Hack Attack: Austin freshman headed for state in 100 and 200-meter dashes

Austin's Carolyn Hackel wins the 100-meter dash during the Section 1AA finals Saturday afternoon in Lakeville. Hackel earned state appearances with wins in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes. - Photo courtesy of the Faribault Daily News

LAKEVILLE — Before the track and field season began, Austin freshman Carolyn Hackel was hoping to make the jump from contender to champion and she accomplished that feat when she won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Section 1AA meet in Lakeville South Saturday.

Hackel earned state berths in both events and will join Austin junior Omot Okello, who earned a state berth in the boys’ 110-meter hurdles.

“I have the state times posted in my room and every day I look at them and tell myself I can make those times,” Hackel said. “It feels so nice and this was my goal. It was my job to carry it out and I’m happy that I did.”

Hackel, who broke her own school record in the 100 for the third time this year and set a personal best time in the 200, was in the third place in the 100 with 30 meters left when she turned it up a notch and won the race by eight-tenths of a second.

“I didn’t feel like I was making the time, so I thought ‘maybe I should pick it up a little bit,” she said.

Hackel led the 200 for the last 100 meters as she cruised to the win and she took almost a full second off her prelim time in the event.

Okello finished fourth in the 110s, but he ran three-tenths hundredths of a second faster than the state standard.

“He ran a good time and we’ll see how it goes up at state,” Austin head coach Tony Einerston said. “He’s been dealing with a quad injury but he’s had treatment and that’s helped quite a bit. It’s nice to get another state qualifier after taking a year off.”

Omot just missed a trip to state in the 300s as he took third after he edged out the fourth place finisher by two-tenths of a second.

Austin senior Nate Schwab finished fifth in the 800-meter run as he was just over a second from qualifying for state.

The Austin 4 x 200-meter relay team of Saara Tuomola, Haley Splinter, Carley Grunewald, and Hackel missed qualifying for state by just over a second as they finished third with a time of 1:46.45.

Austin junior pole vaulter Abby Snater missed out on a return trip to state when she hit a height of 10-6, which was four inches short of the state standard. She took fifth overall.

AUSTIN BOYS RESULTS

800-meter run: Nate Schwab (fifth, 2:03.26)

1600-meter run: Nate Schwab (seventh, 4:36.09); Andrew Baker (13th, 4:43.18)

110-meter hurdles: Omot Okello (fourth, 15.13)

300-meter hurdles: Omot Okello (third, 41.36)

4 x 200-meter relay: Caleb Bentley, Erik Stephenson, Francisco Torres, Zach Vierkandt (seventh, 1:34.36)

4 x 800-meter relay: Mason Wollersheim, Dylan Diekman, Ryan Larson, Jordan Bentley (sixth, 8:27.78)

Long jump: Jake Hagen-Erickson (eighth, 19-8.25)

Discus: Andrew Hagan (10th, 129-6)

AUSTIN GIRLS RESULTS

100-meter dash: Carolyn Hackel (first, 12.45)

200-meter dash: Carolyn Hackel (first, 25.92)

1600-meter run: Justice Tabor (21st, 5:49.49)

4 x 200-meter relay: Saara Tuomola, Haley Splinter, Carley Grunewald, Carolyn Hackel (third, 1:46.45)

4 x 800-meter relay: Haley Splinter, Merideth Fritz, Karyn Potach, Madison Overby (seventh, 10:11.81)

High jump: Merideth Fritz (24th, 4-4)

Pole vault: Abby Snater (fifth, 10-6)

 

 

News

OxyContin maker’s bankruptcy deal goes before the Supreme Court, with billions of dollars at stake

News

Israel orders evacuations as it widens offensive but Palestinians are running out of places to go

News

Bowling Green to take on Minnesota in Quick Lane Bowl, Gophers seek seventh consecutive bowl win

News

‘Pick it up’: New Minnesota law aims to curb litter left on ice

News

Jackson leads Blue Devils to a win over Mesabi Range

Mower County

A home for women: Bright Life House will be a sober house filling a need in Austin

Mower County

In Your Community: Mower County Senior Center

News

Climate contradictions key at UN talks. Less future warming projected, yet there’s more current pain

Mower County

Caution paramount as ice season gets underway

Mower County

First United Methodist to host organ concerts

News

House expels New York Rep. George Santos. It’s just the sixth expulsion in the chamber’s history

News

Standoff with armed man outside Rochester shopping complex ends in self-inflicted gunshot

Mower County

Merry & Bright Night returns for holiday fun

News

A house explodes and bursts into flames in Minnesota, killing at least 1 person, fire chief says

Mower County

Riverland Shines a ‘Spotlight’ on theater students

News

DFL lawmakers eye big boost in child care spending

News

Henry Kissinger, secretary of state under Presidents Nixon and Ford, dies at 100

Mower County

Senate Capital Investment Committee gets a look at tomorrow in visit to the Hormel Institute

Mower County

Christmas in the County to be held Dec. 9

Mower County

Austin Living: Jane Taylor Academy of Dance brings 22nd annual ‘Nutcracker’ performance to Paramount Theatre

Mower County

Flower Basket Program kicks off 29th year

Mower County

Recycling Center addition progressing to spring completion

Business

10 Austin-area families to receive kits to support transitions into stable housing

Mower County

HI scientists publish paper on how immune systems react to canine parvovirus vaccination