Photo by Karen Berg: Lakeview Lakers Ethan Schwankl running in stride at the 800 Meters event at MSHSL state track and field. Schwankl took home 1st place.

ST. MICHAEL — The Class A preliminaries of the Minnesota State High School League track and field got underway on Thursday evening. Murray County Central’s Amanda Overgaauw placed second in the only final running event of the day, the 3200 meters, while Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle Valley’s Brayson Boike won in the boys triple jump.

Overgaauw ran a 10:54.96 in the event, finishing 17 seconds ahead of third-place Audrey Brownell of Staples-Motley. Nevis’ Jade Rypkema won the event in 10:35.02. The win was Rypkema’s third consecutive Class A title.

Ashley Overgaauw will compete for a medal as will Merritt in the 800 Meters final today. Head coach Dominic Damm spoke on his athletes’ performance today.

Murray County Central Rebel Ashley Overgaauw and Canby/Minneota Braelyn Merritt both advanced in the girls’ 800 Meters event. Overgaauw finished fourth with a time of 2:18.61 and Merritt finished seventh with a time of 2:19.47 as the top nine from this event will move on to the finals on Friday.

“Ashley Overgaauw ran a hard fast prelim race and qualified for tomorrow’s finals,” Damm said. “She had to make a move on the second lap to get the automatic spot in the finals. Amanda Overgaauw went with Jade Rypkama early and separated from the pack. She got separated from Jade during the middle of the race so she was running all alone. She ran a great race and a great time. I am excited to see the two of them race again on Friday.”

Dawson-Boyd/Lac Qui Parle Valley’s Brayson Boike got second place in the Triple Jump event scoring a 43-07.50 and being the first to medal in the state track meet. Lakeview Lakers Terrek Jenniges won the boys’ Shotput Wheelchair event in category two with a distance of 13-07.75 and his teammate Lucas Taylor won first place in category one with a 22-09.25, setting a class and state record with his score.

Also from Lakeview, Ethan Schwankl won the 800 Meters prelims race, qualifying him for the finals today with a time of 1:57.09. Both of them set personal records with their times today. Head coach Emily Enger spoke on how proud she was of her athletes in today’s competition.

“Both Taylor and Jenniges set personal records today,” Enger said. “We are so proud of their hard work and the effort they put in this season. The best feeling is seeing the smiles on their faces and how proud they are of themselves. Schwankl had a great run. He’s been so focused and working hard to reach his goal of state champ in the 800 Meters event. It was fun seeing that thumbs up as he finished his prelims today. I am extremely proud of him. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.”

With Boike medaling, he will try to accomplish the same feat in his next two events of the Long Jump and High Jump events.

Class A boys

800 Meters– 1st Ethan Schwankl 1:57.09 Lakeview (Qualifies for final)

Triple Jump– 2nd Brayson Boike 43-07.50 DB/LQPV

Shotput Wheelchair — 1st Terrek Jenniges 13-07.75 Lakeview, PR Category 1; Lucas Taylor 22-09.25 Lakeview, PR, State record, Class A record, Category 2;

Class A girls

3200 Meters: 2nd Amanda Overgaauw 10:54.96 MCC

800 Meters– 4th Ashley Overgaauw 2:18.00, MCC; 7th Braelyn Merritt 2:19.47, Canby/Minneota;

Merritt 2:19.47, Canby/Minneota;