Posted: 6/6/07
Ramberg, relay team qualify for state
 Senior JJ Koeber runs the second leg of the 4x800 relay at the section meet June 2 at Grand Rapids. |
By Steve Morris
In what coach Brian Hasleiet dubbed one of the most exciting races he has ever watched, senior Nick Ramberg pulled away in the last 200 meters to catapult the North Branch 4x800 relay team to the state meet for the second year in a row.
The 4x800 relay, made up of all seniors, won the race in a time of 8:01.07, nearly five seconds ahead of second place Grand Rapids.
Aaron Cedergren, JJ Koerber, Cody Good and Ramberg each ran their best times of the year. In doing so, they broke the North Branch school record and set the section 7AA meet record.
Ramberg, running the anchor, dumped Duluth East and Grand Rapids down the final stretch to secure the win. Hasleiet said the three were running stride-for-stride for nearly the entire race before Ramberg clicked it up a notch down the final stretch.
The boys will run in the state meet Saturday at 9:13 a.m. at Hamline University. All four of the boys have been to the state track meet before and have competed in the state cross country meet. The added experience may pay dividends when they face off against the fastest high school athletes Minnesota has to offer.
Last season the 4x800 relay team finished in 11th place with a time of 8:22. This years team is nearly 22 seconds faster than last years. If the boys want to win state on Saturday, they may have to run the race of their lives, at least compared to last years winner. Lakeville North won the 4x800 at state last year in 7:49. Heading into the state, the boys are seeded 9th.
Sophomore Ryan Norman will be the team's alternate in case someone gets hurt before the meet.
"Our guys really competed so well and displayed what great athletes they are and showed their competitive spirit," Hasleiet said. "Over the last couple of years, I've seen all four of these guys run some great races, including being part of winning the Section 7AA team cross country title this past fall, but I haven't seen them run any better than they did on Saturday."
Aside from helping win the 4x800, Ramberg qualified for the state meet in the 800 run. He took second place with a time of 1:57.
He ended less than a second off first-place finisher Anthony Held of Elk River.
Ramberg will run in the prelims on Friday and if he qualifies, will run in the finals at 11:53 a.m. Saturday. Last year at state, Ramberg competed in the mile and 800. In the 800, he finished in 1:59.
Briefly:
Coach Hasleiet was named the section Coach of the Year.
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