Emerging from a week of joy after placing third at the conference meet May 20, head coach Richard Keith prepares one runner for the state meet next week.

Junior Mack Trotter, who competes in the 800 meter run, is the only runner advancing to the state meet next week after winning the 800 with a time of 1:53:04.

With 14 different schools competing in the meet, Keith said he was optimistic about the team’s performance, but knew that it would be hard to compete against the biggest and best teams in the state.

“We have a really large section with schools that are extremely competitive, but I thought if we could get a couple people on a podium or with a ribbon that would be a success for us,” Keith said.

The Oriole 4×400 meter race team, including senior Trevor Seibert, junior Jackson Eilers, junior Nick Behnken and junior Mack Trotter, placed fifth, and the 4×800 meter race team, including Eilers, sophomore Vince Callahan, junior Nick Behnken and junior Jerry Ortiz, placed seventh at the section meet.

Keith said despite only one qualification for state, he was content with how the relay teams placed in sections.

“The way we finished the season really mirrored the rest of the season because the people who were expected to do well met their goals, while the others fell just a bit short at sections, which again is acceptable because of the competativeness of our section,” Keith said.

Ortiz said despite an end to the season, he was happy overall with the team’s performance throughout the season.

“I thought it was a great accomplishment when we placed third at the conference meet,” Ortiz said. “We knew going into sections that it would be tough, but we managed to do well comparatively.”

Keith said despite a small representation at the state meet, overall he was happy about the season as many athletes earned all-conference honorable mention at the conference meet. Ten athletes earned all-conference honors and 13 earned all-conference honorable mention awards.

Mack Trotter will compete at the state track meet preliminary race on Friday, June 5, at Hamline.