1 SETTING THE BAR HIGH
Trevor Yedoni of Benilde-St. Margaret's won the Class 2A high jump title in 2010 with a leap of 6 feet, 10 inches. The senior now has designs on breaking the state's all-time mark of 7-1, set by Rochester John Marshall's Rod Raver at the 1973 state meet and tied by Chaska's Jon Markuson during the 1993 season. Raver's mark is the oldest state meet record on the books. "That's what I'm going after," said Yedoni, who signed to compete for the Gophers. "My goal is to go 7-1¼."
2 JUMP MEN
Yedoni also carried the top seed into the long jump last season but scratched all three of his tries at state. Eden Prairie's Rumeal Harris won the event and along with teammate Michael Sandle -- whose triple jump of 49 feet, 5 1/2 inches set a state record -- helped push the Eagles to the Class 2A boys' team title.
3 NEED FOR SPEED
Sweeping the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash events at the Class 2A state meet made Park Center's Sasha Davis the state's sprint queen. On the boys' side, St. Paul Humboldt's Calvin Clark pulled off the same trifecta in Class 1A, while Edina's Devin Crawford-Tufts blazed to Class 2A victories in the 100 (10.75 seconds) and 200 (21.82) with the fastest times in both events regardless of class. Closing fast is St. Paul Central's Andrew Lewis, who finished second to Crawford-Tufts in the 100 and 200 at state but beat him in the 60-meter dash at an indoor meet last week.
4 ROYALS' RELAYS EYE REPEAT
Hopkins claimed the Class 2A girls' state title thanks in large part to its three winning relay teams: the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400. Seven of the eight participating athletes are back to carry the baton. That includes sophomore Taylor Anderson, who suffered a high ankle sprain in March and missed the Royals' Class 4A girls' basketball championship run.
5 WHEELCHAIR DIVISION ADDED
Wheelchair events being added this spring are the 800- and 1,600-meter races and shot put. Five schools -- Andover, Irondale, Pine Island, Spring Lake Park and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown -- will have athletes competing.
6 GOING THE DISTANCE
A potential nip-and-tuck battle of boys' cross-country champions awaits in the Class 1A 1,600 and 3,200. Worthington junior Mubarik Musa won the 2009 cross-country title and the 1,600 last spring -- one spot and .23 seconds ahead of Mounds Park Academy senior Mason Ferlic. And Ferlic is the 2010 cross-country champion who edged Musa in the 3,200 last spring by .03 seconds.
7 THROW THEM SOME LOVE
Only a sophomore, Maggie Ewen of St. Francis already has a state title in the discus and finished third in the shot put behind two seniors. On the boys' side, Red Wing senior Luke Johnson is a strong candidate to sweep both throwing events. He placed second in the discus and fourth in the shot put.
2A ATHLETES TO WATCH
• Richfield sophomore Jessica January set an all-time state meet record (14.33 seconds) in the 100 hurdles and also won the 300 hurdles.
• R.J. Alowonle, a junior at Park of Cottage Grove, won the 300 hurdles and placed fourth in the 110 hurdles.
• Alexandria junior Jamie Piepenburg won the 1,600 and took second in the 3,200 to Shakopee sophomore Maria Hauger after winning the event in 2009.
1A ATHLETES TO WATCH
• Bagley/Fosston senior Analisa Huschle set a Class 1A record mark of 38 feet, 3 inches in the triple jump. In three seasons, Huschle has claimed six individual state titles, the triple jump record and a team championship.
• Pipestone senior Bree Woelber won the 300 hurdles as a freshman, the 100 hurdles as a sophomore and reclaimed her spot atop the 300 field last spring.
DAVID LA VAQUE