MINNEAPOLIS — Northland athletes took home 87 medals at the state track and field meet June 4-6 at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
Three belong to Ely sophomore Violet Udovich.
Udovich set a new Minnesota all-time record to win the 200-meter, finishing the race in 23.89. She came into the meet ranked fifth. She ran the 400-meter in 54.94, winning the race, setting a new Class A record and beating her second place opponent by over two seconds. In the 100-meter, she took second place.
Junior Makenzie Lynch of Cloquet also took home three pieces of hardware.
Competing in four events, she finished second in the 300-meter hurdles, third in long jump and ninth in the 100-meter hurdles. She competed in all three events at the state meet last year.
The Northland won two golds in the field events.
Brainerd senior Cora Clough took first in high jump and West Marshall senior Emily Marquis won the discus throw. Marquis took third last year.
Top relay performances were seen from Esko’s girls 4x800-meter relay team, Hibbing’s girls 4x400-meter relay team, and West Marshall's girls 4x200-meter relay team, each taking third place. The West Marshall relay team — made up of freshman Naomi Davey, sophomores Kenley Marquis and Annika Adolphson, and senior Markelle Pederson — also medaled in the 4x100-meter relay, taking eighth.
The Northland saw success in the boys 4x800m relay race. In Class A, a team from Park Rapids area took fourth, with Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale finishing right behind them in fifth. Cloquet’s relay team finished fourth in Class 2A.
In the Class A team competition, Ely’s girls team finished second, with a combined 39 points. Udovich scored 34 of those.
West Marshall’s girls also claimed team medals, finishing eighth.
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Contributed/Bemidji High School Trap Team via FacebookThe Lumberjacks won their first state title in their eighth-straight tournament appearance. Proctor sophomore Laine Graves won the individual championship. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe three-sport athlete and recent graduate made an impact through her positive attitude, hard work and leadership — whether her team was winning or losing. -
Contributed/Eagle Rebel Activities on XThe Rebels entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and defending champions. South Ridge, Grand Rapids and Aitkin also competed in the tournament. -
Contributed/Lakers Girls Golf Instagram PageAlmost 90 Northland students competed at the state golf tournament June 9-10, 2026, around the Twin Cities. -
Contributed/Aitkin Youth Baseball Facebook pageThe Gobblers won a close 1-0 game against the top-seeded Duluth-Marshall to advance, while Red Lake County looks to defend the title and Grand Rapids makes its 6th-straight appearance. -
Contributed/Rock Ridge Public Schools via FacebookIt was the team's sixth-straight state tournament. Singles and duos from Rock Ridge and other rural Northland schools also hit the courts in tourney action. -
Contributed/PexelsSix rural Northland teams competed in state softball tournament in Mankato on June 2-5, 2026. The Barnum girls were consolation runners-up. -
Contributed/Wolverines Boys and Girls GolfSeven rural Northern Minnesota teams and nearly 90 student-athletes in total will compete Tuesday-Wednesday, June 9-10, 2026, on courses in and around the Twin Cities. -
Contributed/Brainerd Public Schools via FacebookArea athletes to watch at the 2026 meet include Aitkin junior Ashley Asmus, Ely sophomore Violet Udovich and West Marshall seniors Emily Marquis and Markelle Pederson. -
Contributed/Rock Ridge Softball via FacebookFactoring in Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert's histories, it's still the first appearance for the area since 2001. Brainerd, Sebeka, Red Lake Falls, Esko and Barnum will also compete.
