2012 Spring Preview: Paulson, Siekmeier to lead MSA track team in 2012

This spring, new Math and Science Academy cross country running coach Cami Paulson takes over the track and field teams as the Dragons look to improve on their finishes from a year ago.

“We are looking forward to the season and making progress as a team in every area,” Paulson said.

Last year, MSA finished the year at the Section 4A championships, with both the boys and girls track teams earning their highest finish in school history. In 2011 the MSA boys finished in a tie for 11th place overall at the section meet and the MSA girls took 14th place overall.

Leading the way for the MSA boys was Nirmal Mekala with a third place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 40 feet, 2 inches. In addition, distance running standout Jacob Siekmeier finished in fifth place in the 3200-meter run with a new MSA school-record time of 10 minutes, 1.23 seconds. Also, the MSA 3200-meter relay team of Shawn Ramberg, Charlie Fasbender, Siekmeier and Brady Hannula finished in second place – one slot short of the state meet – with a school-record time of 8:41.53.

On the girls side of the section meet, Manasa Melachuri finished in third place in 1600-meter run with a school-record 5:28.12 and Greta Siekmeier finished in seventh place in the 3200 with a time of 12:48.45.

This season, the Dragons will be without 2011 grads Mekala, Fasbender and Melachuri. However, junior Jacob Siekmeier, senior Brady Hannula and freshmen Greta Siekmeier and Elise Lohmann return to lead the way in 2012, along with junior Han Yong Wunrow, senior Spencer Lee, junior Maddie Ames and freshmen Ines Siepmann and Katie Baumann.

MSA competes today at Richfield High School, then again in the Lakeville North Mega Meet on Friday, April 13, and the St. Croix Lutheran Invitational on Thursday, April 26.

Tags: 2012 spring preview, sports, updates