Nyalaam Jok Flies Over 6 Feet To Tie Minnesota HJ Record

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Nyalaam Jok of Annandale broke the all-time Minnesota record in the girls high jump when she cleared six feet at the MSHSL Championships on Friday. The University of Minnesota recruit also won the Class A title in the long jump with 20-0.50w. She also took second in the 100 hurdles. 

Jok's high jump clearance is a national leader and tied the all-time state best of Madison Schmidt of Blaine, who did it in 2019 as a junior and then missed her senior year due to the canceled season. Jok previously won state high jump titles in 2017 as an eighth grader and 2018. 

Edina junior Maddie Dahlien made a triumphant return to the Class AA state meet after a year's absence as she claimed victory in the 100, 200 and 400 meters on Saturday. 

In 2019 as a freshman, Dahlien finished second in all three events. 

Pulling off the triple on Saturday wasn't easy. In the 100, Dahlien was credited with a photo-finish victory over Stillwater's Alexis Pratt as both dipped under 12 seconds for the first time and were clocked in 11.99. Analysis showed Dahlien won it by thee-thousandths of a second. 

Dahlien won the 200 in a personal best 24.45 and the 400 in a PR 55.48. 

In Class AA, however, it was a team sweep for Rosemount. 

The boys scored 55 points and the girls scored 86.

Ava Cinnamo swept the hurdles events and placed seventh in the triple jump to help lead the Rosemount girls, who also got a win from Jordan Hecht in the discus and a 2-3 finish in the shot put from Hecht and Ava Webster.

Gary Afram led the Rosemount boys with his victory in the 100 (10.70) and he anchored the winning 4x200 relay. 

After Rosemount suffered a dropped baton in the 4x100, the team got a lift when Miles Townsend upset the formchart and took fourth. 

Stillwater's Analee Weaver won the 3,200 meters in US#15 10:15.27 and she was third in the 1,600 with 4:51.45. 

Alexandra Weimer of St. Michael-Albertville won the girls 1,600 in 4:49.93. 

Sophomore Cameron Stocke from Eveleth-Gilbert ran 4:12.94 to win the 1,600 meters. 

Marcus Hansen from Waseca won the shot put with a big throw of US#13 63-2.25.  

George Jackson of Hopkins, working back from injury, won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.09w and ran on two relays. 

Jarod White of Pine Island took aim at a state record bar of 16-2 but missed. He won the pole vault competition at 15-9. 

In Class A, Kenny Soderberg helped Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta win the boys team title with his victory in the 300-meter hurdles (39.14) and second place finish in the 110 hurdles. Teammate Ethan Lebrija won the 200 (22.30) and was seventh in the 100. 

Sprinters Cassia Cady and Sara Byers helped the Rockfor girls win the championship. Cady was second in the 100, Byers was fourth in the 200 and the triple jump, and both were part of the winning 4x100 relay. 

Maggie Larson of Maple Lake won the triple jump with 40-10.50, third best in state history, and placed second to Jok in the long jump with 19-1.75w. 

Team champions - 

Class AA - Rosemount boys 55 points, Rosemount girls 86 points - RESULTS

Class A - Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta boys 42 points, Rockford girls 46 points - RESULTS