The Waseca Bluejays delivered a landmark performance at the Section 1AA Track and Field Championships, held May 28 and May 30 at the Ted Nelson Track at North Alexander Park in Faribault, earning three section titles, multiple school records, championship record performances, and a state-qualifying relay to highlight a standout two-day meet.
Junior Tovin Grannis authored one of the most accomplished individual performances in program history. Grannis captured the Section 1AA championship in the 300-meter hurdles in a personal-best time of 38.86, a mark that established both a new Waseca school record and a new Section 1AA Championships record. He also added a second individual title in the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 2 inches to secure another section crown.
Grannis later anchored a historic finish in the boys 4x400-meter relay. Alongside Sunny Mei, Malachi Noble, and Brady Tlougan, the Bluejays ran 3:24.72 to win the section title, while also setting a new Waseca school record and a new Section 1AA Championships record in the event. The victory capped a dominant relay performance and underscored Waseca’s depth in the 400-meter group.
Mei added a strong individual effort in the open 400 meters, placing fifth in a personal-best 51.78, while also contributing to the record-setting relay and tying for 13th in the high jump at 5-8.
In the distance events, sophomore Landon Rutt continued his late-season surge with two personal-best performances. Rutt placed fourth in the 1600 meters in 4:44.69 before returning to finish sixth in the 3200 meters in 10:18.25.
Senior William Mansfield earned runner-up honors in the pole vault with a clearance of 13-1, while freshman Dominik Mansfield added a personal-best 10-1.
On the track, senior Jett Rohl reached the 200-meter finals and placed eighth overall in a personal-best 23.15, and also helped the Bluejays to a ninth-place finish in the 4x200 relay.
Sophomore Toby Jeske led the Waseca boys in the field events, placing third in the discus with a throw of 141-1. Teammate Landan Madsen finished seventh in the discus at 133-1 and added a personal-best 43-2½ in the shot put to place 10th.
Additional scoring efforts included Owen Rupe, who recorded a personal-best 40-5¼ in the shot put, and Aidan DeRaad, who placed 16th in the event.
Waseca also turned in strong relay performances beyond the championship 4x400. The 4x100 team of Jonah Worke, Jordan Johnston, Aydan Kath, and Brady Tlougan placed fifth in 43.62, while the 4x200 relay of Jett Rohl, Sam Selthun, Jaxton Rohl, and Edwin Aragon-Rivas finished ninth.
On the girls side, the Bluejays’ biggest breakthrough came in the 4x800-meter relay.
The quartet of Stella Omtvedt, Ellie Kopischke, Ava VanDenHemel, and Maren Schimming placed second in 9:56.48, earning a berth in the 2026 Class AA State Track and Field Championships. The runner-up finish made the relay Waseca’s lone girls qualifier for the state meet and capped a strong distance relay performance.
Kopischke, an eighth grader, also qualified for the Section 1AA finals in the 400 meters, placing eighth in 1:03.79, while Omtvedt added a seventh-place finish in the 800 meters at 2:37.52.
Junior Taylor Markeson led the girls distance effort with a 13th-place finish in the 1600 meters in 5:53.60, followed by an 11th-place showing in the 3200 meters in 12:37.48. Markeson also cleared 4-6 in the high jump. Senior Kelsey Draeger recorded a personal-best 6:09.84 in the 1600 meters.
Sophomore Reese Rodriguez reached the 200-meter finals and placed ninth in 27.39, while also contributing to relay efforts and finishing 15th in the triple jump.
The girls 4x400 relay team of Omtvedt, Kopischke, Rodriguez, and Schimming placed eighth in 4:27.10, and the 4x100 relay of Rodriguez, Vivian Mader, Allyson Holmseth, and Addie Zimmerman finished 10th.
In the field events, Savanna Vagts cleared 4-10 to place 13th in the high jump. Throwers were led by Jacey Jensen, while seventh grader Brynda Rupe recorded personal-best marks in both the shot put (24-8) and discus (69-6).
When the final results were tallied, Waseca left Faribault with three Section 1AA titles, two event records at both the school and section level, a girls relay state qualification, and a long list of personal-best performances that reflected a strong finish to the 2026 season.
Waseca’s state qualifiers will now prepare for the 2026 MSHSL Class AA State Track and Field Championships, where they will compete against the top athletes in Minnesota. Class AA competition begins Friday, June 5, at 9:00 a.m. with preliminary events, followed by championship finals on Saturday, June 6, at 9:00 a.m. Both days will be held at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael. Additional information regarding tickets, streaming, schedules, parking, and meet operations can be found at MSHSL State Tournament Information Page.