Section One, Class A has an en extraordinary group of boys triple jumpers.
The state winning distance a year ago in the Class A triple jump was 44-feet-11, by Ottertail Central sophomore Tony Ukkelberg.
Already this season, Section 1A has one athlete who has bettered that mark, and two more who are in the vicinity of it.
Rushford-Peterson/Houston's sophomore Noah Carlsonis on top with his 45-7 clearance. Just behind him are Plainview-Elgin-Millville senior Dalten Fox(44-7) and Blooming Prairie senior Collin Wobschall(44-5).
Last year, Carlson and Fox each made it to state in the triple jump. Carlson went 42-11 1/2 in the finals, and Fox 40-1 3/4.
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Fox and Carlson are also terrific long jumpers. Fox has already gone 22-6 this season, and Carlson 21-11. Fox's 22-6 mark would have won the state title a year ago. Casey Hull of Jordan was first in 2014 with his 21-5 leap.
To think we are not yet into May is startling when you consider how far these jumpers have already gone. Wait until the weather warms up for real. Then expect those distances to grow some more. The Class A record in the long jump is 23-10 1/4, set in 1982. The triple jump mark is 48-8 1/2, set in 1987.
— Pat Ruff
Lourdes will host tourney on Saturday
Lourdes will host an eight-team softball tournament on Saturday that will feature two other Rochester teams.
John Marshall and Mayo will also play in the Lourdes Invitational at the Rochester Fastpitch Complex off of Highway 14.
Each team will play three games in the tournament. Games will be played at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The top half of the bracket features Lourdes vs. John Marshall in the first round and St. Paul Como Park vs. Mounds View. The bottom half of the bracket will have Spring Lake Park and Stewartville meeting in the first round and Mayo facing Minnehaha Academy. — Guy N. Limbeck
