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BLOOMING PRAIRIE – A pair of Blooming Prairie seniors are hoping to finish with their best at the Class A state track and field meet next week.

Owen Krueger, who already holds the BP school records in shot put and discus, is aiming for a first place finish, and Gage Mullenbach, who is the first Blossom boy to go to state in pole vault in at least 20 years, is looking to put his name on the school record list as well.

Krueger went to state in discus and shot put last year, but he missed out on the podium as he was a little overwhelmed by the big setup.

“It’s a completely different atmosphere up there. They’re a lot stricter on the rules and last year I was a little bit worried about all of the rules and I was afraid I might get disqualified,” Krueger said. “This year I’m a little more prepared.”

Krueger said that if things go right, he’ll be right amongst the best throwers in Class A.

“I want to win. I want to go out with a bang and do the best I can in both events,” Krueger said. “It’s a mentality for me. I can’t be stressed or jittery and I have to focus on my throws.”

Mullenbach needs to add 10 inches to his qualifying height of 12-feet, two-inches to break the school record, and he feels he’s close. He has come close to 13 feet in practice and he’s getting sharper with each day.

Mullenbach also went to state in wrestling for the first time this year, making it a senior year to remember.

“The whole process has been exciting, but it’s been a lot of hard work too. Sports have made my senior year so much more enjoyable and to go to state in two sports in my senior year has been awesome,” Mullenbach said. “Wrestling was way harder to make it, but pole vault has its own challenges as well. You have to put all of your faith in the bar, and you need to be fearless, going up 12 or 13 feet in the air.”

The Class A preliminaries will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in St. Michael/Albertville, with the finals taking place at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Michael/Albertville.

SEEDINGS

Pole vault: Blooming Prairie senior Gage Mullenbach is seeded 14th with a height of 12 feet, two inches.

Shot put: Blooming Prairie senior Owen Krueger is seeded fourth with a distance of 53-feet, 6-inches.

Discus: Owen Krueger is seeded eighth with a distance of 146-7.