Jun. 6—ST. MICHAEL — Avery Nelson wasn’t even sure she could compete in the state Class 2A track and field meet.
The Stewartville freshman sensation tore the hamstring in her left leg a week ago in the Section 1-2A meet.
Well, Nelson competed all right. After having a disappointing showing in the long jump on Friday where she finished 18th, Nelson was much more like herself Saturday at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
Nelson used the day to come away a state champion in the triple jump. She sailed 39-feet-1, equaling a personal best.
“She had a devastating hamstring injury that made it look like she might not be able to keep going in the section meet,” Stewartville coach Brandon Hoth said.
Not close to 100 percent yet (Nelson guessing more like 60-70 percent), the freshman made things work anyway. She willed her way, which is how she does things.
En route, she used her stubbornness to carry her.
“I feel like I am so stubborn that I just don’t like to lose,” said Nelson, who had to bow out the sprints in the section meet, events she also excels at. “Now, this gives me the motivation to work hard and get even better.”
Nelson has come a long way. When the season started, she was jumping more like 36 feet. But, step by step, she made herself into an elite triple jumper.
“I worked on my different phases of jumping and my coach had me lifting (weights) more than I’d done before,” Nelson said. “I was lifting five to seven days per week.”
After getting a taste of being on top at state, Nelson is eager for more the next three years. She hopes to be competing next year in the 200 at state and also hopes to keep getting better in her best event, the triple jump.
“I want to do 40 feet in the triple jump,” she said. “That is my main focus right now.”
Other than Nelson’s championship showing in the triple jump, Section 1 didn’t produce any other champions. Its next-best showing came in the 4×800, where Winona finished second in 9:09.83. That was just behind Orono’s 9:09.50 time.
—Winona’s Calla Pike had a strong showing in the 800, finishing third in 2:14.13. Winona also received a sixth-place finish from Kaia Vandal in the shot put. She flung it 37-feet-8 3/4.
—Byron’s Lily Moon was eighth in the pole vault (10-6). Red Wing’s Ann Stockton also managed an eighth place in the 100 hurdles (14.93).
*Class 2A state meet record
(Winner, Rochester-area finishers)
4×800 — 1. Orono 9:09.50; 2. Winona (E. Heinrichs, R. Quinn, I. Katja, C. Pike) 9:09.83;
100 hurdles — 1. Laila Moses (DeLaSalle) 14.05; 8. Anna Stockton (Red Wing) 14.93.
100 — 1. Lulu McGarry (Breck) 11.01.
4×200 — *1. Tri City United 1:37.90.
1,600 — 1. Keira Friedrich (St. Peter) 4:55.70
4×100 — *1. Orono 47.69.
400 — 1. Lulu McGarry (Breck) 54.54.
300 hurdles — 1. Maddyn Greenway (Providence Academy) 41.88; 8. Anna Stockton (Red Wing) 45.02.
800 — 1. Makayah Petricka (Northfield) 2:11.25; 3. Calla Pike (Winona) 2:14.13;
200 — 1. Lulu McGarry (Breck) 23.96.
Triple jump — 1. Avery Nelson (Stewartville) 39-1; 10. Sophia Richardson (Byron) 34-11 1/4.
Shot put — 1. Laila Moses (DeLaSalle) 40-4 1/4; 6. Kaia Vandal (Winona) 37-8 3/4; 10. Ella Theobald (Stewartville) 36-4 3/4.
Pole vault — 1. Ella Dick (North Branch) 12-6; 8. Lily Moon (Byron) 10-6; 11. Olivia O’Brien (Byron) 10-6; 17. Callie McRae (Austin) 9-6; 19. Annalise Sherman (Pine Island) 9-6.
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