DAY 10: AND, OH, WHAT A GRAND FINALEʹ

July 1, 2024 There were season bests, personal bests, world leader setting times and marks, and meet records, but it wasn’t until the final race, the women’s 400-meter hurdles that a world record was set at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, during the 2024 US Olympic Track and Field Trials.  The star of the show

DAY 9: MINNESOTA ATHLETE THROWERS MAGGIE EWEN AND MARCUS GUSTAVESON FLEETINGLY HOLD MAGICAL 3RD SPOT BEFORE FINISHING 6TH; IT’S THE PEOPLE!

June 30, 2024 Maggie Ewen, the thrower from St. Francis, Minnesota, has had a storied high school and collegiate athletic career.  She has also competed internationally, most recently placing 7th  in the shot put with a throw of 18.96 meters at the 2024 World Athletics Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in March.  A similar throw still

DAY 8 AT THE US OLYMPIC TRACK & FIELD TRIALS: MAGGIE EWEN MAKES THE FINALS IN WOMEN’S SHOT PUT; CLOSE UPS WITH PAST AND PRESENT OLYMPIANS

June 29, 2024 The highlight for Minnesota athlete fans was Maggie Ewen advancing to the finals of the women’s shot when she launched her second of three throws 60 feet-9 ¼ inches (18.52 meters) for 5th place.  All four athletes who finished ahead of Maggie had throws surpassing 63 feet (19 meters).  The 2013 St.

DAY 7 AT EUGENE: CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY ST. PAUL ATHLETES ADVANCE; DISCUS THROWER SHELBY FRANK 5TH AT US OLYMPIC TRIALS

June 28, 2024 It is surprising not only how many Division II and Division III athletes have qualified for the US Olympic Track & Field Trials but there are 10 HIGH SCHOOL athletes participating—and often advancing.  For example, Quincy Wilson, a Texas high school sophomore placed 6th in the 400-meter dash finals—and has hit the

DAY 4: GOPHER SHELBY FRANK QUALIFIES FOR ANOTHER FINAL; FALL IN 800 METER WOMEN’S FINAL CAUSES SCRAMBLE AND HEARTACHE

June 25, 2024 University of Minnesota thrower Shelby Frank is the only woman athlete doubling in hammer throw and discus at the 2024 US Olympic Track & Field Trials.  She is proving her throwing skill by qualifying for the finals in each event.  In the discus, Shelby advanced to the finals on another sunny day

DAY 3: MIAC OLYMPIAN LIST GROWS BY ONE AS MATT WILKINSON OF CARLETON COLLEGE PLACES 2ND IN US OLYMPIC TRIALS STEEPLECHASE

June 24, 2024 Spreading his arms wide in elation as he crossed the finish line of the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon in second place of the grueling event with a water jump and four high and sturdy barriers to hurdle over each lap, Matt Wilkinson of Minnetonka High School

DAY 2: PAYTON OTTERDAHL JOINS DAKOTAH LINDWURM AS MINNESOTA’S FIRST 2024 TRACK AND FIELD SUMMER OLYMPIANS; AND THE GOLDEN BEARS ARE WELL REPRESENTED

June 23, 2024 The 4th shot put throw by Rosemount athlete Payton Otterdahl edged him into 3rd place in the Olympic Track & Field Trials finals, and a 5th throw of 73 ft and ½ inch (22.26 meters) secured his return to a spot on the US Olympic team behind Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs. 

US OLYMPIC TRACK & FIELD TRIALS: ON DAY 1, MATT WILKINSON TOPS STEEPLECHASE FIELD AND PAYTON OTTERDAHL RANKS 2ND IN SHOT PUT QUALIFIERS

June 22, 2024 While attendance will ramp up, a small and vocal crowd cheered on US Olympic Track and Field qualifiers on the first of eight days of competition at renovated Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Matt Wilkinson, a 2021 graduate and Division III national champion at Carleton College who later pursued running and a

HEADING TO EUGENE, OREGON

June 18, 2024 Please follow the US Olympic Track & Field Trials’ postings on Facebook and http://www.mnathletes.com, a website dedicated to featuring Minnesota athletes in a variety of sports and wide range of eras. A brother and I will be at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, for the majority of the event. While in

KIARA BUFORD: BASKETBALL PLAYER AND COACH PASSIONATE ABOUT WINNING

June 12, 2024 One of only two women in Minnesota high school basketball history to be both a player and a coach of a championship team is evidence alone that Kiara Buford, born in 1989, is passionate about winning.  A star player on the St. Paul Central girls’ basketball teams that appeared in four consecutive

