Obsa Ali of Richfield crossed the finish line of the 3200-meter run in a record time of 8:57.07 Friday at the Class 2A boys' track state meet at Hamline University Stadium in St. Paul. Star Tribune photo: Richard Sennott
Shakopee’s Maria Hauger and Richfield’ Obsa Ali made their 3,200-meter runs a showcase of their considerable talents on Friday at the Class 2A state track and field meet at Hamline University.
Hauger won her third overall 3,200 title in a time of 10 minutes, 26.39 seconds, almost 10 seconds ahead of second place finisher Danielle Anderson of Eagan (10:35.53).
One of Minnesota’s most decorated distance runners, Hauger won a record fourth consecutive Class 2A state cross country title last fall.
Ali, a junior in his second season of track and field, worked his game plan by staying with the lead pack and using a superior kick to pull away through the final 400 meters.
Ali’s time of 8:57.07 broke the Class 2A meet record set in 2007 by Winona’s Elliott Heath.
Buffalo senior Mitch Valli’s pole vault of 15 feet, 7 ½ inches is the best ever recorded at a state meet, though his personal best is 15-9 and Blake’s Grant Krieger set a new all-time standard with a vault of 16 feet earlier this spring.
St. Francis senior Maggie Ewen won her fourth consecutive Class 2A discus throw title with a distance of 167-1. She reset her own all-time state record with a mark of 175-9 earlier this spring.