Big start: There was instant excitement at the inaugural meet in 2006. Holy Family 's Bria Wetsch (1,600-meter run) and Hill-Murray's B.J. Otto (long jump) set records that still remain. But Rochester Lourdes' Mike Torchia, who ran the 3,200 in 8 minutes, 59.18 seconds, had the stadium electric, meet founder Paul Schmaedeke said. "You didn't have to be a Lourdes fan to be excited about what he was doing."
Who needs spikes? Snarled traffic forced St. James' Erik Romsdahl to arrive after the 2008 meet started. Without time to put on his spikes, he pole vaulted 13 feet wearing tennis shoes and went on to win at 14 feet, 6¼ inches inside the fieldhouse.
Three-time winner: Bagley-Fosston's Analisa Huschle took first in the 200, long jump and triple jump at the 2010 meet and became the first to win three individual events.
Best for last: In 2011, Edina sprinter Devin Crawford-Tufts blazed to first in the 100 and 200. Then, running the anchor leg of the 4x100 relay, he chased down several runners en route to a stirring victory.
Triple-crown faceoff: Shakopee's Maria Hauger and Blake's Clare Flanagan, from different classes, became the state's 11th and 12th girls to capture the triple crown of a cross-country title and the 3,200 and 1,600 races in the same school year. Running head-to-head in the 2013 meet, Flanagan edged out Hauger with a record time of 10:23.
David La Vaque
