The 29th annual True Team track and field state meet, sponsored by the sport's coaches association, takes place Friday and Saturday at Stillwater High School.
A unique scoring format rewards programs for their depth because every athlete competing earns points toward their team's total. By contrast, a few ultra-talented athletes can, and have, won the "team" title for their school at the Minnesota State High School League-sponsored state meet in June.
The True Team meet features the large schools in Class 3A competing Friday evening and the smaller 2A and 1A programs competing throughout Saturday. North-metro athletes representing Anoka, Blaine, Mounds View and Totino-Grace hope to build on the solid runs, jumps, vaults and throws they posted last week at their respective section meets.
On the boys' side, Anoka makes its first trip to the True Team state meet since 2008. The Tornadoes return on the strength of their hurdlers. They scored all three competitors among the top 10 of both the 110- and 300-meter events at the section meet. Senior Ky'eric Baynes added some star power, winning the 200 and the long jump.
Northwest Suburban Conference rival Blaine also did well in the hurdles, placing all three competitors among the top 11 of both events. The Bengals also tallied big points in 400, taking three of the top five spots, and 3,200, where they scored three in the top nine.
The jumps were Blaine's best events. Logan Nelson, D'Angelo Brown and Mitchell Schaack swept the long jump. Brown also won the triple jump and Kyle Hockert won the high jump.
The big boys also came through as Blaine took three of the top 10 spots in shot put and discus throw.
Mounds View did similar damage in the throwing events but it was the Mustangs' middle-distance crew doing the heavy lifting. Three Mounds View runners finished eighth or better in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
