This weekend's state track and field championships are all about the times, distances and heights that add up to individual and team glory. Here are other notable numbers to ponder as the action begins Friday morning at Hamline University in St. Paul:
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That's the National Weather Service's forecasted high temperature for Saturday, but it's not a deal-breaker and the meet will go on as scheduled. The Minnesota State High School League's heat guidelines, which list specific practice recommendations, just caution athletes to "stay out of the heat between events and stay well hydrated."
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That's the number of inches North St. Paul senior Jake Kubiatowicz is from setting the state discus throw record. His personal best of 199-7 ranks second to Karl Erickson, who threw 201-7 for Rochester Century in 2001. "I've been training with the state record in mind all season," Kubiatowicz told the Star Tribune earlier this week. Kubiatowicz, who will compete for the University of Pennsylvania next season, also holds the state's top shot put mark this spring (61-7) and is favored to sweep the guys-who-throw-heavy-stuff events.
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The combined number of all-state medals Denzel Brown and Anna Keefer are expected to earn for their talents in multiple events. Brown, a senior at Eden Prairie, ran the top reported times this spring in the 100-meter dash (10.53 seconds) and 200 (21.11). He is the defending 200 champion. The Eagles' 4 x 100 relay, which includes Brown, is tops with a 42.41 mark. Keefer, a senior at St. Michael-Albertville, holds top times in the 100 (11.86), 200 (24.74) and long jump (20-1¼). She is the defending long jump champion. Only one other 4 x 200 relay team has clocked a faster time than Keefer and her Knights teammates. The sport's coaches association is actively pursuing Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Track and Field awards to debut in 2018. Brown and Keefer would have been locks this season.
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