By RICK SOLEM
ricks@mwfbroadcasting.com
ST. PAUL – Ellen Blacklock unleashed the best throw of her career in earning a trip to the MSHSL Class AA Track and Field Championships last Friday.
The Winona High senior has now put herself among the best in the state. Her 135-foot, 10-inch mark – three feet further than her previous best – is the fourth best throw in the state.
Odds are, however, she won’t be winning state, which begins at 9 a.m. Friday at Hamline University. The favorite there is St. Francis senior Maggie Ewen.
Ewen, who is going to Arizona State and is the three-time defending champ, has already broken her own Minnesota record this year and, actually, has the best throw in the state – boy or girl.
Ewen’s 175-9 on May 7 is a few feet better than the state’s second best throw by Lakeville North senior Ben Krynski (171-11).
The girls national record in the discus is 188-4 by Suzy Powell of Modesto, Calif., in 1994. And, just for curiosity’s sake, the boys national record is 234-3.
MSHSL CLASS AA TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At HAMLINE UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL
FRIDAY, 9 a.m.
GIRLS
(local qualifying seeds)
400: 8. Carly Moran (Winona, jr.) 58.04.
SHOT PUT: 8. Audrey Scharmer (Win., jr.) 39-11½.
FOUR IN STATE DISCUS: 4. Ellen Blacklock (Win., sr.) 135-10.
BOYS
800 RELAY: 11. Winona (Birth, Albrecht, Thomas, Clark) 1:30.68.
200:11. Travion Clark (Win., sr.) 22.37.
3,200: 18. Hunter Bailey (Win., soph.) 9:53.72.
LONG JUMP: 16. Eric Birth (Win., sr.) 21-6.