2nd in long jump; 2nd in 100-meter hurdles
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Farmington didn't have the biggest contingent of athletes at the 2011 state girls track and field meet but it certainly had one of the most productive.
Five Tigers combined to qualify for state in four events and when all was said and done, coach Tom Hart's team ranked fourth among 67 teams scoring points at the two-day event held June 10-11 at Hamline University.
Hopkins ran away with the team title with 84 points. Alexandria ranked second at 48, followed by Apple Valley 35 and Farmington 34. The fourth place finish was the best ever by a Tiger track team at the state meet.
"We had a very good meet," Hart said, "and I couldn't be prouder of my team."
Sophomore Nadia Lorencz posted a pair of runner-up finishes to lead the Farmington effort. Friday she leaped 17-10 in the long jump, three and three-fourths inches back of the winner.
Saturday morning Lorencz shaved .02 of a second off her school record time in finishing second in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.26.
"Nadia ran her best race of the season and was leading after the first three or four hurdles," Hart said.
Alyssa Parco
3rd in 300-meter hurdles; 4th in 4x400 relay
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Junior Alyssa Parco made her third straight state meet appearance a memorable one, placing third in the 300-meter hurdles in a school-record time of 44.81 seconds. Parco was seventh in the same race at state last spring.
"Like Nadia, Alyssa was in front through five of the first eight hurdles," Hart said.
(l to r) Maria Kiminski, Izzie Ferm, Erin Hickey and Alyssa Parco
4th place 4x400 meter relay
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Parco left her fingerprints on another school-record-setting performance in the 4x400 meter relay, joining freshman Izzie Ferm, senior Erin Hickey and sophomore Maria Kiminski to take fourth place in a high-powered field.
The fleet foursome dropped five seconds from its previous best time to finish in 3:54.51. The winning Hopkins team ran 3:51.26 to establish an all-time state record.
"To know we were within three seconds of an all-time state record is incredible," Hart said. "My ladies were amazing. It was a great ending to a pretty good season."
