Six Mankato Loyola/Cleveland athletes who are competing at the state meet tomorrow (Tuesday) got a rousing sendoff with a pep fest in the Loyola gym today
The state track & field meet will be held at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
The six represent the most Crusaders competing at state since 2017, said head coach Casey Olson, who, along with Loyola AD Sam Carlson, spoke at the pep fest. The eight total events they are competing in represent the most at state for the Crusaders that Olson is aware of.
“It’s an exciting time.”
Charlotte Kirschner will be competing in the high jump at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Her PR jump is 5-0.
At the same time, Maddie Huiras will run the preliminary 110-m hurdles. Her PR time in that event, set this season, is 15:50. Huiras will be center stage again at 5:44 as she competes in the preliminary 300-m hurdles. Set at the section meet on May 31, her PR time is 46.30.
Ten minutes later, Chase Kijenski will run the preliminary 300-m hurdles. Also set at the section meet, his PR time is 40.73.
Huiras and Kijenski, both seniors, competed at state last year in the same events they will do this year but did not get out of the prelims. Huiras completed the 110 hurdles in 16.37 and the 300 hurdles in 48.68. Kijenski’s time in the 300 hurdles at state a year ago was 42.80.
At 6:04 p.m. Savannah Meyer, also a senior, will compete in the 800-m prelims. Her season best in that event is 2:22.91 while her PR is a slightly faster 2:22.82. She the 800 at state in 2023 and the 1600 there three years ago. Her 2023 time was 2:26.73.
Her sister Charlotte Meyer, an eighth grader, will run the 3200 at 6:54. Her PR in that event, set this season, is 10:55.83. Last year, she finished the state 3200 in 11:27.85 for sixth place. There are no preliminaries for the 3200. There are no preliminaries for the 1600 either, and Charlotte Meyer will run that race at 5:26 p.m. on Wednesday. She set her 5:09.72 PR in the 1600 at the section meet on May 31.
Running both the 1600 and the 3200 at the section meet, the younger Meyer was doubled up and running in 85-degree temperature while contenders in other section had the luxury of splitting those events between two days and competing in much cooler temps.
Soren Kelley, a junior, will run the 3200 at 7:11 on Tuesday. His PR is 9:55.82 while his best time this season is 9:57.98. With a 9:55.82 finish, Kelly was 10th in the state 3200 a year ago.
If any of the preliminary runners make the top nine, they will return to the track on Wednesday. The girls 100-m hurdles final is at 4:30 while the girls 300-m hurdles is at 6:32. The boys 300-m hurdles is at 6:41. The 800 finals is at 6:46.
Olson said he will miss seniors Kijenski, Huiras and Charlotte Meyer next year but said the Crusaders should continue to be competitive.
Tickets for the meet are $13 for adults, $8 for students, and must be purchased online.
Above: Head Crusader track & field coach Casey Olson speaks at the pep fest, held in the Loyola gym today. At right are the six participating: Charlotte Meyer, Charlotte Kirshner, Savannah Meyer, Maddie Huiras, Soren Kelley and Chase Kijenski. On the left are are assistant coaches Landon Javens and Bree Meyer
