It’s been a bit of a late-season surge, in terms of Firebirds qualifying for the state track and field meet.
The Devils Lake teams finished with another strong showing last Friday in the East Region meet at North Dakota State University. Points-wise, the results might have looked underwhelming; Devils Lake only finished ninth out of 12 teams on the boys’ side and last out of 12 teams on the girls’. But the Firebirds collected seven more state-qualifying marks, ensuring they’ll be well-represented at the state meet this weekend. That’s 18 total state qualifiers.
It’s worth noting that the competition was tougher in this meet, with all the top athletes from the Fargo and Grand Forks areas participating.
First, the girls’ 4×800 joined the 4×100 and 4×200 in qualifying for state. Aubrie Lebrun, Tenley Triepke, Dottie Goss and Gabrielle McLaurin posted a time of 10:31.09 to get there. McLaurin, also a senior on the state champion basketball team, was a part of the other relay quartets as well.
Next up, Joel Nelson qualified in the high jump. He leapt six feet in the air. He continued an interesting pattern of boys’ basketball players succeeding in jumping events — earlier in the season, Oliver Wirth qualified in the high jump, and more recently, Wylee Delorme, Nelson and Drew Hofstad qualified in the long jump.
The boys had a relay team of their own qualify for state, too. Adam Sobolik, Wirth, Hofstad and Reggie Cavanaugh qualified in the 4×200.
Then for the girls, Sara Kraft continued her success. She already broke the school record in triple jump earlier this year, and now she qualified for the 100-meter hurdles. She placed fifth out of 29 participants.
The remaining two qualifiers came in javelin. Hofstad, yet again, found himself in a qualifying spot. He placed fourth out of 52 finishers with a throw of 152’ 7’’. Marquese Dubois was right behind him in fifth place, with a throw of 150’ 11’’. Dubois was also on the state championship basketball team.
Another basketball player, Brett Mertens, fell narrowly short of qualifying. He came in seventh place, and in this meet, coming in the top six automatically qualifies you for state.
Achieving a state qualifier in that manner was Braxton Rance, who placed fourth out of 52 in the shot put.
All Firebirds who qualified will compete in the NDHSAA Class A State Meet that takes place from May 23 to May 25 at Bismarck State College. The first event will begin at 9:30 a.m.
