Soaring more than 11 feet off the ground is rare altitude for an eighth-grader. No one told Mounds View newcomer Julia Fixsen, however.
Fixsen won the Class 2A, Section 5 pole vault title with a mark of 11 feet, 7 inches and qualified for the state track and field meet taking place Friday and Saturday at Hamline University in St. Paul. She hopes to clear 12 feet at the meet.
"Our pole vault coach, Matt Fleigle, and I were talking about it and she has to be one of the top kids ever at her age in the state," Mustangs head coach Aaron Redman said. "She is pretty focused and mature ."
Fixsen vaulted just 8-6 at the start of the season, her first in track and field. Her father, Jim, coaxed the former gymnast into trying the sport. Older sister Olivia posted two all-state finishes last spring in the 100-meter hurdles and 4x400 relay.
Julia holds the fourth-best pole vault mark going into state.
"Her goals are to make all her heights, not have any misses and see where that puts her," Redman said.
Anoka returns to state
Anoka's softball program made school history last spring, making its first state tournament appearance and finishing third. With no intention of being a one-year wonder, the Tornadoes (22-1-1) are back in the final eight.
They open play in the Class 3A bracket at 9 a.m. Thursday against Chanhassen (22-3) at Caswell Park in North Mankato.
Senior Taylor Chell has been instrumental in Anoka's success. The Minnesota-bound center fielder is batting .408 with five home runs, 14 RBI and 24 runs scored.
A pair of sophomore pitchers have made large contributions as well. Molly Swenson is 5-0 with an ERA of 2.17. Amber Elliott is 16-1 with 162 strikeouts and a 1.17 ERA. Elliott also boasts the teams highest batting average (.493).
Senior Monica Sjodin, the school's Athena Award winner, plays well at shortstop while batting .354 with 11 RBI. Sjodin plans to play hockey next season at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
David La Vaque • 612-673-7574
