Eden Prairie's Brown, St. Michael-Alvbertville's Keefer win three events in Hamline Elite Meet

They were exhausted as they were exalted.

Three victories in as many track and field events made seniors Denzel Brown (Eden Prairie) and Anna Keefer (St. Michael-Albertville) the power couple at the Friday's Hamline Elite Meet.

They each won the 100- and 200-meter dash. Brown ran a leg of the Eagles' victorious 4x100 relay while Keefer soared to the long jump title.

The Elite Meet is a gathering of the state's best performers and a checkpoint with about six weeks remaining until the Minnesota State High School League state championships held in June at Hamline. That makes Brown and Keefer favorites for additional glory.

"It's a really big boost," Brown said of the effect of Friday's performances on his confidence.

First he captured the 100 title in 10.53 seconds, good for one of the nine meet records set Friday.

Then he ran the second leg of the 4x100 relay, winners in a time of 21.62 seconds. And finally, he grabbed the 200 crown in 21.62 seconds. The third title required the most grit.

Keefer can relate. She won the long jump title at state and didn't want to relinquish control. She got her meet record long jump distance of 19 feet, 3½ inches, on her sixth and final attempt.

No one could catch her in the 100 (12.15 seconds) and 200 (24.85 seconds), either.

"This meet is exciting," Keefer said. "You know you've got great competition so you've got to get going."

Bloomington Kennedy senior Honour Finley, owner of the fastest 400 dash in state history (53.96 seconds), used Friday's meet as "a gauge of where the competition is and where I stand."

She stands apart in her signature race. Finley's time of 56.69 seconds beat the field by almost a full second. Pressure exists to maintain her status as the favorite, Finley said, adding, "It makes me feel good that people want to catch me."

That aspect intrigued Reid Pierzinski, a junior from Pequot Lakes who qualified in four events. And better competition made him better.

Pierzinski won the 110 hurdles in a school-record time of 14.92 seconds, edging out Edina teammates Grant Fuller and Henry Adams.

"It's insane to have them in your peripheral and knowing you have to keep going as hard as you can," he said.

Before his victory on the track, Pierzinski struggled to find his triple jump form. His confidence sagged. Success proved contagious, however. Pierzinski won his hurdles race then posted a triple jump of 45-¼ inches on his final attempt. That mark was good for second.

Friday marked Pierzinski's Elite Meet debut. He qualified for the Class 1A state meet last June but suffered disqualifications in the 300 hurdles and 4x400 relay.