BLAINE &045; As expected, Emily Bartusek qualified for the Class AA 400-meter finals in the state track and field meet.

The Albert Lea High School sophomore finished second in her preliminary heat Friday at the National Sports Center in Blaine, clocking 58.34 seconds. It was the fifth-fastest qualifying time.

The top qualifier was defending state champion Vanessa Clarida of Bloomington Kennedy at 56.09.

Bartusek placed sixth in her 200 preliminary heat and missed the finals. Her time was 26.89. The final qualifier clocked 26.42.

Albert Lea’s other state entrant, senior Beth Kolling, was sixth in her 100 preliminary and did not make the finals.

In the only final conducted Friday for an area athlete, Alden-Conger’s Megan Jensen placed sixth in the Class A 3200 meters in 11:33.17. She was scheduled to compete in the 1600 Saturday.

Camille Kyte of NRHEG made the finals in two Class A races, the 100 and 200. She had the fifth-fastest qualifying time in the 100 at 12.93 and the fourth best in the 200 at 25.42.

Two other NRHEG girls were slated to compete Saturday, Nicole Lonning in the shot put and Kalisha Anthony in the pole vault.

United South Central’s Casey Christenson made the finals in the 400 but missed in the 200.