BLAINE, Minn. -- Jake Januszewski said he knew he would have a good race as soon as he felt the rain begin to fall just before the start of the 3,200-meter run Friday at the Minnesota state track and field meet.
"That's what I was hoping for all day," Januszewski said. "That's the thing about running. When it rains like this it shows who has the most guts and who really wants it the most."
The Perham senior, who was seeded 13th, shocked the field with a second-place finish in the Class 1A event at the National Sports Center.
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle senior Will Enns, this year's Class 1A cross country champion, took first with a time of 9:33.60.
Januszewski, who finished in 9:41.39, stayed with the middle of the pack until Enns made his move to the front.
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"Around the fourth lap, the pack started to break up," Januszewski said. "When Will went to the front I knew that's where I wanted to be. I knew I had to stick with him."
Januszewski, who will try for the 1,600-meter title today, said the competition brought out the best in him.
"I felt extremely confident the whole time," he said. "I doubt anyone picked me to get second."
Perham's Mike Neels finished ninth in the long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 10 inches. Hawley/Ulen-Hitterdal's Ben Aakre finished 15th (19-4).
Aakre also advanced to the final in the 110 hurdles with a preliminary run of 15.60.
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton junior Ryan Bohnenstingl cleared 11-6 to place 14th in the pole vault. Park Rapids Area's Paul Johanning was eighth with a vault of 12-6.
Mahnomen/Waubun's Nathan McArthur was seventh in the shot put (51-5¾). Ricky Smith of Stewartville won the event with a toss of 56-4¾.
Class 2A
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Moorhead's Bret Fason had high hopes for the Class 2A pole vault competition -- literally.
Fason wanted to break his personal best of 12-6.
The junior did just that, finishing eighth in the event after clearing 13 feet.
"It was just the atmosphere here," Fason said. "At the beginning I was really nervous. Once the competition started, it all came together."
The surprising finish has Fason already thinking about next year.
"I think I'll vault all summer and try to do some in the winter," Fason said. "I can't wait to come back."
Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562
