ST. PAUL - Macauley Spandl got his state title on yesterday, but the Moorhead senior was bummed.
Spandl cleared 15 feet to win the Class 2A pole vault title at the Minnesota state track meet at Hamline University - but he was focused on his three misses at 15-7 ¼, which would've put his name in the record books.
"I was hoping for a little higher, but it's a state title," Spandl said. "It feels good, and I'll definitely take it, but I would've liked to have gotten (the record)."
Spandl had cleared 15-8 earlier this season. The state meet record is 15-7 by Anoka's Tim Koupal in 1997.
On Spandl's second attempt at the 15-7 ¼, he nearly set the record. He cleared the height with his body, but just clipped the bar on the way down.
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"I felt like I was over it," Spandl said. "It just wasn't my best day. Right away, I felt like it wasn't going to be my best day."
The Forum of Fargo-Moorehead and The Herald are Forum Communications Co. newspapers.
Spandl wrapped up the title when he was the only vaulter to clear 14-9, and sailed over
15-0 on his first attempt. But Koupal's meet record will last at least another year.
"It's kind of a letdown," Spandl said of not getting the record. "I just wish I could've done my best at the state meet."
Mattson in good shape for two finals today
Hawley-Ulen-Hitterdal's Nate Mattson just wanted to get into finals in the Class 1A 100 and 200, but the senior did more than that.
Mattson ran the fastest prelim time in the 100 (10.95) and the second-fastest in the 200 (22.11) to make him a threat for two titles today.
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"Running your best times all year at the state meet is something everybody hopes for," Mattson said. "Tomorrow's going to have to be Round 2."
St. Paul Humboldt's Calvin Clark had the fastest time in the 200 at 21.98. Clark's 100 time of 10.96 was right behind Mattson, setting up what could be a tight dual in both sprints.
Ada-Borup's Blasey gets to awards stand
Brian Blasey's first state meet experience wasn't very memorable, but he made up for it with his second trip.
The Ada-Borup sophomore finished fourth in the shot put yesterday with a mark of 52-6 ¾.
Blasey qualified in the discus last year, but scratched every single attempt.
"Oh yeah, I got dead last," Blasey said. "I knew what that was like, and I didn't want to do that again.
"I would've liked to have placed higher, but this was a lot better."
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Blasey came in ranked third in the event. He is ranked ninth in today's discus.
BOYS
Friday's finals
Winners and local placers
Class 2A
3,200: 1, Autio, St. Michael-Albertville, 9:16.21.
Pole vault: 1, Spandl, Moorhead, 15-0.
Triple jump: 1, Sandle, Eden Prairie, 49-5 ½ (record, old record 49-0 by Pat Akpaette, Richfield, 2001).
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Shot put: 1, Starr, Blaine, 58-5 ¼.
Class 1A
3,200: 1, Ferlic, Mounds Park, 9:27.62. 6, Stoll, Perham, 9:43.18. 8, Schuldt, Nevis, 9:43.50.
Pole vault: 1, Puckett, Mayer Lutheran, 14-0.
Triple jump: 1, Halvorson, Concordia, 45-3.
Shot put: 1, Johnson, Eveleth-Gilbert, 55-0 ½. 4, Blasey, Ada-Borup, 52-6 ¾.
