Two sets of sisters prepare for state

Charger, Cedar Mountain runners to compete in multiple events in Class A

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- The Class A State Track and Field meet to be held beginning 3 p.m. Friday at the National Sports Center in Blaine will be well represented by area schools, including pairs of sisters from Minnesota Valley Lutheran and Cedar Mountain.

Minnesota Valley Lutheran

The 4X100-meter relay team of Holly Enter, Danielle Kramer, Karissa Kramer and Lisa Petersen can say that they have a the combined experience of running at the state track meet seven times.

Of the four, only freshman Karissa Kramer will be making her first appearance at state. Her older sister, senior Danielle Kramer, went as a freshman as a part of the 4X800 relay team and placed fourth. Lisa Peterson competed in the 100- and 200-meter dash her freshman year, the 100 and two relays her sophomore year, and junior Holly Enter was part of a fourth-place 4X100 team as a freshman, placed second as a sophomore and ran in the 4X200 last year as well.

"I've been to state every year so far," Enter said. "I'm trying to make it a tradition to go every year."

This year, Enter and her teammates feel really good about their relay team. The team took first at the Section 2A meet with a time of 50.67 to qualify for state. They have the third best time in the state at this point, and Enter thinks that puts a little more pressure on them to do well.

Last year at state, the MVL 4X100 relay team took second place.

"I think we can do really good this year; we've won every meet in the 4X100, and I'd like to keep that streak alive," she said. "We're ranked third in the state time-wise; it kind of gives more nerves to live up to the seed."

But teammates all agree that they are a smooth working unit -- including handoffs.

"AS a team, being together helps out -- we understand each other," Karissa Kramer said. "Our handoffs go well, because we each know what to expect. I think it's all in the handoffs."

"I think just trusting each other [is key]," Danielle Kramer said. "The handoffs are really huge, and we just have to trust that we're all going to do our job and do it well."

Danielle Kramer speaks for the whole team when she says she is excited for the meet.

"I'm just really excited to get back there -- I had to go and watch the last two years," she said. "The feeling you get when you run there is indescribable."

Peterson is in for a double dose of excitement, because she not only anchors the 4X100 relay team, she also placed second in the 100-meter dash at sections in 13.04 to qualify for state in that event.

As a freshman, Peterson also went to state in the 100 and made it to finals.

"I was really, really surprised I got into finals," she said. "I was just excited to be at state as a ninth grader."

That year, Peterson was ninth of the nine runners in the finals. Last year, Peterson was pleased as she improved to seventh, but believes she could have done better. This year, Peterson would like to shoot for the top placements and a time of 12.6.

"I will have to have a good start -- come out of the blocks and just keep running hard the whole race," she said. "I tell myself don't worry about it and run hard; as long as I run hard, I'll be okay."

Cedar Mountain

Sophomore twins Kelly and Katie Gewerth will both be competing at the state meet as individuals -- and together on two relay teams in their third appearance at state.

Kelly Gewerth placed first in the 800-meter run in 2:19.42 at the Section 2A meet, and is excited to improve on her time.

"I think it was a pretty good time, but I think I need to be faster, because there is a girl who can run better at state," she said. "But it was a good time."

Last year, Kelly Gewerth also competed in the 800 at state, and placed third with a 2:18. But she believes that making two appearances at state will make it easier for her this time.

"I just need to be mentally tough and not let anything hold [me] back -- think positive," she said.

Katie Gewerth has the same idea.

"During practice, I think about [the meet]," she said. "I work as hard as I can to be physically and mentally tough."

To qualify for state, Katie Gewerth ran the 400-meter dash in 57.78 -- a time with which she was pleased.

"I was satisfied, because the last time I got a 57 was at the 2001 state meet, and I never thought I would run a 57 again," she said. In 2001, as an eighth grader, Katie Gewerth placed third. The year after, she did not do as well, but this year, she is aiming for one of the top spots.

Katie and Kelly Gewerth will run the 4X800 with Jackie Serbus and Sam Madsen. Together, the girls have the best qualifying time in the state with a 9:35.34, but they will be competing against five returning relay teams in the 4X800.

"We'll do pretty good if we get all four runners together and do our best times," Katie Gewerth said. "If we get second or third, I'm sure we'll be happy, but we're hoping for the best."

Katie and Kelly Gewerth and Jackie Serbus will also compete with Rachel Engel in the 4X400 relay. They qualified with 4:04.07 for first place at sections

Madelia/Truman

Jayhawk senior Josh Sorenson will be back to the state meet to defend his pole vault title against two medal-winners from last year's meet. Sorenson placed first at the Section 2A meet with a height of 12-feet-0. Foley's Jason Buetz had the best qualifying vault of 13-8.

Other area qualifiers:

Junior Tyler Schwecke from GFW/McLeod West placed second at the Section 2A meet in the triple jump with a distance of 42-6 1/2 to qualify for state.

Comfrey/Springfield senior Holli Pederson qualified for state in the high jump with a leap of 5-5 at the section meet.

In the boys' 4X800 relay, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial/ Nicollet will compete against four returning teams at the state meet. LCWMN qualified at sections in 8:18.14, and Kingsland/Spring Valley has the best qualifying time of 8:07.33.

Preliminaries in the Class A events will begin with field events at 2:30 and track events at 3 p.m. Friday at the National Sports Center in Blaine. Finals will be conducted Saturday, with field events starting at 9 a.m. and track events at 10 a.m.