Pierz's Kapsner runner-up

ST. PAUL - With the wind whipping through Klas Field at Hamline University on Friday, the Class 1A state high jump and pole vault were moved indoors to Walker Fieldhouse.

Pierz's Kayla Kapsner was hesitant about the move.

"Two years ago we jumped inside and I thought it was kind of crowded," she said, "so I wasn't sure but I was a lot more confident this year with my jumping. Experience helps a lot."

The experienced Kapsner made her third trip to state her best, tying for second place at 5-5 with Lake City's Maranda Dorn. Toni Tollefson of Lake Park-Audubon was champion at 5-7 after missing three attempts by herself at 5-8.

"I made the first three heights all on the first attempt," Kapsner said, "and everything was feeling good. It went to 5-3. I was a little bit nervous and I went and missed twice, and I thought, Oh, my gosh.' It was just nerves really bad.

Highlights: Pierz's Kayla Kapsner tied for second in the high jump.

Next: State finals 3 p.m. Saturday, Hamline University, St. Paul

"My last jump I thought this could be my last jump of the season and I kind of used that for motivation to give it everything I had, and I just made it."

Pierz head coach Craig Johnshoy said the goal was for Kapsner to jump at least 5-5.

"That's about as good as we can go," he said. "We knew Toni Tollefson was tough, coming in at 5-8.

"Kayla did an excellent job. Her personal best is 5-5 1/2 so she was right there. We thought she made that 5-6 jump too. That would have been a feather in her hat."

Kapsner finished eighth as a freshman, jumping 5-2. Last year she also cleared 5-2 but with fewer misses and tied for sixth.

In other finals Friday, Staples-Motley's Jose Alba finished third in the shot put, S-M's Naomi Landecker was seventh in the 3200 run, S-M's Nicole Kozlowski was eighth in the discus, Crosby-Ironton's Peter Vukelich placed 10th in the 3200 run and Kyle Hart of Pequot Lakes was 11th in the pole vault.

Boys 1A finals

Shot put: 1-Micah Hegerle (Kasson-Mantorville) 56-11 1/4, 3-Jose Alba (Staples-Motley) 53-6

3200 run: 1-Donny Wasinger (Winona Cotter) 9:22.42, 10-Peter Vukelich (Crosby-Ironton) 10:07.63

Pole vault: 1-Erik Romsdahl (St. James) 15-0, 11-(tie)-Kyle Hart (Pequot Lakes) 12-0

Boys 1A prelims

110 hurdles: 15-Andrew Knebel (Pillager) 16.08

800 run: 1-Ned Brady (DeLaSalle) 1:56.74, 4-Clayton Foster (Pequot Lakes) 1:58.21

Girls 1A finals

High jump: 1-Toni Tollefson (Lake Park-Audubon) 5-7, 2-(tie) Kayla Kapsner (Pierz) and Maranda Dorn (Lake City) 5-5

3200 run: 1-Linda Keller (Paynesville) 11:03.29, 7-Naomi Landecker (SM) 11:28.97

Discus: 1-Christy Nepp (Windom) 146-4, 8-Nicole Kozlowski (SM) 125-11

Girls 1A prelims

100 dash: 1-Ashley Tingelstad (Lake Park-Audubon) 12.11, 4-Ashley Lisson (SM) 12.48

100 hurdles: 14-Tamala Zwart (Pequot Lakes) 17.02, 17-Nikki Pearson (SM) 21.48

400 dash: 1-Tingelstad 56.41, 9-Kirsten Noska (PL) 1:01.40

800 run: 14-Kim Rardin (Pillager) 2:29.39

200 dash: 14-Noska 26.96

MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com and at 855-5861.