AT FERTILE-BELTRAMI AND HILLS-BEAVER CREEK: NO TRACK, NO PROBLEM

June 8, 2024 There were some impressive track and field performances at the Minnesota State High School League Track & Field Championships on Thursday and a couple of especially noteworthy ones involved Class A athletes from the small schools of Fertile-Beltrami, Bagley-Fosston, and Hill-Beaver Creek. Sprinter Ava Phrakonkham of Bagley-Fosston led the way with a

BETH FLAHERTY: GYMNASTICS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE GIFT

June 4, 2024 A four-time All-American and individual national collegiate champion in floor exercise, gymnast Beth Flaherty has fond memories of her years in the sport, saying, “I had great gymnastics coaches.  All my coaches understood what I needed.  It was all about the team.  For me, gymnastics has been a total gift.” The middle

MARGIE FREED: FINDING FUN IN CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AND BIATHLON WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT SURROUNDS IT

May 29, 2024 Move. Groove. Improve.  That’s Margie (pronounced with a soft g) Freed’s motto and what she incorporates in her training and coaching.  “A lot of the reason I like skiing and biathlon is because of the activity and the community that surrounds it,” says Margie, the 2016 Minnesota State High School League Cross

1955: GARDEN CITY WAS TRACK & FIELD CITY OF MINNESOTA

May 21, 2024 Minnesota track and field fans may remember Windom sprinter Heather Van Norman single-handedly winning the 1987 girls’ state Class A title in 1987 by capturing victories in the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter races.  The talented speedster then joined four teammates who placed 3rd in the 4 x 800-meter relay and again led

MAURIE DAIGNEAU: COACHES WERE FATHER FIGURES TO ALL-BIG TEN NORTHWESTERN QB FROM ROCHESTER

May 15, 2024 “My mother would say I was playing with a ball as soon as I could walk,” says Maurice “Maurie” Daigneau, born in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1950.  “I loved sports, and I was successful at them.  It formed an identity for me.”  It was especially important for the youthful athlete since his parents

KATHYRN MILES JOHNSON: FIND THE BEST FIT

May 9, 2024 “I always had an interest in sports, which is a bit odd because no one else in my family did,” Kathryn Miles Johnson says of lifetime participation in sports.  Born in Nova Scotia in 1978, Kathryn, her sister, Elizabeth, and parents Ken and Pat made a transcontinental move to Surrey, British Columbia,

LISA BROWN: GUSTAVUS ATHLETE COMPETED IN THE US OLYMPIC JAVELIN TRIALS

May 1, 2024 A young woman from the small town of Lake Crystal, Minnesota (population 2,500), 13 miles southwest of Mankato was competing with the country’s best javelin throwers in 2008 at the US Olympic Trials at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.  “Some of the most respected javelin throwers in the world and people

MIKE PALMQUIST: FORTUNATE TO BE PART OF MINNESOTA RUNNING SCENE

April 11, 2024 An energetic 4th-grade kid living in Hibbing, Mike Palmquist, born in 1957, says, “I just started running around the school, a four-block area, and I’d feel better.”  It was the start of an illustrious running career for the oldest of seven children—all who would perform well in cross country and track—of James

Minnesota Athletes Celebration Recap

April 8, 2024 A rapt audience of about 60 people appreciated the presentation of 9 Minnesota athletes at the Braemar Golf Club in Edina on Sunday.  Each speaker included teachers, coaches, and teammates who were instrumental in their athletic journey and how sports influenced their life, developing life skills and lifelong friendships.  A listing of

Henry Boucha Was at the First Minnesota Athletes Celebration, This Time Olympic Teammate Craig Sarner Will Be Present

March 27, 2024 Friend Connie DeGrote sent a reminder the premiere of “The Electric Indian,” featuring hockey star Henry Boucha was scheduled to be televised on Twin Cities Public Television last night. It was eight years ago when the Warroad, Minnesota native attended and presented at the inaugural Minnesota Athletes Celebration coordinated with the book

AARON BANKS: OLYMPIC TRIALS FINALIST LOVES HISTORY OF SHOT PUT, DISCUS THROWING

Aaron Banks will be one of the featured presenters at the Minnesota Athletes Celebration on Sunday, April 7th, at the Braemar Golf Club in Edina, from noon to 3:00 p.m. The public is warmly invited. Please call 507-301-4369 or write to pakkem@charter.net for free tickets. March 26, 2024 “The influence of the farm was important

LEAH YAVAROW: MINDFUL CURLER

March 6, 2024 “I started curling like most people do—as a family sport,” says Leah Yavarow of her introduction to the sport.  Born in 2001 to parents Mike, a firefighter, and Carrie, a registered nurse, in Bemidji, Minnesota, Leah began curling at age six as part of a community education program. Always active, Leah started

