BLAINE – Heading into the state track and field meet, United South Central coach Kent Viesselman figured the Rebels’ best shot at a high place was by Casey Christenson in the 400 meters.

Monday, June 11, 2001

BLAINE – Heading into the state track and field meet, United South Central coach Kent Viesselman figured the Rebels’ best shot at a high place was by Casey Christenson in the 400 meters.

By the time the 400 final was run Saturday afternoon, Christenson looked like he was feeling the effects of competing in four events over two days. He finished seventh, the same as in the 100.

Christenson, however, had one final chance. And he made the most of it, finishing fourth in the Class A 200. A junior, had the highest finish of any area competitor in the state meet at the National Sports Center in Blaine. He also competed in the triple jump.

Jake Courrier, Christenson’s teammate, made it to the medal stand with a sixth-place finish in the discus.

Courrier, who like Christenson in the 200 finished higher than he was seeded, said placing at state was the perfect end to his high school athletic career.

&uot;I’m happy to be able to stand up there,&uot; said Courrier. &uot;It’s a big deal getting here. To even place anywhere near the top is just awesome.&uot;

The Rebels’ distance runners did not place, but were close in tightly-packed races.

Tim Rauenhorst was 11th out of 16 runners in the 3200 in 10:01.49; eighth place was 9:59.77. Jeff Goeden was 14th among 17 runners in the 1600 in 4:33.67; eighth was 4:30.89.

Freshman Kalisha Anthony of NRHEG competed in the pole vault, clearing 9-6 but missing at 10 feet, her season best.

The other area entrant at state, Alden-Conger senior Derek Thorson, missed the finals of the 800, clocking 2:01.25 in the preliminaries.