sophomore long jumper Justin Gleason and Blooming Prairie freshman high jumper Annaka Forsberg who each earned fourth place. Gleason placed fourth out of 17 competitors by jumping 21 feet, 5.25 inches – just 1.75 inches behind the third-place finisher. Meanwhile, Forsberg placed fourth out of 18 competitors by clearing 5 feet, 3 inches, which was one inch better than the height she achieved at the Section 1A track and field championships.
Owatonna senior hurdler Jack Titchenal became the third Steele County athlete and second Husky to achieve a top five finish when he placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.05 seconds.
In addition to Gleason, Forsberg and Titchenal, Blooming Prairie junior Xavier Rennie also made the podium by finishing in sixth place in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.871 seconds.
The next best finisher was Medford freshman Jackie Cole who came in ninth place. Despite being the only freshman or younger in her event, she beat nine competitors by jumping 16 feet and 9.75 inches, which was 4.25 inches farther than her jump at the section meet.
Last but not least, Owatonna junior Ryan Gregory came in 16th place in the 300-meter hurdles by finishing in 42.96 seconds.
Gregory’s teammate, Jack Titchenal, ended his high school career on a high note by achieving fifth place at the state meet.
All other Steele County athletes who competed at the state meet will look to improve their times or distances next spring.
 
 
 
 
Photo: Medford's Jackie Cole keeps her legs extended as she falls into the sand to increase her long jump. Her long 16 feet, 9.75-inch jump landed her in ninth place at the state meet. Coming in ninth out of all Class A girl long jumpers is especially impressive because this is her first year competing in the long jump.