Ryan Michels took two state champion spots last week at the State track meet in Bismarck. (Lori Gronvold)

Ryan Michels had a 24-hour stretch to remember this past weekend at the 2016 State Track & Field meet held in Bismarck.

Last Friday, Michels was top dog in the High Jump as he cleared 6′ 6″, which was four inches better than second place. He was attempting to clear a height past that when he slipped off the mat after an attempt and ended up injuring himself.

“I didn’t know what to expect heading into the State meet,” stated Michels, “..knew it would be tough competition and as far as my accident, I had missed the mat before but this time I kneed myself in the face which caused a gash.”

Even with the injury, Michels returned the next morning to compete in the Long Jump.

“Coming in, I had a personal record of 21′ 10″ and thought that would be good enough to win,” said Michels. He ended up with a jump of 21′ 6″ and his second championship of the meet. As far as the High Jump goes, it is the third year in a row that a Rugby jumper has won it on the male side (Nolan Hovland had won the previous two years).

Taking a look at the other members who placed at the State Track meet. On the girls side, Kristina Brossart took eight place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.18 seconds. Anni Stier was sixth in the 300-meter hurdles as she came in at 47.46 seconds. Sara Stier took home fourth place in the Triple Jump as she jumped 35 feet even and Maria Blessum placed third in the Pole Vault with a clearance of 10′ 6″.

The relay teams for the Rugby Girls also faired well. The 4X200 team of Brossart, Blessum, Anni & Sara Stier placed third with a time of 1:48.37. Those four also combined to take fifth in the 4X100, coming in at 52.35 seconds. Rounding out the placement finishes for the girls relay teams was the 4X400, who placed fifth with at time of 4:08.97. The team consisted of Brossart, Blessum, Tristin Lunde and Anni Stier.

There was only one other placer on the boys side besides Michels and that was Victor Gronvold. Gronvold placed eighth in the 110-Meter High Hurdles, a time of 15.95 seconds. He was also fifth in the Pole Vault, clearing 12′ 6″. Congratulations to all that participated at the State Track Meet in Bismarck as that wrapped up the season for the teams.

Hauser is the sports director for AM 1450 KZZJ radio.