More state gold for BKMS track team!

3200 meter relay team edges Waseca by .29
by John Fragodt, Sports Editor
The Benson-KMS track and field teams came home with another gold medal following the State Track and Field Championships at Hamline University, Friday and Saturday.
Winning a gold medal was the 3200 meter relay team of juniors Leah Tessem, Emily Tostenson, and Bethany Rosemeier, and sophomore Jessica Goff, which ran a time of 9:38.56 to edge a team from Waseca by 29/hundredths of a second for the Class A gold medal.

The relay team almost didn’t make it to the state meet after placing second at the section meet and edging the third-place team, by .08.  A new rule was added for track and field this season, allowing two relays teams to advance from section competition, giving the Benson-KMS relay team new life, and the girls took advantage of the opportunity, posting a season-best time to give the Benson-KMS track and field team its 13th overall gold medal in state competition, including a third relay gold.

“The meet was awesome!”, said an elated head girls track coach Lisa Manska  “I think the key was that the girls were well-rested.  Before the race, I spoke to the girls and told them their main job on the relay was to stay toward the front.  Because the relay is so long, once you get behind, it is difficult to catch up; especially at the state meet.  Their times shocked me!  It’s not often that every relay member sets a personal-best in the same race.”
 
Photo: Members of the 3200 meter relay team, Jessica Goff (left), Emily Tostenson, Bethany Rosemeier, and Leah Tessem pose with their gold medals.