Track: Leitner takes fourth in 3,200 at Section 1AA meet

Christian Leitner’s quest for a state meet berth in the 3,200 meters came up shy after a fourth-place finish.

Leitner finished in 9 minutes, 46.61 seconds and trailed the winner from Rochester Mayo, Riley Macon, who finished in 9:34.39. Leitner’s future college roommate at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Steven Schimmel, also from Mayo, took second in 9:36.61 to also qualify for the state meet. Lakeville North’s Ben Saxton came in third with a time of 9:41.58.

“I ran to win,” Leitner said. “In my head I was like, ‘I’m not going to go for second place, I’m going to go for the win. I’m going to have no regrets.’”

Leitner pulled into second place with less than two laps left but couldn’t hold the pace as he faded to fourth by the last turn. Leitner will have another shot at the state meet Saturday in the 1,600.

Andre Page qualified for the finals of the 100 with a time of 11.52 and a ninth-place finish. Page secured the last spot for the finals. Tanner Kramp finished 13th in a time of 11.73.

Andy Gehn and Darrick Jackson came close to the finals in 400. Gehn finished one spot out of the finals with a time of 53.23 and Jackson finished right behind Gehn with a time of 53.36.

Lucas Knowlton cut almost a half second off his seed time in the 300 hurdles to finish 16th overall in 43.81.

Jonny Banks had the fourth-best distance in the triple jump heading into the section meet, but scratched on each of his attempts. Red Wing boys track head coach Adam Nelson said Banks was in position for a spot in the state meet if his jumps weren’t scratches.

“I feel bad for him because he had a great shot at going to state,” Nelson said. “Sometimes it just happens.”

The boys team tied for ninth with five points. The conclusion of the finals will be Saturday with the running of the relay events.

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