Minnewaska senior Metaya Jergenson competed at the state meet on Friday evening for the first time, and she wasted no time making quite an impression.

Jergenson came into the discus with a seed mark of 117-01. That was sixth best in the 16-athlete field. She blew that distance out of the water on her first of four opportunities, throwing a 123-08 that held up and won her a Class A state championship.

“It’s crazy,” Jergenson said after accepting her first-place medal in front of a full grandstand at St. Michael-Albertville High School. “It’s amazing, and I don’t even know how to express it. It’s so fun.”

Everything came together after warmups on that opening throw.

“My footwork was good,” Jergenson said. “My hand release was amazing. Everything sat together perfectly. I just let it go and got a 123.”

Jergenson was thrilled with that result, but couldn’t get too comfortable with so many throws yet to come. Senior Delaney Smith of Windom Area came in with a top seed mark of 125-06, and Olivia Schwarzrock (124-11) and Emily Lorentz (123-06) had also already proved at sections that they are capable of a big throw.

“I didn’t want to test it and tried to get further,” Jergenson said. “Sadly, I didn’t, but I was super happy with the throw. I was nervous about the other people. It was my first throw, there could be however many people beating me after, so I just stayed focused.”

Jergenson had a constant smile on her face as teammates and opponents congratulated her after the meet.

“I wanted to win really bad,” she said. “It’s my last season. I wanted to go out with a bang. I didn’t know if I could do it, but I pulled it off.”

Minnewaska representatives all over the track

Jergenson’s championship was part of a big day that showcased the depth of this Minnewaska girls track and field program.

The Lakers qualified athletes in nine different events. They finished ninth in points (28) out of the 74 programs represented around the state, and wasted no time in setting the tone after finishing second in the 4x800-meter relay during the very first race.

Sophomores McKenzie Luetmer and Makena Thoen joined seventh-grader Olivia Danielson and senior Kristen Glover in finishing in a time of 9:45.04. That was more than a second faster than their seed time of 9:46.66 coming into the meet.

Danielson fits the mold of the young, talented athletes for Minnewaska who have been able to make an impact at an early age. She was part of three podium finishes for the Lakers on Friday as Danielson took sixth in the 800-meter run (2:22.95) and ninth in the 4x100 relay with Glover, Thoen and Luetmer.

Junior Emily Kaiser was part of three events at state. She placed 12th in both the 100-meter dash (12.94) and 200 dash (27.51), while running the anchor of Minnewaska’s ninth-place 4x100 relay team with senior Masie Jordan, sophomore Mya Lindeman and junior Ava Chevalier. They finished in a time of 51.92 seconds.

Luetmer added a third event at state too as she took 16th (1:03.59) in the 400-meter race. Junior Emma Kovarik was 15th in the 300-meter hurdles (49.69) to round out Minnewaska’s individual performers.

Jergenson, Jordan and Glover are three talented seniors the Lakers graduate, but Minnewaska should return a solid nucleus with state experience in 2022. That’s a recurring theme in recent years for a program that is one of the best in Minnesota’s Class A field right now.

“It’s amazing,” Jergenson said. “Our coaches are super motivational. Our team is just super supportive. It’s just all around positive and great vibes. It’s so much fun to be around the whole team, the school, everything.”

1/6: Minnewaska seventh-grader Olivia Danielson runs the third leg of the Lakers' second-place 4x800-meter relay team at the Class A state meet on June 18, 2021. (Eric Morken / Echo Press)

2/6: Minnewaska junior Emma Kovarik clears a hurdle during the 300-meter race on June 18, 2021 at the Class A state meet. (Eric Morken / Echo Press)

3/6: Minnewaska's Ava Chevalier (right) waits for the baton from teammate Mya Lindeman during the 4x100-meter relay at the Class A state meet on June 18, 2021. (Eric Morken / Echo Press)

4/6: Minnewaska junior Emily Kaiser comes down the stretch of the 100-meter dash during the Class A state meet on June 18, 2021. Kaiser finished 12th in the race in a time of 12.94 seconds. (Eric Morken / Echo Press)

5/6: Minnewaska sophomore Makena Thoen runs the second leg of the 4x800 relay for the Lakers at the state meet on June 18, 2021. Thoen, McKenzie Luetmer, Olivia Danielson and Kristen Glover teamed up to take second place in the 4x800 with a time of 9:45.04. (Eric Morken / Echo Press)

6/6: Minnewaska senior Kristen Glover (left) runs the opening leg of the 4x400-meter relay for the Lakers' foursome that finished ninth at the Class A state meet on June 18, 2021. (Eric Morken / Echo Press)