Big Lake adapts easily to Class 2A at state track meet

BLAINE (AP) -- In its first year competing against the big schools, Big Lake led the Class AA girls field after the first day of the state high school track and field meet.

Through four events Friday, the Hornets had a one-point edge over Lakeville in the team standings.

In Class A, Mayer Lutheran led after three events. The discus competition was suspended due to rain and will resume with other events on Saturday.

In boys action, Mankato West held a one-point lead over Robbinsdale Armstrong after four events. Warroad led in Class A after four events.

Nikki Sims led Big Lake to first place in the girls AA competition with her victory in the long jump, a year after winning the same event in Class A.

"I wouldn't necessarily say the athletes are better in AA, because a girl in A beat me this year," Sims said. "It would have been fun to defend my A title, but I'll take any championship I can get."

Mandy Stiefel of Big Lake finished second in the high jump, falling an inch shy of Moorhead's Jacenta Spandl, who won her second straight Class AA title with a 5-7 jump. Spandel failed at two attempts at her personal best of 5-9, but considering she missed most of the season with an ankle injury, she wasn't too disappointed with the result.

"I really wanted 5-9, but I'll take 5-7 if it ends up winning," Spandl said. "The high jump is mostly mental, and I wanted to end my senior year on a good note, with no regrets. I didn't want to blame anything on the injury."

Spandl is headed to the U of M on a track scholarship. Last year, she won the 100 high hurdles and the triple jump in addition to the high jump, and Saturday she'll attempt to duplicate the feat.

Shannon Bergstedt of Hopkins won her second straight 3200-meter crown. Last year, Bergstedt set state meet records in both the 3200 and 1600. She didn't break her 3200 record this year, but she's got a shot at the 1600 on Saturday.

Lakeville junior Liz Podominick defended her championship in the discus. And she's the state record holder in the shot, an event she'll participate in on Saturday.