It wasn’t by choice, but Emily Bartusek had a rather unique training regimen for the 20th Annual Minnesota Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships.

Thursday, June 28, 2001

It wasn’t by choice, but Emily Bartusek had a rather unique training regimen for the 20th Annual Minnesota Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships.

She did nothing at all, except practice with the Albert Lea High School marching band.

She marched home with three gold medals and a state record.

Bartusek placed first in her age division in the triple jump, 200 and 400 meters last weekend at Hamline University in St. Paul. Her time of 58.1 seconds in the 400 shattered the previous state record of 58.7 set in 1982. She clocked 25.7 in the 200 and went 33-3 in the triple jump.

Bartusek also competed in all three events at the state high school meet June 10, where she aggravated a hip flexor injury that bothered her early in the season and prevented her from training for the Junior Olympics.

&uot;I thought Junior Olympics were out,&uot; said Bartusek’s father, Phil. &uot;She said, ‘Dad, I don’t think it’s that bad.’ She pretty much rested the last two weeks, other than march with the marching band. I think that helped; they stretch out, they work hard when they march. But she had no cardiovascular workouts whatsoever.&uot;

The leg was tested early, with the triple jump Bartusek’s first event.

She went on to win the 400 going away, leaving the field behind with 100 meters remaining. She outkicked two runners in the final 50 meters of the 200 to win by a comfortable margin.

&uot;Her mind was set to break that state record,&uot; said Phil Bartusek. &uot;She looked good, she looked very relaxed. You could tell she was really into it psychologically.&uot;

Bartusek’s performance qualified her to compete in all three events at the Junior Olympic six-state regional meet July 12-15 at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. The top three regional placewinners advance to nationals July 24-29 in Sacramento, Cal.

Two years ago, Bartusek advanced to the national meet in the 200 with a second-place finish in the regional. She did not participate last summer.

In August, Bartusek plans to compete in the State Games of America in St. Louis.