The Austin High School boys' track and field team qualified one athlete for the Class AA state meet after the first day of Section 1 action Thursday at Carleton College in Northfield.

Evan Sorenson did not finish in the top two of the pole vault competition, but his third-placed vault of 13 feet, 9 inches launched him into next week's state meet. Sorenson met the state standard at 13-7 and qualified to compete June 6-7 at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

It didn't end there, though, for Sorenson and the Packers. Sorenson and Derek Hinkle advanced to the finals of both the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300 intermediate hurdles. The finals of the Section 1AA meet will be run Saturday starting with field events at 10:45 a.m. at Northfield. Running begins at 11:45 a.m.

Hinkle has had to run in Sorenson's lanky shadow in both events this season, but he will have a chance to qualify for state in both just the same as his teammate.

"He's worked hard the last few weeks and it's paid off for him," said AHS coach Tony Einertson.

Sorenson, just a junior, qualified for state in the 110 highs last season by finishing second at sections.

Senior pole vaulter James Dammen was the only other returning state meet qualifier for the Packers, but he cleared 12-9 and finished fifth on Thursday. He still placed and scored team points for Austin despite straining a muscle in his back at last weekend's Big Nine Conference meet.

Mark Cavanaugh overcame a calf muscle injury and qualified for the finals of the 400-meter dash along with teammate David Larson.

In the only running final from Tuesday, AHS junior Carl Bauer came in sixth amidst a talented field in the 3,200 run. His time was 9 minutes, 54 seconds.