CLASS A STATE TRACK
Neither Panther qualified for finals in return to State Track & Field Meet but are happy to have ended their high school careers at state
While they didn’t come home with a medal hanging from their neck, both Aidan and Cade Swenhaugen didn’t let the fact that they ended their high school track careers at the state tournament get past them.
“It’s nothing to hang your head about,” Cade said. “I wanted to medal, but I’m happy I’m here.”
Aidan agreed with that outlook on the day. “It was fun,” Aidan said. “I felt like even though I didn’t place, it was still a good time for me. I’m still proud of that. I made it to state!”
Cade ran his 110 hurdles in the second event of the day Tuesday. After coming in second at sections with a time of 15.68, he knew that the heats would be fast. He was in lane one for his heat, and after settling his state tournament nerves, felt good coming out of the blocks.
“I was really nervous, but once I got out here and started running, I was really pumped and ready to go,” Cade said. “My blocks felt good. The hurdles felt good. I think I would have done better if I didn’t clip a hurdle, but I tried to recover the best I could.”
Cade clipped the last hurdle and finished with a time of 15.65, while a 15.57 was needed to move onto finals. Cade placed 12th in the state 110 hurdles.
Shortly after Cade finished his high school career, Aidan took to the track in his first event, the 100 meter dash. He would be in lane eight, and despite the tough competition, was ready for the race.
“I felt pretty ready,” Aidan said. “I felt like the warm-ups went good. The blocks weren’t there and everyone was really fast.”
Aidan had qualified for the state tournament with a second-place finish at sections with a time of 11:30. However, the heat was fast and Aidan’s state time of 11.57 didn’t move him on to finals. Aidan finished 16th in the 100 meter dash.
Despite his finish, he wasn’t done yet as he waited for the 200 meter dash, what he calls his race.
“The 200 is more my race,” Aidan said. “It’s more my speed.”
Aidan finished first in sections with a time of 22.60 to send him to state. His 100 meter dash was run shortly after 4 p.m. and the 200 meter dash wasn’t slated to start until 6:42 p.m., giving him plenty of time for him to get ready to shift his focus.
Aidan ran his 200 meter dash 13th with a time of 22.62. While he was disappointed to not move on to finals, he was happy with the race he finished his high school career with.
“Everyone was super fast,” Aidan stated. “There was four or five kids in the 21s. Everyone was really fast this year. I still ran good.”
The state tournament marks the end of the boys’ track career for Tracy Area High School, but not their personal track career. Cade will be running track for the University of Sioux Falls next fall, while Aidan will be competing for Southwest Minnesota State University. Both runners are excited for their next chapter.
“I’m ready for USF next year, I’m excited,” Cade said.
