June 2019 Athletes of the Month

Minnesotans continued to impress the track & field world during the month of June, making a name for themselves on the national and international level. Joe Fahnbulleh from Hopkins High School won multiple state titles followed by multiple national titles, earning him the honor of USATF Minnesota’s Men’s June Athlete of the Month. Not to be outdone, Robbie Grace from The Blake School racked up four All-State finishes, including two state titles, at the MSHSL State Class A Track & Field meet, leading her school to a team state title and earning her the title of USATF Minnesota’s Women’s June Athlete of the Month.
 
Joe Fahnbulleh (Hopkins, MN/Hopkins High School) helped lead Hopkins High School to the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Class AA State Track & Field Team Title by winning the 200m state title with a time of 21.21 and also by being a member of the Royals state title winning and all-time state record setting 4x200m relay team (1:25.38). He also placed 4^th in the triple jump with a jump of 45-11.25. Fahnbulleh then went on to win two national titles in the 100m and 200m at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals Meet in Greensboro, North Carolina with times of 10.35 and 20.67 respectively, leading to him being named the National Senior Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association—the first Minnesotan athlete to ever win the award. Fahnbulleh’s performances at the MSHSL State Championships and New Balance Outdoor National meet overwhelmingly earned him the title of USATF Minnesota’s Men’s June Athlete of the Month. Headed off to the University of Florida Gators in the fall, it will be exciting to see what Fahnbulleh accomplishes in the future.
 
Robbie Grace (The Blake School), one of the best long jumpers in Minnesota history, furthered her legacy at the MSHSL Class A State Track & Field Championships placing 1^st in the long jump (19-01.5), 1^st in the 400m (56.31), 2^nd in the 100m (12.5) and 4^th in the 200m (25.76). Grace led The Blake School to winning the Class A Team Title, scoring 40 of their 57 points. Earlier this season, Grace also threw down the second best girl’s long jump in Minnesota high school track & field state history. Competing at Wake Forest University next year, Grace also definitely has a bright future ahead.
 
 
Men’s Honorable Mention Performances – June 2019
·         Matthew Boumeester (Birchwood Village, MN) won the USATF Minnesota Marathon title, running 2:24:15 at Grandma’s Marathon on June 22^nd.
·         A.J. Green (Eastview High School) won the 800 meters at the MSHSL Class AA State Championships in 1:49.93, narrowly missing the meet record, followed by a win at the Brooks PR Invitational 800 meters in 1:50.71.
·         Josh Sampson (Mounds View High School) placed 1^st in the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles at the MSHSL Class AA State Championships in 14.23 and 38.11 respectively.
·         Obsa Ali (Richfield/University of Minnesota) finished 4^th in the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships 3,000m Steeplechase with a time of 8:40.36, earning All-American honors.
·         Maxwell Otterdahl (Rosemount High School) finished 1^st in the shot put and 1^st in the discus at the MSHSL Class AA State Championships with throws of 64-04 and 191-04 meters, respectively.
·         Payton Otterdahl (Rosemount/North Dakota State) placed 2^nd and 4^th in the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships discus and shot put with throws of 62.48m and 19.89m, respectively, for his fifth and sixth All-American honors.
·         Tyler Jermann and Danny Docherty of Team USA Minnesota placed 4^th and 5^th, respectively, at the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in Duluth, MN on June 22^nd with times of 1:03:31 and 1:03:47.
·         Sherwood Sagedahl set an American Record for the 80-84 age group in the 3,000 meters with a time of 13:40.42 at the USATF Minnesota Summer Track & Field Meet #2 on June 25^th.
·         Elliott McArthur (Arden Hills, MN) won the Junior High mile and 2-mile at New Balance Outdoor Nationals meet with times of 4:30.49 and 9:45.93 as an 8^th grader.
·         Mounds View High School’s Boys 4x1 Mile Team finished 17^th overall at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals meet in 18:11.15. Austin Streit also finished 15^th in the individual mile in a time of 4:19.50.
·         Hopkins High School’s Boys 4x100m and 4x200m Relay Teams finished 2^nd and 4^th, respectively, at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals meet with times of 41.34 and 1:26.24.
·         Isaac Basten (Buffalo High School) won the 3200m at the MSHSL Class AA State Track & Field Championships in 9:09.56, then went on to finish 5^th overall in the 2 mile at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals meet in a time of 9:12.10.
·         Geno Urbom (Greenway High School) won the 1600m and 3200m at the MSHSL Class A State Track & Field Championships in 4:18.22 and 9:24.07.
 
