After running a personal best during the 200 meter race at the conference meet, sophomore member of the boys’ track and field team Skyler Rudelius-Palmer anticipates higher competition at Sections.
“(Running a PR) feels really great because of the fact that you have reached a goal towards the end of the season,” Rudelius-Palmer said.

Boys’ track coach Chris Nordstrom said he felt impressed with the team’s performance so far this season.

“We’ve had a lot of kids have personal bests and really come a long way as far as improving and learning a lot about the sport and what kind of runners and athletes they are,” Nordstrom said.

According to Nordstrom, the team took third place in the conference meet May 17 and 18.

Nordstrom said he thinks team should be at full strength by the Sections meet and expects the meet to go well.

“We have Sections next Tuesday and Thursday and we’ll have probably the full gamut of kids competing who are a little banged up right now,” Nordstrom said. “We’ll get some kids in the finals on Thursday and possibly to the State meet.”

Nordstrom said he wants to push the runners to be in their best mental and physical condition for the section meet.

“We’re in section 6AA, the toughest section in the entire state, so really we just have to get kids focused on giving it their all. We could have kids go out and run personal bests and finish in the middle to the back of the pack,” Nordstrom said.

Rudelius-Palmer said being in the right mindset will be important for the Sections meet.

“We have the ability to succeed at Sections, it’s just the preparation mentally and toughing it out and pushing your limits,” Rudelius-Palmer said. “We’ve been practicing all year for it and hopefully our work pays off.”

Nordstrom said he hopes runners perform well in the Section meet after relieving any anxieties at conference.

“Hopefully now that kids have the pressure of conference off their back they can go out and compete a little more freely without that pressure and hopefully go out and get some PRs and drop some times, throw farther, jump farther, jump higher, etc., and just finish the season on a positive note,” Nordstrom said.

According to Nordstrom, meet preparations have included decreasing the workload on the runners.

“The quantity of what we’re doing is a lot less and we’re just really focusing more on speeds and quality,” Nordstrom said. “(We’re) really just trying to plan it so when it comes down to race time they’re as fresh as they’ve been all year.”

Rudelius-Palmer said going to State would validate the hard work of any track and field members who might qualify to advance.

“(Advancing to State) would mean the world to them because they’ve excelled so much in what they’re doing already and I know they’ve worked hard enough to get there so probably reaching a goal is the best thing,” Rudelius-Palmer said.

Nordstrom said finding success at Sections would give athletes the special opportunity to move on to State.

“(Winning Sections) would be something special. (Our section) is tough and we know that going in, but our hope is that we’re giving our kids a shot to make finals.”

The Section finals meet takes place at 9:30 a.m. June 2 at Hamline University. The State meet takes place June 10 and 11 at Hamline University.