The Hamline Elite meet is one of Minnesota’s premier track and field meets. The meet is unique in Minnesota, since it combines the best of the best across all three classes in Minnesota at one meet, vying to become the Hamline Elite Meet champion. Athletes must meet a qualifying standard in order to be eligible to compete at this meet as only 9-16 athletes are fielded in each event. Murray County Central standouts Ashley and Amanda Overgaauw both qualified with Ashley in the 1600 and Amanda in the 3200.
Ashley was the first to compete. The 1600 featured a strong field with most of the runners being from AA or AAA schools (MCC is class A). Ashley would find herself running in a second pack not too far off from the leaders for much of the race with all sixteen runners within just a few seconds of each other for the first couple of laps. Ashley ran consistent lap times battling until the end as she finished in 15th place, just a few seconds from the top ten. Her time of 5:12.56 broke her school record which she had just broken a few days prior.
Amanda was one of sixteen runners in the strong group of 3200m runners. Only her and one other were class A runners. That other one, Jade Rypkema of Nevis, was no stranger to Amanda as those two have battled it out at state cross country and track over the years. Rypkema is the two time defending state champion in class A 3200. Rypkema would win the Hamline Elite meet as Amanda would finish in a very respectable 6th place (10:52).
This was a great opportunity for these girls to compete against the best high school runners in the state and showcase themselves. They will take this experience as they go into the second half of their senior season.