 
Women’s Honorable Mention Performances—June 2019
·         Temi Ogunrinde (Cottage Grove, MN/University of Minnesota) finished 5^th in the hammer throw at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships with a throw of 68.85m for a new University of Minnesota school record and Nigerian national record.
·         Lauren Peterson (Rosemount High School) finished 1^st in the 1600m and 3200m at the MSHSL Class AA Track & Field Championships with times of 4:52.69 and 10:38.03, as well as being apart of Rosemount’s winning 4x400m relay team. She also went on to place 6^th in the mile at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in a time of 4:53.25.
·         Grace and Lauren Ping (Winona Cotter High School) traded off state titles in 1600m and 3200m at the MSHSL Class A State Track & Field Championships. Grace got 1^st in the 1600 in 4:59.07 with Lauren finishing close behind for 2^nd in 5:00.57. In the 3200m, Lauren won the 3200m with Grace finishing in 2^nd a few seconds later, with times of 10:39.40 and 10:50.19, respectively. Lauren Ping went on to finish 5^th in the 3200m and 17^th in the 1600m at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in 10:23.28 and 4:58.47, while Grace finished 10^th in the 5,000m, also at New Balance Outdoor Nationals, in 17:14.04.
·         Katy Jermann (Team USA Minnesota) claimed the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon title in a time of 1:10:27 in Duluth, MN on June 22^nd, then also finished 9^th at the USATF National Road 10k Championships with a time of 33:05.
·         Breanna Sieracki (Team USA Minnesota) finished 16^th at the USATF National Road 10k Championships in 33:53.
·         Dakotah Lindwurm (Team USA Minnesota) won the USATF Minnesota Marathon title at Grandma’s Marathon in a time of 2:34:02. She was the 4^th overall finisher.
·         Shaliciah Jones (North High School) finished 1^st in the 100m and 200m at the MSHSL Class AA State Track & Field Championships in 11.90 and 24.44, respectively.
·         Maddie Dahlien (Edina High School) placed 2^nd in the 100m, 2^nd in the 200m and 2^nd in the 400m at the MSHSL Class AA State Track & Field Championships as a freshman in times of 12.35, 24.91 and 55.98, respectively.
·         Mya Lesnar (Alexandria High School) finished 1^st and 2^nd in the shot put and discus throw, respectively, at the MSHSL Class AA State Track & Field Championships with throws of 43-01.5 and 145-01.
·         Molli Detloff (Elk River, MN/University of North Dakota) finished 6^th in the hammer throw at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships in a throw of 67.94m.
·         Zoie Dundon (Burnsville, MN) finished 7^th overall in the Freshman 800m at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in 2:15.06.
·         Olivia Beschorner (Mankato, MN) placed 7^th overall in the Junior High 800m at New Balance Outdoor Nationals with a time of 2:22.05.
 
We welcome your nominations!
To nominate an athlete for USATF Minnesota’s Athlete of the Month award, please send a detailed email about his/her performance to maxwellkuzara@gmail.com with the subject line “Athlete of the Month Nomination”.

Fans can follow along with USATF Minnesota on Facebook, Twitter, and online at www.minnesota.usatf.org.
 
Maxwell Kuzara
Athlete of the Month Committee Chair
USA Track & Field Minnesota
e-mail