Eagles advance three

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Finally, all the hard work Jordan Budenski has put into track and field paid off for him Wednesday.

Budenski advanced to the State Meet for the first time in his career as he won the 1,600 in 4:25.45 and took second in the 800-meter run in 2:01.62.

"I've been working hard for four years," Budenski said. "I haven't taken first at a conference all four years except this year and at sections, so it's all coming together. I'd keep working hard and it finally put me in my place."

Budenski's coach was equally elated.

"Jordan had an outstanding meet," New Ulm boys coach Jim Pickus said. "He ran what we had planned and the strategy that we had in the mile. He just stayed with the group rather than going out and taking a lead, and then he made his move at the end."

Pickus also said that it was Budenski who made the decision to finish his career with a bang.

"We've seen the potential in him for the past four or five years," Pickus said. "But this year, he came in and he knew what he wanted and he went after it. And it was nice to see him go after it. He's had a great work ethic all season long and it's paying off for him."

Although Budenski was happy to qualify, he thinks he can improve upon his time in the 1,600.

"I'm not pleased with my time, considering my first half was slow," Budenski said. "The first two 250s were slow, otherwise was last half was pretty quick. I was pretty pleased with that."

Mankato West won the boys side with 150.5 points, followed by Mankato East (115). New Ulm took sixth with 38 points.

Also advancing for the Eagles to the state meet next Friday and Saturday in Blaine was Josh Zupfer, who qualified in two events. Zupfer finished second in the long jump with a leap of 20-feet-11 1/4 inches. Mankato East's Craig Dahl won with a jump of 21-4 1/2.

"He jumped 20-feet-11 inches, and that's a good jump but he's done better," Pickus said. "We hope he does better at state. He also advanced in the 400 and ran an outstanding time."

Zupfer took second in the 400-meter dash in 50.61. Mankato West's Nick Jost won with a time of 50.43.

Zupfer also placed eighth in the 200 meter dash as he finished with a time of 24.53. Mankato East's Jon Boyd won in 22.56.

Mary Otis was the lone girl to qualify for the Eagles. The sophomore also will make her state debut, and she is looking forward to the environment.

"I've been to the track, and the intensity is there just as a fan," Otis said.

Otis won the 100 meter hurdles in 16.20. She also advanced in the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.56. Willmar's Kami Kjolsing won in 13.55.

"My starts were a little off, but my starts have never really been spectacular," Otis said. "I was really happy with my form over the hurdles. It really came together today."

Otis also has noticed that as the season has moved along, her speed has increased.

"My foot speed has gotten a lot faster throughout the season, so it's nice that even if I'm not the top hurdler, my foot speed will carry me."

Otis just missed going to state in the long jump by 3/4 inches with a jump of 16-6. Mankato West's Kandyce Stoffel (16-6 3/4) and Fairmont's Shanna Dawson (16-11 1/4) qualified in that event.

She also took sixth in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 49.95.

"She did a fine job," New Ulm girls coach Jason Mortenson said. "She placed in all four of her events, and that's just a strong all-out performance. Ever since the South Central Conference [meet] she really got it together."

Mortenson said that her natural ability helps her make-up for a slow start.

"She's got that raw talent that lets her catch up after a slow start," Mortenson said. "We're really going to have to work with her on her starts and stuff out of the blocks. Right now she's not coming out with the correct angle. We're definitely going to have to get that, because that's going to make a difference at the state meet."

New Ulm finished ninth on the girl's side with 33 points. Willmar won with 115 points, edging Fairmont who finished with 113 points.

Sharon Wurtzberger took seventh in the triple jump with a leap of 32-11 3/4. The 4X100 girls relay team of Christine Otis, Katie Schmiel, Megan Oberle and Anna Nosek took seventh in 53.82.

Anna Evers took fifth in the discus with a throw of 107-9.

Dan Besser took sixth in the 110 meter hurdles in 16.2.

The state meet is Friday and Saturday in Blaine.