After the section meet, Park head coach Brad Narveson knew it was time to adjust the all-time Park record book.
Park seniors David Ola-Kazeem and OT Omot both jumped into Park’s top 10 …
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After the section meet, Park head coach Brad Narveson knew it was time to adjust the all-time Park record book.
Park seniors David Ola-Kazeem and OT Omot both jumped into Park’s top 10 record book with sterling showings in the 2023 Section 3AAA boys and girls track and field championships.
Ola-Kazeem jumped 22-0.25 in the long jump, Park’s third-best all-time. He also went 43-10.75 in the triple jump, moving into sixth place.
Omot, who already held second-place all-time with a 6-6 high jump, went 47-0.25 in the triple jump, which ranks as the second best jump in recorded school history.
You might say the two star seniors jumpers didn’t disappoint.
Ola-Kazeem won the long jump and Omot finished first in both the high jump and the triple jump to highlight Park’s day in the 2023 Section 3AAA boys and girls track and field meet, held May 31 and June 2 at Two Rivers High School.
Both Ola-Kazeem and Omot will be heading for the MSHSL state track and field meet, held again at St, Michael-Albertville High School, this Thursday, June 8 through Saturday, June 10.
It’s the second straight trip to state for Omot, who finished eighth in both the Class AAA high jump and triple jump last season.
“He has a chance to do really well at the state meet,” said Narveson. Omot will compete in the triple jump on Thursday and the high jump Saturday.
Ola-Kazeem was the only jumper to go 22 feet in the long jump in the section finals. Teammate Skylar Morgan was fifth in the event at 21.02.75, going two feet than his previous best. Omot finished eighth in the long jump with a best of 20-05.50.
“David has a chance to do well at the state meet as well,” said Narveson. “Our jumps coach Barry Dillard is very excited.”
It was a huge meet for Omot, who scored wins in both the triple jump Thursday and the high jump on Saturday. Omot’s triple jump of 47.0.25 was the second best in school history, trailing only a 47-11 mark set by R.J. Alowonle in 2012.
In the section meet Friday Omot cleared the high jump bar at 6-2, the only jumper to make that height, to earn a repeat trip to the state meet. Ola-Kazeem was seventh in the high jump at 5-8.
In the triple jump, Omot’s 47-00.25 easily bested the field. Ola-Kazeem was fourth in the triple jump at 42-08.25.
Ola-Kazeem’s mark of 43-10.75 set in the preliminaries ranks sixth on the all-time best Park record book. Morgan was 16th in the triple jump at 38-06.5.
Boys results
Park senior Calik Nute put the shot 46-05.0 to finish fourth in the boys shot put. Taran Blasy was 11th in the event with a toss of 21-02.75. Nute was 13th in the discus as well at 112-05.
Nicholas McDonald made the finals and finished eighth in the 800-meter rub in a time of 2:06.73.
Gavin Stauffer was 12th in the 1,600-meter run in 4:54.09 and finished 16h in the 3,200 in 10:59.83. Paul Giadyu was 14th in the 100-meter dash (12.04). Fiyinfoluwa Taiwo was 12th in the 200-meter dash (23.99) and Kaeden Callais was 15th in the 200 (24.33). Samuel Lankow was 13th in the pole vault, clearing 10-feet even.
Park was sixth in the 4x100 with the team of Ola-Kazeem, Giadyu, Skylar Morgan and Omot finishing in season best time of 43.71. The Wolfpack foursome of Kaeden Callis, Giadyu, Taiwo and Dominic Jenkins finished fourth in the 4x200 in 1:33.49.
The 4x400 team of Jenkins, Henry Schluetter, Reese Klecatsky and William Deutsch was seventh in 3:44.45. Park’s 4x800 squad of Mason Allen, Tyler Krogman, Jack Weir and McDonald came in fifth in 8:31.89.
Park was fifth in the team scoring with 78 points. Rosemount won the boys team race with 247.5 points, followed y: 2, Eagan, 220; 3, Hastings, 119; 4, East Ridge, 105.5; 5, Park, 78; 6, Eastview, 75; 7, Burnsville, 67; 8, Apple Valley, 66.
Girls results
In the girls pole vault, Park’s Susan Mbu was fourth (9-6) in a career best and teammate Savannah Brown finished sixth (9-0).
Victoria Stepka finished fourth in the 800-meter run in 2:22.87, her time the fourth-best in Park history.
Zoey Bammert-Mueller was seventh in the shot put (32-10.25) and eighth in the discus (89-09).
Park sophomore Rainna Jameson was seventh in the high jump, clearing just 5-0 after coming into the meet with a section best of 5-8. Hailey Kieffer was 11th in the high jump at 4-8.
The school record holder in the high jump at 5-6, Jameson suffered a stress fracture during the season. She was cleared to give the section meet a try, but obviously was limited in what she could do.
“She just got injured at the wrong time,” Narveson said. “But she’s only a sophomore.”
Park’s 4x200 relay team of Kylee Nickle, Hailey Kieffer, Gabriella Faletti and Annelise Faletti was fifth in 1:51.50. Park was sixth in the 4x100 with the team of Madeline Finstad, Susan Mbu, Gabriella Faletti and Hailey Kieffer finishing in 52.28.
The 4x400 foursome of Annelise Faletti, Victoria Stepka, Susan Mbu and Kylee Nickle was sixth in 4:22.79.
Annelise Faletti was sixth in the 400-meter dash in 1:02.55. Finley Leick was ninth in the 1,600-meter run in 5:42.31. Hailey Kieffer was 10th in the 300-meter hurdles in 53.46. Elizabeth Ayala was 13th in the 300 hurdles (57.16).
Park was sixth in the team race with 42 points. Rosemount won the team scoring with 230 points, followed by 2, Eagan, 220; 3, Eastview, 119.5; 4, Hastings, 112; 5, East Ridge, 107.5; 6, Park, 42; 7, Apple Valley, 40; 8, Burnsville, 37.