GREG BOONE: MAN OF “A LOT OF LAYERS” IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE

February 27, 2024 This is the first in a 2024 series of stories on Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) athletes. Woven throughout the layered life of Greg Boone, a basketball star at Minneapolis Central and Augsburg University, has been dedication to community.  Born in 1958 as the fourth of five children to Louis (Sr.) and

LEN LILYHOLM: ARCHITECT REALIZED OLYMPIC HOCKEY GOAL

February 21, 2024 A 1959 Robbinsdale High School Robins graduate, Len Lilyholm has fond memories of his high school years, the most cherished meeting his future wife, Carol Rivers.  Len captained football, hockey, and track and field teams, where talented athletes abounded. Teammate Julian Hook, a two-time undefeated state wrestling champion, also excelled in football

ROSIE FRANKOWSKI: CELEBRATE WINTER WITH A SPORT THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER

February 15, 2024 “I had an interesting mix in my childhood,” says Rosie Frankowski, born in 1991, referring to her experience living in Minneapolis near Southwest High School during the academic year and at Lake Caribou a few miles from Lutsen, Minnesota (population 220) throughout the summer and weekends. “My sister, Anna, and I would

2024 US Curling Championships Have Robust Minnesota Representation

February 6, 2024 Minnesota’s once dominant representation in ice hockey and speedskating at the Winter Olympics has diminished with the advent of artificial ice.  But the composition of US Olympic curling teams with Minnesota ties has been prevalent, highlighted by the Cinderella 2018 gold medal-winning team of John Shuster, Chisholm (now living in Superior, WI);

Woohoo! Minnesota Woman Qualifies for Olympics as Dakotah Lindwurm takes 3rd! Reed Fischer 9th in Men’s Olympic Marathon Trials

February 3, 2024 Originally scheduled to start at noon, the US Olympic Marathon Trials were thankfully moved ahead two hours due to heat and humidity concerns expressed by the runners.  With a gun-start after 10:00 in Orlando, Florida, at 54° F and temperatures expected to rise significantly, many Minnesota athletes with Minnesota connections raced the

RYLEE STREIFEL: PRIOR LAKE WRESTLER WAS IN SPOTLIGHT AT 2016 US WORLD WRESTLING JUNIOR FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LAS VEGAS

January 30, 2024 Enjoying life in rural Prior Lake as the youngest child of Pat and Pam Streifel, Rylee has fond memories, saying, “My parents encouraged us to play and be outdoors.  It created a great relationship with my siblings as we built snow forts and dug tunnels together. I also went snowmobiling, four-wheeling, and

CRAIG SARNER: 1972 OLYMPICS WERE ALL A HIGHLIGHT TO HOCKEY SILVER MEDALIST

January 16, 2024 “It was heaven back then,” says Craig Sarner describing his play outdoors as a child.  “You’d leave the house at eight o’clock and come back at five o’ clock.  The neighborhood had a lot of kids, and we would form teams. It was a magical time.”  Born in St. Paul in 1949,

US U-18 Women’s Hockey Team Wins Gold in World Championships

January 14, 2023 Young Minnesota women hockey athletes as young as 15 years old winning a gold medal at the U-18 World Championships showed a promising future to fans following the enthralling success of Minnesota’s Professional Hockey League with 13,316 in attendance at its home opener (see full story with brief biographies of the team’s

Minnesota Athletes on the Minnesota Professional Women’s Hockey League Team

January 8, 2024 Minnesota’s Professional Women’s Hockey Leaguewon both its opener, 3-2vs Boston, and its home opener, a 3-0 victory powered by Grace Zumwinkle’s hat trick.  The shutout over Montreal by Maddie Rooney was played at the Xcel Center in St. Paul in front of a record crowd of 13,316 for a women’s professional hockey

DECEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON MINNESOTA RUNNERS

December 18, 2023 Major running competitions are still happening in December and Minnesota runners are continuing their strong tradition by performing well.  In the National Club Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, the Minnesota Distance Elite team was runner-up to the San Diego Track Club.  Two members of the team are Minnesota natives:  Joel Reichow

MARK MERILA: ‘TIS THE SEASON OF MIRACLES

For someone diagnosed with a brain tumor his senior year as a baseball player in 1994 with the University of Minnesota (U of M) while leading the Big Ten Conference with a .488 batting average and then told he had three months to live in 2005 when the tumor returned when serving as bullpen coach

Winter Sports Update

Lots of events involving Minnesota athletes have taken place while this column was on hiatus: the University of Minnesota (U of M) indoor track and field season has been in full swing; four U of M wrestlers were at the U S Collegiate Championships Tournament at the Air Force Academy; and the U S Senior